Silent Love

Chapter 8

For a few weeks it almost felt like normal again. I went to school, waking up and coming home to my mother cooking in the kitchen, seeing my father scaring her every time he got home, laughing at silly jokes like we always did. Everything was so normally perfect that I thought it was all a bad dream. I almost started thinking that that day was just a nightmare I had and nothing actually happened. I wasn't late to the worst teacher possible, I did not embarrass myself in front of the school, and my mother didn't have cancer. But in reality, all was proving me that that day existed, that it was more than a simple nightmare, it was a living one.

Slowly this heaviness we all felt started crippling into our present and the old complete life was broken forever. It all started after mom fainted at her job. Dad received a call from her boss and immediately drove to take her home. She protested saying that she feels fine but dad wasn't listening to her. That night my parents had a fight, one of the many fights which were to come. I could hear them arguing while I was eating alone in the kitchen, the first time I ever ate dinner without them.

-I am dying Alexander of course my body will get weak!

-For God's sake Lorraine don't you ever say that again.

-It is the truth and you will have to accept it.

-At least be less loud, our daughter can hear you.

-She has to be aware of this too.

-No, she doesn't, because you are not going anywhere.

-How am I supposed to teach her to accept the reality when her own father can't?

-There are possibilities, we can still do something about this, it's not too late.

-Was I the only one who went to the doctor or were you with me? You heard what he said as clear as I did, there is nothing to do. I have 6 more months to live.

-That doctor was useless, we can go to another.

-I trust him.

-It's not about trust Lorraine, it's about how good he is, his studies. We can't just trust people without researching more.

-We can and we will. Besides, I don't want to spend my last 6 months going from hospital to hospital.

-These will not be the last 6 months of your life!

-You will learn to accept this.

-What are you saying Lorraine? I can't just stay here and watch death take you from me without doing anything.

-It is how God wants it to be.

-Oh don't serve me this! Lorraine!

I could feel the pain in my dad's voice, but mom was already gone, leaving him alone in the living room. I went and saw him on the couch with his head in his hands.

-Are you okay dad?

He raised his head and looked at me, he seemed 10 years older than he was and consumed by worries and pain. He tried to hide it with a smile but I could see a tear sparkling in the artificial light of the bulb.

-Yes sweetie, don't worry about it.

-Is it about mom?

-Yes, but she is going to be okay, we will cure her.

-What if we won't?

-Don't say that, of course we will.

-Yes dad, but what will we do without her if we fail?