After All • Calum Hood (Sequel to ISTTY)

52

The authorities arrived and took my father's body, my mum was a complete wreck and that made me feel heartbroken, the love of her life had died and now she's condemned to be alone on a house where they spent their lives together.

Mali's practically taking care of Wyatt, I was lost on my own world, deep down my thoughts -as well as my mum is, just that she's also lost in a sea of teardrops- I'm feeling horribly, terrible, not only emotionally but physically, I wanted to vomit, my body aches, my head aches too and I couldn't even bear being stood up. It's around 8AM and Mali insisted on us to go get some breakfast, truth is I'm not hungry and I can almost bet my mother isn't either, but she was insisting so much we eventually gave in which is why we ended up in this coffee shop—I ordered the first thing that I saw on the menu, Mali ordered for Wyatt -he can eat solid food but it has to be healthy- and the food didn't take long to arrive, we started eating on silence, Mali's feeding Wyatt whilst I'm trying to focus on my food and not to think but I don't think I can hold in any longer, my mom's calmed now but now I am the one feeling like I'm about to tear down. It was just a matter of time until some tears streamed down my face, landing on my plate, I keep looking down trying to go unnoticed but Mali's constantly looking over my mom and I.

—Mad? -she asks me and I know right away she caught me crying, I don't move, I don't answer, I just stay still- Madeleine?

I tilt my head up to see her, her expression softens—my mother, who's sitting down beside Mali also worries about me

—Daughter, we need to be strong. Okay?

—No, I... I can't, I don't feel good

—I understand you don't feel good but you can't let yourself die. Look, you have a beautiful son who looks up to you and right now he's off with everything that's going on... He's looking at you oddly because he never sees mummy crying.

—You don't get it -I harshly say, feeling frustrated- I feel bad, I really feel bad -my head starts to twirl around as I start to feel dizzy- I want-to vomit... I need to vomit

I stand up quickly and I instantly regret it because it only made me feel worse, I go to the bathroom as soon as possible, when I entered it, there's this lady whom I couldn't quite see, next thing I know is I'm vomiting all over the bathroom floor and that left me feeling weaker than I already was.

—Are you okay? Girl, do you feel good? -the lady keeps talking to me but I couldn't react, I couldn't even see her- 

I feel a hot liquid running down my legs and I couldn't quite comprehend what it is. The lady grabs me by my shoulders trying to keep me balanced or at least still—I look up finally seeing her, she seems to be a little older than I am, she's wearing an uniform so I deduct she's an employee, I feel the liquid again and forget about the woman's expression, I look down to peak at the liquid: it's a combination of blood with a transparent stuff, the lady follows my eyes to my legs and gasps loudly.

—Oh, dear! Are you alone here? We need to take you to a doctor immediately

—What's going on? -Mali enters the bathroom without Wyatt on her arms which I suppose she left with my mum-

I turn around to see her, weak, whilst Mali looks around, then her eyes land on my legs and her eyes spread like plates, her hands cover her mouth and her eyes start to water slowly

—W-we need to take you to a hospital, Madeleine -she walks to me- please, ma'am, help me to get her to my car

What is happening to me?