Mental [#Wattys 2015]

Chapter 11

Tessa, baby, wake up.

Wake up, Tessa.

Tessa, c'mon honey.

The words felt close, warm, and alive.

Is this heaven?

Or is this my own personal hell?

Baby, wake up for us, please.

I could almost feel my mothers presence.

Oh, how I missed her.

I missed baking chocolate chip cookies on a Sunday morning with her.

I missed watching Saturday afternoon cartoons with her on the couch.

I could smell her perfume; a mix of sunshine with a dash of love.

Her tests came back positive. It was quite a hit, but she made it with only a concussion. She should wake up soon. You're very lucky.

What?

No, no, no.

I had another suicide attempt?

I could feel a knot twisting my stomach and tying it to my heart.

I could feel my brain gears start to churn, and my memories coming out of the fog.

"Alright, I'll bite. It's Ricky."

"Ricky? You don't look like a Ricky."

"You don't look like a Tessa."

"How'd you know that was my name..."

"Checked your files."

He smirked, a crooked smile that was both mischievous and manipulating."

Oh, God.

My eyes flew open, both scared and shocked from the sudden memory.

It didn't stop there.

I could see his eyes, his hands, his past.

Even worse, I could see him betraying me-turning me into Eye Doc, watching me get dragged to doom.

But, I didn't feel angry, not the least bit.

The only thing I felt was his arms around me.

How could I forgive him?

After all he did to me?

"Because you see yourself in him." I heard my mother say.

Then I see her. She steps into my vision, a sweet smile set on her lips.

"Did you hear me?" I said, blushing.

She released a breath, softly chuckling.

"He called. He's a great guy, Tessa."

"You don't know what he did, Mom."

"Yes, actually, I do. He told me. Every detail, on the phone, for four hours. And I forgave him. So you should too."

I was bewildered. My mother, an independent women who always told me to never succumb to a man, is telling me this shit?

"Mom-"

"Tessa, you may not understand this right now, but let me explain it to you. Love makes you do crazy, insane, ridiculous things. I was in love with your father-in love enough to have sex before marriage. When I got pregnant, he left."

"And that's supposed to teach me how?"

She grinned down at the floor, slowly slipping her hand over mine.