Cannabis

Chapter 19

Mama stood motionless at the door, trying to assimilate the scene in front of her. I couldn't bring myself to look at her, wanting to wither away at that moment. All the lying, all the days spent hiding everything from mama, all the damn attempts to see that jubilant smile on her face, to make her happy, went down the drains in that one moment. 

That bastard forgot to lock the door in the heat of the moment! 

"....what... is this...", her voice shook as she breathed out in horror and disbelief.

I felt the weight on the bed shift as I covered my face in discomfiture, my chest quaking between sobs and my weary body curled up in a ball. My heart beat quickened up its pace as Daniel made his way to mama with a foreboding air, muttering curses. 

I watched in vulnerability how that poor excuse for a man grabbed mama by her throat and hurled her towards the wall, which made her hit the head on the hard surface. I tried to wail out, I tried to get up from the bed and hold mama, but my voice felt like choking and my legs felt dead. My inability to protect her from that scum made me die a thousand deaths. 

"If you utter even a word about this anywhere, I won't hesitate to do away with you, too." He barked out. Making his point clear, he stormed out of the room.

An eerie silence followed. My entire being wanted to hold her, to comfort her, to take away her pain. But I couldn't. Nor could mama bring herself to look at me or say something, for she was staring inanely at the door, her eyes bloodshot red from unshed tears.

Why? Just why?! Why did this have to happen to someone like her?! Someone who thinks of others before herself, someone who loves and trusts too much?! Hell! I wanted his misdeeds to be exposed in broad daylight, but not like this! I never ever wanted her smile to disappear forever!

Something inside me broke, irreparably, and I felt that to my bones.

I broke down, disconsolate, letting out everything I'd tried to suppress and hide. There's nothing left to hide anymore. I wailed and sobbed as I felt my chest twist and tighten, my pale face red and swollen from the ordeal. My loud sobs filled the otherwise quiet household.

Just then, I felt warm and protective arms envelope me in a tight embrace. 

Mama....hold me like this till I forget everything....

I let myself loose, as she cradled my naked form in her secure arms. She didn't speak a word, didn't even shed a single tear. Her eyes were still transfixed on the door, perhaps in fear of someone. I held onto her as if she would disappear and let the haze take over my senses once again.

I want to hear your voice.....I want you to lull me to sleep, just like when I was a toddler....I want you to hum your favorite song, the same one which you sang on my birthday last year...I want you to forget everything that happened here.....I want you to hold me till I forget everything....I want you to hold me......

.....I love you mama.....

The next morning, I woke up to a commotion. Drowsy, I somehow got up from bed, put on some clothes and dragged myself downstairs. A flurry of activities were going on. I saw a group of cops in formal attire, angst evident on their faces.  They were muttering among themselves somehow animatedly. A crowd of onlookers had also gathered around our house.

Did mama call the cops? Where is she? Where is that man, too?!

Even before I could possibly come to a conclusion, I saw two people carrying a figure covered in a white cloth end-to-end. My heart started beating in a frenzy, my feet went cold and a buzz filled my ears, as I almost perceived my worst nightmare taking form in front of my eyes. That devil appeared beside one of the cops, his face smug, but stressed out.

I was constantly being reminded of the horrid dream I had the night before yesterday, the dream of mama disappearing, somewhere far, far away from me.

Right then, a deathly pale, familiar hand revealed itself from beneath the covers, as it came out hanging.

It took me less than a moment to realize that it belonged to mama.

To be continued...