Emerald Green Eyes

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The next morning I could smell bacon cooking; my mouth watered as I headed into the bathroom for my ablutions, threw on some jeans and a t-shirt and headed downstairs. My dad (it sounds so strange to be able to say that) was in the kitchen at the cooker with frying pan sizzling. He smiled, “Breakfast?”

“Please!” and just like that we fell into a comfortable silence as we ate with the radio in the background.

He said he had spoken to his family and explained the situation and that he wouldn’t be back until I was able to go back with him, he asked me what time I wanted to head to the hospital, we agreed on 10, giving us both time to freshen up after breakfast.

We climbed into his car and 10 minutes later were back in the hospital car park. He bought a ticket that covered us for all day parking. Then together we made our way to mum’s room.

I could see straight away she was so much weaker, her eyes fluttered open and she gave me a weak smile, she held out her hand and I grasped it, I could feel how small they were, how cold and weak, she gave a small squeeze and looked at me, “Cass, I want you to know I love you so very much and you have made me so proud of you, know that whatever happens I will always be there watching over you.” Then she turned to my dad, “I loved you, please forgive me for keeping Cass away from you, please look after and love her!”

We both looked at her and the same time with one of her hands in each of hers we both told her we loved her!”

She closed her eyes and fell back into a sleep, I felt tears running down my cheeks, my heart breaking, then the moment I had been dreading, the heart monitor flat lined. Nurses and doctors came running, my father took me out of the room, I could hear them calling out, I could hear them trying to resuscitate her, I could feel my mother’s life slipping away, a sob escaped my lips and I collapsed, only I didn’t hit the floor, my father’s arms caught me, and held me to his chest, I cried for my mum, for my best friend.

I got to see her once more to say a final goodbye, but it was just a body, still beautiful, but cold, the life having been torn out of it.

My dad took over the next few days, he arranged her cremation, he organised for removal people to pack up the personal belongings just leaving the furniture for the tenants which had also been organised. Exactly ten days later I was ready and packed; one suitcase of clothes to keep me going (the others would arrive within the week) and my mum in a beautiful urn. My dad put my case in the car, dropped the keys of what had been a home with mum but was now but a just a house to the letting agents and we were on the road to Heathrow airport.