No Filter

Chapter XVII (17)

I came home after school. It was mid-September. I didn't know how I should confront Troy. I made up my mind a week ago, and I decided that I don't want to lead him on. It's been three weeks since he asked me, and I shouldn't keep his hopes high. It's not fair to him.

I park in the driveway, seeing my dad's car absent in the garage like usual. I've seen this empty sight almost every single day. The only days that I see him are when he comes home early at night. And even if he does, we barely see each other. Sometimes, we have short conversations, but usually silence fills the room. My mom tries to break it, but she, most of the time, fails because he ends up leaving the room, frustrated through work.

I push the door open and enter the room. I remove my shoes and drag my backpack over my shoulders. As I walk to the bottom of the stairs, I hear a small thud that follows a glass cup rolling over the table in the living room. My eyes widen in fear. I drop my backpack and run into the living room.

"Mom!" I exclaim. She fell on her knees, holding onto the short table for support. Her other hand massages her temple, and she moans breathlessly. A glass cup continues to roll on the table until it fell on the opposite edge of her.

I rush to her side and held her arm and back. "Are you okay?" I ask. I swallowed hard, breathing through my nose.

She tries to nod her head. She lifts her eyes, and her eyes bat at the brightness of the room. "Does anything hurt?" She doesn't respond. I help pull her up.

She wheezes out a little. "I'm..." she looks at me, and I see the paleness of her skin, "I'm..." she caresses my cheek and smiles, "I'm fine. Your mom is strong enough."

"What happened?" I ask.

She chuckles. "I just picked up a cup and my back began to ache. That's it. Don't worry about me." She pinches my cheek. "My sweet Allyson. Let go. I can take care of myself now."

I shake my head. "You said that last time."

"I told you not to worry," she says. Her eyes shift to the other room, which is the kitchen. "Has your dad come home yet?"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "He's at work."

Her smile turns into a grin. "Yes," I said. "I'm good now. You can let go. Seriously." She gives me the motherly look, and I slowly release my hand off of her, but I still walked with her.

"How is Liam? I haven't seen him in a while," she says.

My face flushed, and I clench my teeth. I stutter, "H-he's busy."

"I called him just before you came and asked him to come over today," she says.

"What?" I ask. "W-why?"

"Just to catch up," she says. "And I have some questions to ask." I bite my bottom lip.

"Let's get you upstairs," I said, trying to change the subject.

We walk pass the living room. My mom walked a bit faster, straightening her back a little. She squirms and yelps, dropping to the ground. My jaw drops as I fall down to her level. "Mom," I said, bent down. "How many times have this happened today?"

"Two times before you came home," she says. She pants. Her eyes begin to puff, but she bites her bottom lip to hold her pain. She does this on occasion.

I swallow. "Come on," my voice cracks. "let's take you to the hospital. You need a checkup right now."

She shakes her head. "I'm alright," she says. She groans lightly, closing her eyes to ease the pain away.

I hear a knocking at the door. I anxiously got up and rush to the door. I unlock the door and swing it open. I was surprise to see Liam and my dad at the door. But I was too worried to think about it for long.

"What's wrong, Allyson?" My dad asks, adjusting his glasses.

"M-mom," I stutter.

My dad creases his brows and rushes pass me. Liam looks at me. He sets his hands on my arm and looks into the eyes. "It's going to be okay. I promise." He passes me, and I turn and see the two of them helping my mom up. They wrapped her arms around their neck and begin to carry her out of the house.

I close the door and lock it before I follow them in my dad's truck. A light, sweet scent hits my nose as I take a seat in the back with my mom. Liam sat in the front while my dad sat behind the wheels. He turns on the engine and soon, drives on the road.
—
My dad paced back and forth outside of the door. Liam leaned against the wall with his arms crossed as he stares on the tiles of the floor. Everyone was silent.

I rocked back and forth on the bench outside of the room. I pick my nails, biting my lips. I pray to God to help my mother. To not let her suffer anymore. The cold wind gives me goosebumps.

I feel a presence beside me now, and I angle my head to see Liam sitting next to me. I rest my head on his shoulder, and he chuckles a little.

"I remember," he begins, killing the silence, "when you and me were playing in the rain. Your mom kept telling us to come inside so we won't get sick, but we didn't listen. We should've listened. Because she came out to come get us and slipped. She twisted her ankle, and I remember you were scared that she might not make it."

I nod my head, smiling. That was such a huge thing back then, but it's not as bad as what she's going through now. I add, "And you were there to comfort me and assure me that she's going to be fine."

"And she did," he says, "because she's strong. She'll come through."

I lift my head and smile at him. He sets his hand on top of mine. My cheeks burn and my mouth became dry. I move my hand back.

I hear the door swing open. And I rise automatically. I stood beside my dad as the doctor came in, holding a clipboard, and stood in front of us. I felt Liam's presence behind me.

"Is she good?" I ask.

He nods his head. "Yes, but your mom," he turns to me and then my dad, "and your wife needs to rest in the hospital for a couple days. Her spine is getting worse as it is." There was a pause. "Come with me," he gestured my dad, "I'll show you the x-rays. You two may enter, but she's sleeping, so don't disturb her."

"Thank you so much," I said. I exhale without shaking.

My dad follows the doctor into another room. I turn around and jump a little, letting out a short shriek of joy. "She is okay. She's good," I said.

Liam chuckles and nods his head. "See, I told you."

I wrap my arms around him shortly, resting my head on his shoulder. I squeeze him tightly, and I hear him inhaling for air. He places his hand on my back, and with his other hand, he brushed the back of my hair. And I let my heart have it for this moment of joy and happiness.

After a second, he raises his voice, chuckling, "Ally, come one, let's get inside."

I nod my head on his chest. I pull away, leaving a void in my stomach, but it didn't matter to me. My mom was fine. That's all that matters right now.