Promises

Chapter 3 - Appreciation

I've always found my alarm annoying, but this time, I'm waiting for it. As soon as my clock reads 7:00 am, I leap out of bed and get ready for the day. If it was any other morning, I would go through my morning routine with robotic motions, but today I'm dancing along to the music from my radio, and I put effort into my look.

Goodbye drab ponytail, hello loose braid. Farewell sweatpants, bonjour skinny jeans. Why is the thought of Alex asking for my number making me so happy?

After practically skipping down the stairs into the kitchen, I stuff an apple into my jacket pocket, turn down a ride from my dad, and say goodbye to my parents. My mother looks at me for a moment, and I feel a spark of hope, but when no recognition flickers in her glazed eyes, it sizzles and dies.

I'm opening the door to leave when my dad stops me. "Oh, before I forget; hurry home. Your mother has an appointment tonight." My shoulders slump. "Do I have to go? It's just the normal MRI and checkup, right?" He shrugs. "I think she would appreciate it."

"Appreciate it?! She doesn't feel anything, let alone appreciation!" I try and slam the door, but he puts a foot in the doorway. "Just think about it, okay?" He calmly moves back. "Whatever", I mutter before slamming the door then pushing the rattling screen door shut. Whatever butterfly feeling I had this morning has flown away, leaving me in a sour mood. As I walk, I shove earbuds into my ears and huff. The music doesn't drown out my thoughts.

Why would he ask me to go to the appointment? Maybe it's less for my mother and more for him. Maybe he's tired of hearing bad news. I know I am. Every time I hear that the tumor is evolving and growing, I feel a memory and a bit of my mom slip away. The woman that would braid my hair and say goodbye before I went to school.

A horn honks, snapping me back to the sidewalk in front of me and the car pulling beside me. The window rolls down, revealing Felicity's friendly face. "Hey! Want a ride?" I shrug, then plop myself down in the passenger seat, mumbling my thanks. There is maybe thirty seconds of her staring at me before she pulls the car from the side of the road and back into the lane. "What is it?" I snap my head up like a deer in headlights. "What is what?"

"What is it that has got you in such a bad mood?" I shrug. "What makes you think I'm in a bad mood?" She gestures lazily to the air around me. "Your aura." I snort. "Yea, right. My aura." She gives me a quick death stare before returning her gaze to the road. "Whatever. You are such a non-believer. You didn't answer my question though." I sigh. "My mother has an appointment today. My dad wants me to go."

"And you don't want to?" I throw my hands up in frustration. "Of course not! But he says that she would appreciate it. She didn't even recognize me this morning, so why would she appreciate me going to a checkup?" Felicity shakes her head as she pulls into the school parking lot, then into a parking space. "I dunno." After putting the car into park, she turns towards me. "Ash, do me a favor?" I look at her with inquiring eyes. "Try and put this morning behind you. Today is a good day! Alright?" I nod.

"Promise?", she asks, holding out a pinkie, and I laugh. This gesture has been used by us many times. It's been our go-to since we were little, and now, it's an inside joke too. "Yea, I promise", I say as I hook pinkies with her. She nods. "Good. Let's go and get Alex's number." I blush. "Felicity!"