𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑

Chapter 10

6 hours later

Kairi was leaning on Mattia's shoulder. It felt like they had been waiting there for an eternity and they still had a few more hours to wait. Kairi had a bad feeling in his chest but he didn't address it. 

She's going to be fine. She has to be. She will be fine. I know it. She'll be ok.

Kairi didn't notice that he had started trembling again but Mattia noticed Kairi's shaking hands and the faraway look in his eyes.

M: Hey, Kai, are you good?

K: Umm, not really, I'm just scared Mattia.

M: Its ok Kai, your mom will be ok.

K: I know I know, I just- I don't know.

Mattia nodded and kissed Kairi's hair. Kairi snuggled into Mattia's shoulder and settled down to wait for another couple of hours.

5 hours later.

Kairi was pacing. It had been eleven hours since the doctor had left them in the waiting room and they still hadn't received any updates. Mattia sat, his knee bouncing up and down in a jittery motion. He was watching Kairi pace back and forth in the waiting room. Neither boy spoke. Another thirty minutes passed before Kairi saw the doctor coming down the hallway. Kairi abruptly stopped pacing which alerted Mattia who stood up and linked his hand into Kairi's. The doctor came into the room, a blank expression on his face.

Doctor: Hello Kairi, Mattia,  I'm not sure how to tell you this

No. I'm not ready.

Doctor: The damage was very extensive, and we underestimated the difficulty of the operation.

Please, no

Doctor: We did everything we could but-

Please, don't say it. Please, no.

Doctor: your mother has passed Kairi. I'm so sorry.

no.

Kairi stopped breathing, he felt his entire world shift. The doctor's voice became a faint echo in his mind as he clutched Mattia's hand. A million different images rushed through his mind: his mom teaching him how to ride a bike, his mom giving him his Christmas presents when he was eight years old, his mom hugging him while he cried over his very first breakup, her laughter, her voice; it was all gone. His knees became weak and he barely felt Mattia's hand on his waist, ready to hold him up when he fell.

Doctor: The damage to your mother's body was worse than we had anticipated and despite all of our efforts, we were not able to save her. I am so sorry for your loss.

Kairi couldn't move, he still hadn't taken a breath and when he did it came out as a gasping sob that burned his throat. Kairi turned and buried his face in Mattia's shirt, letting his sobs and tears flow freely. Mattia was also shocked, he was confident that Ichika would have beaten the odds. Mattia wrapped his arms around Kairi's body and started trying to console him.

M: H-how? I thought that you said she was strong enough for the operation?

Doctor: She was strong enough, it can't be explained but sometimes, things just go wrong.

The doctor said another apology and then left the crying children in the waiting room.

Kairi let out another strangled sob while Mattia stared at the floor. All of a sudden, Kairi fought his way out of Mattia's grasp and sprinted out of the waiting room.

M: Kairi wait!

Kairi didn't respond, he just sprinted down the stairwell and out of the hospital, where Mattia caught up to him. Kairi was heading towards the busy road and he showed no sign of stopping so Mattia tackled Kairi from behind, both of them collapsing to the ground in the parking lot. Kairi barely felt the pavement under his knees, he barely felt Mattia's hands on his body. He could barely even hear Mattia speaking to him over the pounding in his head. Kairi fought against Mattia's hold, punching his chest and trying to hit his face.

M: Stop Kai, please.

Kairi let out a heaving sob. Screaming into the cold night air.

K: Why! Why me Mattia! Why did she have to leave me!?

M: I know Kai, I know.

K: Let me go Mattia! Let me go, I can't do this!

M: I'm not gonna let you go Kairi, I'm not gonna let you go through this alone. Shhh, Kairi.

K: It hurts t-too much Mattia. I just want to die. L-let me die so I can be with her. Please Mattia I can't do this.

Kairi tried to scramble towards the road again but Mattia wrapped him in a bear hug, refusing to let go.

M: Don't talk like that Kai. Please. I'm not gonna let you die baby, I'm right here, I'm not gonna leave you Kai.

Kairi didn't respond, he just stopped fighting, he sank into Mattia's grasp and stopped holding himself up.

M: C-c'mon Kai, we have to leave.

Kairi just collapsed so Mattia picked him up bridal style, carrying him to the car. Mattia gently placed Kairi in the passenger side seat before getting into the driver's seat. Kairi held his face in his hands, still loudly crying into the quiet air of the car.

M: I-I'm so sorry.

So this is a short-ish chapter but I wanted this scene to be by itself cuz of the emotion, ya know? Or do I just sound crazy. Ummm. I try to put a lot of emotion into my writing so that when people are reading, they can really picture what's going on. I hope this is good but ummm I don't know.

Anywho.

Bye friends,

-Meg