Happiness Doesn't Wait

Blake

It's already the evening and they haven't told me anything.

I pace in the waiting room with dangerous thoughts on what could be happening to my mother. I had to beg them to take me to her but all they did was take me in this small waiting room. I keep asking each person with a white lab coat for my mother, but all they do is try to calm me down. At the last doctor I asked, I nearly punched him for telling me that I should take a walk.

But now, I helplessly sit back down and hold my head with my hands. I have an urge to cry, but I fight back the tears. If there's something my mother has taught me is to cry for the right reason. Crying without knowing will not make the situation better.

I feel a light touch on my shoulder and I look up to see Abi standing by my side. She lets her hand rub my shoulders as she sits by me and quietly kisses my cheek. The feeling of her by my side makes this place less gloomy for me. At last, her touch brings comfort to this cold room and I let my arm wrap around her. Her warmth making my heart light again.

"Hey," she softly says. "What happened? Any news?" I shake my head at her and her expression falls. "I'm so sorry, baby."

"They won't tell me anything. What if she's--" I stop myself. I won't say that word. I've lost too much already. I can't let it take my happiness again.

Abi gently rubs my back as she says, "I'm sure everything's alright. You know how this place is. Maybe if I call my sister, she could help us."

"I think she's busy," I sadly say.

"Well. It's worth a try." I smile as I watch her take out her phone and dial her number. She still has her uniform on and her eyes have a hint of exhaustion. I put my hand on her knee and give her a thankful smile. She returns my smile and kisses my temple. Those lips always sending electricity across my body.

"You're right," she says with a frustrated sigh. "She doesn't answer. But I'll leave a message."

"What happened at work?"

Abi puts away her phone once she's done sending her text and says, "Ryan understood. He told me to tell you that he wishes the best for you and your mother."

I hesitate before saying, "What about Cam?" I remember her defeated state for her friend. I remember my blood boiling for that boy. The way he made her cry and broke her. But as usual, I let my anger calm too quickly as I hugged her.

Abi's eyes grow sad and she just does a little shrug. "I haven't seen him since our argument. I'm sure it'll pass." She does a small smile; trying to stay optimistic and I nod at her.

Then a loud growl comes from her stomach and I chuckle. "It seems like you stomach misses my soups."

"Tell me about it," Abi says as she puts a light hand on her flat stomach. "I ate your soups mostly because I was sick in the morning. My sister did tell me to eat something before going to work, but I wasn't going to risk puking in front of the customers." Another loud growl interrupts our conversation and she looks through her small purse for some quarters to put in the vending machine just outside.

"Sick?" I say. "Already?"

"I thought so, too. But I haven't had a fever yet and I'm starving. Which is...the opposite of what a sick person feels during the winter. So I think my body is just getting ready for my usual cold."

I chuckle at her playful smile and I watch her get up with a few quarters in hand. I look through my pockets and search for my wallet. I go up to where she hungrily chooses a snack and say, "Why don't you get some real food instead of this."

"The chips are calling me though," she says as she presses their code and she watches how it falls to the bottom. I put back my wallet and smile at how easily she could distract me from any kind of worry. She quickly takes the bag out of the bottom of the machine and opens them. I gently take her waist and bring her closer. I lay a kiss on her lips before she can start eating, and her lips quickly fall for my touch.

"What was that for?" she says to me with a smile once we pull away.

"For coming. Thank you. I needed you." I lay another long kiss as my heart tries to mend again.

Abi smiles against my lips and whispers, "I'm sorry, but I would really like to eat these chips now." I do a small laugh and watch as she happily munches on her chips. She gives me a wink and we go back to our seats.

The moment when Abi throws away her empty bag of chips, I look up to see a familiar doctor from the facility. I quickly stand up and go to her. "Clarke--"

"Blake," she softly says. Her eyes land on Abi as she takes a hold of my arm and smiles. "Abi. It's so nice to see you again. Amy tells me too much about you. We should really hang out some time."

Abi does a sweet chuckle. "Amy doesn't know when to stop talking sometimes. And I thought I was the talkative one!"

"I'm sorry," I say to Clarke. "But my mother?"

They fall silent and Clarke nods at me. She gestures towards the seats and gently says, "Why don't we take a seat?" We do as she says and fear comes back to my heart. I try to read her expression but she's just like every doctor. Gentle but firm at the same time.

"My mother. How is she? What happened?"

Clarke does a sad sigh. "Your mother was found unconscious on the floor of her house."

My world stops and my heart falls to my feet. "Un-unconscious? Why? How? Who found her?"

"The gardener saw her when he went to the backyard. He saw her laying on the floor of her kitchen when he passed by a window."

"Can we see her?" Abi says this time. "Is she alright now?" Clarke nods at her and Abi does a small sigh of relief. But I look at Clarke and I know that's not all she has for me.

I stay silent as I let this sink in. I can feel Abi's hand tighten around mine and I try to lean on her comfort. But nothing comes as tears threaten to fall out.

Clarke's expression softens at my sadness. She carefully says, "We....took her out of her unconsciousness, and we went ahead and did a few tests on her. There were many possible reasons for her to be this way. Stroke was out of the list, but there was one thing we saw in her blood that may be the reason. Does your family have any history of cancer or...sickle cell disease?"

"Cancer? No. Not that I know of."

Clarke's expression falls and my heart knows what's coming next. Tears start to spill out as I hear her voice echo in my ears. "I'm afraid we've found signs of leukemia in her bloodstream. She is at a very risky stage and we will need to start immediate chemotherapy once we get our results back."

And just like that, the world turns grey and my happiness floats away.