FLAMES OF ARES

SHADOW OF YOU

Ares sat silently on a plastic chair, a few feet away from his mother, who lay on the stretcher bed. The room was stark, the white walls amplifying the cold, clinical atmosphere. His mother, her face etched with lines of distress, refused to touch the food offered by the nurses. They had informed him that the troubling situation had persisted for five days. Every night, she cried in pain, her stomach aching from hunger.

Ares glanced at his mother, his heart heavy with helplessness. Her eyes were closed, but her face bore the marks of her anguish. He knew the nurses had tried everything they could to coax her into eating, but her mental state made it an uphill battle. The situation was dire, and Ares was at a loss for what to do next as the doctor's words settled heavily on his head. 

"Your mother's rehab progress has been minimal. She's not responding well to the treatment. Her mental state remains unstable, and her refusal to the therapy is aggrevating her condition."

Ares had hoped for some sign of improvement, some glimmer of hope that his mother would start to recover. Instead, he was confronted with the harsh reality of her ongoing struggle.

"Is there anything more we can do?" Ares asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"We may need to consider more intensive psychiatric care or a specialized facility if things don't improve soon."

Ares' mind raced with worry and fear for his mother. The road ahead seemed daunting, but he knew he had to stay strong for her sake.

Later on, he noticed her stirring. She began to wake up and called out for someone. "Son," she murmured weakly, her voice barely a whisper.

Ares immediately got up and approached her, taking her frail hands in his. "I'm here, Mom."

She glanced at him and smiled, her eyes filled with a warmth that had been absent for so long. She reached out to touch his face, and he leaned in, granting her wish.

"I missed you," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

Ares smiled, his heart aching but hopeful. "I missed you too, Mom," he replied.

She seemed to gather her strength before asking, "Could I eat something?"

"What would you like?"

She thought for a moment before replying, "Some chips and a soda."

He nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "I'll get them for you." He gently caressed her head, then stood up. "I'll be right back."

Ares informed the nurses that he would be back after buying what his mother wanted before rushing off to the nearest convenience store. He picked out a few items he thought his mother would personally like before heading to the cashier to check out. He hurried back to the facility, his heart buoyed by the hope of making his mother happy.

When he entered the room, he approached her with a smile, holding out the snacks. "Mom, I got you the chips and soda—"

"I don't want this!" With a sharp, angry movement, she threw the snacks away, sending them scattering across the room. "Get out of here!"

Ares stood there, stunned and heartbroken. He had hoped to see a glimpse of the mother he remembered, but instead, he faced the harsh reality of her instability. Her face contorted with anger and her reaction was far from what he had expected.

"Get out!!!" she screamed, her voice filled with rage. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Ares slowly backed out of the room, giving her the space she so angrily demanded.

Just as he stepped out of the room, he heard his mother calling his twin brother's name. The sound of her voice, filled with longing and affection, pierced his heart. He stood there, frozen, as the realization washed over him—his mother cared for and loved his twin brother more than she did him, the one who had always been there for her.