The DelaVega Name

The Hernandez Line

"Mum?" She doesn't respond, "MUMMA!" 

There was blood all over her shirt, she was laying on the ground holding something to her chest, I ran to her and held her in my arms, when her eyes fluttered open she sees me… and tried to reach for my face with her shaky hands, I helped her hand reach my face as I sobbed hysterically at the sight before me. 

"Mum, what's wrong? Why is there blood everywhere? Who did this?... BABA." I called out for my grandpa who is probably asleep and I can't leave mum, but I need him here. 

"Baby?... is that… is that you?" Her breathing is getting heavier with each breath she takes.

"Yes mumma it's me."

Noticing my sobs she said "Why are you crying? Please don't cry baby." 

"Mumma why are you bleeding? I'm gonna call the ambulance ok!" Reaching out for my phone I dialled 911, I told the operator what's happening and she told me that there is a dispatch within 10mins from us. Happy to hear those words I hung up the phone and rocked my mother in my arms. 
"Mumma, you're gonna be ok, the ambulance is on their way now… but you have to keep your eyes open for me ok? BABA!!" trying to keep mum conscious was heartbreaking, and I tried one more time to get Baba to come. 

"I'm so sorry baby girl, I tried… I tried so hard to stay with you." 

Mums shaky voice builds a lump in my throat, " No mum, I'm sorry.. I should've come home when I was supposed to."

At this point Baba runs down the stairs because of my worried tone, when he saw us he dropped down to his knees next his daughter caressing her once rosy cheeks. " Darling what's wrong?" 

Still breathing heavily she looks back and forth between Baba and I, "Dad… LeToya, I'm… I'm sick." 

As soon as she said that I knew it wasn't your normal sickness.

"How sick mumma?" Struggling to stay aware her speaking becomes slower.

"I… I have… an… internal… infection." Baba and I looked at each other eyes full of water.. this was the first I've heard of it, and by the looks of it Baba never knew either. As we tried to make sense of what's happening we saw mum's eyes slowly closing.
 
"Mum.. MUM!! Don't fall asleep mum please! I'm begging you, please keep them open for us mum." 

I plead to her, "I'll… I'll try," mum keeps her eyes open, but barely.

"Why didn't you tell us about the infection?" A question Baba asked. 

"I didn't want you both to worry about me." 

Responding I said " Mum, I'll pay for whatever you need to get you healthy again."

Tears dripping down her beautiful face, "Oh honey, what did I do to deserve you, I'm afraid what I have… can't be cured." Just as she finishes that sentence the ambulance came in since I had left the door open.

Baba is in the ambulance with mum as they make their way to the hospital, I followed on pursuit in Baba's car. It's been 2 hours since mum came in with the ambo, we weren't allowed in so we waited, finally a doctor comes.
"The Jose family?" Immediately Baba and I got to the doctor.

"Yes that's us, Is she ok?" A stupid question I know but I needed to hear him say that mum was gonna be ok...unfortunately.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news, we've tried to operate on her but.. there were so many complications during the procedure that we had to stop. She has lead poisoning which has spread throughout her entire blood stream, we've managed to stop the bleeding but I'm sorry to say that… she may… she may not live through the night."