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I.✨
It took a lot of guts to confront my father about mom being in the hospital. When I did, he couldn't resist and kneeled down to my height, pressing his hand on each shoulder. He claimed that mom went to visit the hospital one day and she was told that she has a mild brain tumor and should get it removed immediately. I didn't get mad at him for not telling. I just smiled and begged him if we can visit her.
When we arrived at her room, my mom was shocked to see me, but welcomed me in nonetheless. The difference between me and her was that she showed hers, mine was shown through a pause in my heartbeat. My eyes couldn't avoid seeing the thin patches of hair on her raw, bald head. Her skin was tinted a pale yellow and her eye bags were drooping. She wasn't close to how she was two months ago. Even through her grin, she struggled with the pain of lifting it up.
Hugging her felt weightless, like a soft feather caressing my arms. She was just skin and bones and throughout the evening, I knew it was far worst than something subtle.
~
Sunday, the day after, my father said we'd be visiting her again. Beforehand, I was ordered to watch over a ten year old and a seven year old, whom belonged to my mom's cousin.
We were in the playroom, drawing and listening to nursery rhymes, because the room was built for kids much younger and had no clue about the purpose of a hospital.
I was watching the seven year old girl draw out of the thick black lines. With her big brown eyes, she looked at me and asked what was wrong with my mom. When I was almost done telling her, the ten year old boy cut me off.
"That's not what my mommy told me. She told me your mommy was at the fourth stage!" I didn't entirely know what he meant. In fact, fourth stage can mean literally anything in medical history.
"Fourth stage of what?"
"I don't remember. It was something like Pancakeatic cancer."
Pancreatic cancer...
Leaving the restroom, I entered the room where my mom's hospital bed was. I couldn't recognize her as my own mother anymore.
II.✨
Twas the next day, Jungkook's behaviour was oddly good and we ended up discussing our now, damp project, with no mishaps or arguments. At last! Two wars were finally at peace.
Miss Park called me to meet her outside the classroom alone. I was stumped, because I've been called out once, and that was because of Jungkook. Strangely enough, no trouble, no word of that bunny, or the project was included. Just me, and me alone.
