Writer's Recipe vol. 3 (2018)

Bond

Written by: Afiqah Najwa

The screeching sound of the stretcher rang in my ears. I rushed along, my hand holding tight to a weak hand. All the while, warm tears were streaming down from my eyes. My sight did not move even an inch from my mother's unconscious body. I could not stop apologising to her until I was stopped by one of the nurses. Her body was then devoured by the white light of the emergency room. I fell on my knees and buried my face in my hands. I recalled the circumstances that had led me to this predicament.

The sun had finally came out of hiding, signalling the end of a long rain. I was in my room, excitedly playing with a new video game that I had bought yesterday until a hoarse sound broke my moment of bliss. "Selena, stop playing that useless video game and come and help me with the dishes!" demanded the voice. I sighed. "Yes, mum! I'm coming!" I replied half-heartedly. I begrudgingly switched off the game and went downstairs.

"What in the world are doing Selena? You're going to sit for your examination soon and you're still wasting away your time playing?" My mum went on to nag for ten more minutes or so but I've already switched off my ear within the first few minutes. It was like watching television with the volume muted. "Okay mum, what do you want me to do?" I cut her short before she would bore me to death.

My mum gave a frustrated look and gestured at the dishes. I walked towards the sink full of dirty dishes and started washing them. Mum who was cleaning the kitchen then suddenly asked me to accompany her to the nearby market. "We've run out of fresh ingredients," she exclaimed. Mum knew I never cared to go to the market with her but when I turned my head. I saw her solemn freckled face looking at me. I succumbed to that face. Even though I know that I was not a daughter that every mother would hope for, she is still my mother.

I finished my last dish and went outside the house. I walked straight to our red Saga which was parked at the garage and quickly slipped into the car. Mum came out of the door with her handbag in one hand and a huge container held with the other. I waited for her in the car, watching her drag the thing, but did not even think twice about giving her a hand. Without the air-con turned on, it was getting hot in car until I bellowed, "Hurry up mum! I'm boiling in here." Silence filled the car throughout the way to the market.

As soon as we arrived at the market, I got out from the car dashed and towards the entrance, leaving my mother behind all by herself. Again, I had to wait for my mother to catch up. I snorted at my mum's slow movements. When she finally caught up with me, I snatched the shopping list from her hand. "It's faster if I do it myself," I said matter-of-factly and walked away from her.

I was already halfway through the list. I was picking up a bottle of soy sauce when I unfortunately slipped and fell. Crash! The glass bottle broke into pieces. All eyes were on me. What have you done?" my mother yelled. "Why do you always have to be a burden? It's better not to have a daughter like you!" I felt as though my clothes were taken off. My cheeks turned an ominous red. It was incredibly embarrassing being scolded in front of the public. A wave of rage filled my chest, waiting to explode. I looked straight at mum. My eyes glared at her in ruthless impersonality. I stamped my foot in anger and left the area without saying a single word.

Storming off towards the exit, I muttered furiously under my breath. My hands were shaking uncontrollably and my face turned to the colour of molten lava. I quickened my steps when I felt a hand trying to grab mine. Overtaken by rage, I pushed away the hand harshly and snapped. "I am a burden to you?" I said in a thunderous voice. "If you want to know, you are the worst mother in the world!"

After finally letting the words off my chest, I continued to the exit and ignored the surrounding people who had started to whisper among themselves. I pushed the glass door and dashed across the road. I could hear my name being called but I didn't care. I ignored the voice and continued crossing the road. As soon as I got to the other side, BAM!! Screams of panic filled the air. I turned my head anxiously towards the chaotic scene where a crowd began to gather. My heart was beat fast as I got nearer to the scene. "Mum!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. My legs turned into jelly and fell beside my mum. "Selena," my mum groaned in pain. "I am sorry..." she said in a weak voice. "Sorry for not being a good mother. Upon saying that, my mum's eyes closed. "No! Mum, don't leave me!" I screamed.

I snapped back to the present. Suddenly a door was pushed open and a man with white coat came out. I quickly went to the doctor and asked impatiently. "Doctor, how's my mother?" He had a sympathetic look on his face. "I'm sorry, " was all that he had said. I immediately knew what he meant. "Noooo!!" I cried out upon hearing the tragic news. My heart sank. I was so upset that I could not stop my tears from streaming down my cheeks. "Miss, are you alright?" the doctor asked. I looked up with my puffy eyes and said, "How could I be when my mother is dead?" "I never said your mother is dead," the doctor said. "What? My mother is not dead? But you just did say that...," I couldn't even finish my words. The doctor sighed. "What I'm trying to say was I am sorry that the surgery took a long time but fortunately, your mother is safe!", the doctor said. I could not believe my ears. I ran past the doctor, towards the surgery room and straight to my mum. My mouth curled into a pleasant smile. So did hers.