Ticking Clock

Chapter 4

 After about a few weeks of going in and out of the hospital to visit her mother and make sure everything was okay while she was being put through various tests, her mother was finally released to go back home, strictly ordered to be on bed rest while they waited for the test results.

Jonathan and Adalynn were both staying at their childhood home, taking turns tending to their sick mother. Jonathan wasn't taking the possibility of their mother being ill all that well, but he was doing his best to keep a positive mindset for the rest of them. He knew that he had to be strong for not only his mother, but for Adalynn as well. They were all hoping for some good news to come their way.

Ever since that family reunion, life just seemed to be on a continuous downward spiral for Adalynn and the others. Adalynn wanted so badly to just talk with her mother about life, about what would happen if she was really that sick. She wanted to ask for advice, she wanted to mend their issues, she just wanted her mother. Her mother didn't want to talk about it though, she only wanted some peace and quiet as she hoped for the best. Adalynn turned to Jonathan for someone to talk to, praying that they'd be able to talk like they used to when she needed someone. He refused to talk about the whole situation until they knew for sure what was going on.

That left Adalynn to her thoughts, going back and forth in her mind about what could happen and what might change. As it is for most people when left with no one to talk to except your conscience, you can find yourself in a dark place, worrying about a bunch of new problems that you didn't even know you had. Most of the time, Adalynn felt as though she was drowning with all the dark and saddening thoughts about her mother being ill and quite possibly not being on the Earth for much longer. Adalynn found herself sitting in the corner of her room, staring blankly at her journal as she attempted to write out some of her thoughts just to help her feel more at ease. She didn't want to think about the possible future, but all she could imagine was her poor mother dying in front of her as she just stood back helpless. Her heart started to ache as the thought consumed her. Adalynn wanted to stop it, but that was easier being said than done.

The faint sound of the home phone ringing from down in the kitchen snapped Adalynn out of her thoughts for a moment. She quickly wiped away a stray tear before running out of her room to go answer the phone. She slid through the kitchen doorway, immediately spotting Jonathan about to pick up the phone. He must have had the same idea, this was the call they were impatiently waiting for. He placed the phone against his ear, taking a quick breath.

"Hello?" Jonathan kept his eyes on Adalynn as she walked closer, taking a seat at the nearest stool. She watched as he nodded his head slowly. "Vivian's actually sleeping right now, she's been out of it a lot since the last visit,"

Adalynn started tapping her heel against the wooden leg of the stool, holding herself back from shouting. She just wanted to know what was happening. She gestured to her brother as a way to get him to get the information faster. He held up his index finger, listening more closely to the doctor on the other end.

"Wait, can't you just tell us what's wrong with our mom? I don't understand why we can't know right now," Jonathan crossed his arms, his eyebrows scrunching together in frustration. "Can we at least know if it's going to be that bad of news?" He bit the inside of his cheek as he glanced over to his sister.

Silence lingered in the air between the two siblings as Adalynn just looked down at her hands resting in her lap, trying to make out what the mumbles through the phone said. She didn't like where the conversation was heading and she could only hear the one side. The feeling of tears forming in her eyes began again. She tried to blink them away, not wanting to cry again especially when she didn't even know what was happening.

Jonathan let out a defeated sigh. "Fine. We'll head over there once she wakes up. Thanks for calling," He hung up the phone before slamming it down on the counter, letting out a disgruntled shout. Adalynn jumped slightly in her seat, not expecting such a reaction from her brother.