Those Morrison Days

5. Stay Strong, Mother

The train of bad news had crashed into you. We knew the sacrifice and what countless monthly wages were required to even keep you among us. The affliction had exploited Grandma's frailty, Uncle Marvin held on for two years before he withered away, and now it seeks to claim you among the lives it's taken away.

Cancer. The parasite that is made of yourself.

Gavin was just a toddler when he heard it took Grandma and Marvin. All he knew was that it meant he wouldn't see them again during Christmas. Now his video games can't distract him from the ongoing fight. There's no doubt that he hears us argue about your own kids helping to cover the cost.

I was willing to sacrifice half of my salary just to make ends meet but you insisted I shouldn't. Was it the embarrassment of your own offspring putting money in your purse? Shame or not, you're our mother. Even if this toxin won, I want you to know we tried and never lost faith. Let me do my part.

Dad was solemn when he heard the news. He was known for his sly smile but caring hazel eyes. It seemed he actually sold his soul as he was a living husk just typing away in the office. Since the diagnosis, he's shooed us from there, not wanting to be seen as the mess he was devolving into.

If family road trips were unbearable, at least they weren't about visiting your sickened mother. The paleness of when we saw you in the hospital only made dad match the same shade; just not as queasy. Despite what must've been churning and festering agony, you still smiled when you saw us.

Dr. Everett explained that this would be a war of attrition. A contest if either the patient or cancer would dissolve first. He would be the coach in the ring and we are your adoring fans. Because its size would shock Everett to the core, I tried to be there for you. You would want all the support you could get.

We tried to visit you regularly but Dad would be too melancholy to take us. He feared it was already a lost fight, as it was the same type that claimed Grandma and Marvin. Even its potency matched what was in Mom.

I reassured him that he married one of the strongest people I knew. Uncle Marvin drank booze to forget his irreparable love life and inhuman job. His broken spirit only begged cancer to take him quickly. Grandma lost her strength to age and was only a matter of time. She was merely a warm-up for this cretin.

Mom is different. Her strength has only been building since raising us. No matter how much she wanted to beat us for drawing on the wall or breaking the vase in the kitchen, she never raised a hand. No doubt it also takes a lot of willpower not to shout when seeing Gavin's grades. This is a woman who undoubtedly put things aside just to ensure we have our shoes tied then say please and thank you.

He seemed to brighten a little with a subtle smile. The keys were plucked off the hook and we made our way to visit you with balloons and flowers. What we found would only test my words.

Hair was absent along the scalp and your complexion had turned white. We weren't sure if we found a corpse until your weary eyes met ours.

Dr. Everett told us there were still clusters swimming in your bloodstreams. This stage of the fight is near the breaking point. Either cancer throws the towel and leaves you alone or it overcomes your resilience. Stay strong, Mother. Never forget that we are here for you.

After a few months had passed by from that visit, we heard the best news after what felt like centuries. Dr. Everett declared you the victor of this fight. Dad embraced you with joyful tears and Gavin hugged your leg without letting go.

As we escorted you home, you had discomfort still in your expression. Why was that? You defeated one of the greatest evils in our society. You have every reason to be excited!

You assured us beating cancer was worth celebrating. What brought this creeping somber was about the other patients. Some of them had it just as terrible as you did but you never saw them be brought flowers and balloons. The staff was their only visitors and yet they only provided the chemo and tubing. You were certain that some form of despair had stabbed through them that fertilized their cancer.

We kept you strong. That's what mattered the most to you.

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I can't thank you all enough for taking the time to read this far. I've been wondering which story interested you the most or what themes you'd like to see. Maybe even certain characters you'd like to see more frequently.

Whatever the case, thank you.