Alice's Tears

There was a wild frenzy of last minute preparation inside the humble apartment 303. A woman was rushing between the two lighted stoves, cooking potato gravy for her brother and soup for her husband. There was a sizzle as she tossed garlic and cloves into the hot saucepan.

"Akihiro," The woman spoke over the smoke, coughing and spluttering as the garlic began burning. "Will go check on Devlin and see if he's done packing?"

            A jet black haired man with rectangle framed glasses peaked from underneath the plastic wrapped sofa. "I can't, I'm kind of occupied,"

            "You just have to cover the furniture. Don't wrap it. Sheesh, he's going to Nepal for three month's not a decade,"

            "What if there is termite attack?" The glasses were beginning to fall off Akihiro's nose while a droplet of sweat trickled down his forehead. "Sarah, you don't understand the seriousness of this"

            Sarah gave him an incredulous look, not before turning her back towards him. She began chopping the cilantro. "You're such a perfectionist," She spoke under her breath. "Didn't you already spray every inch of wood in here with termicides?"

            "Well," His whispered in her ear. Sarah felt pressure against her back as Akihiro wound his arms around her waist. "Isn't that the reason you married me?"

            "True," She smiled to herself, twisting her body so she could face him. "But you seriously need to take a shower, you reek of termicide."

He kissed her cheek. "I'm sure you don't mind though,"

"I don't." She pushed his chest lightly. "I'll go check on Devlin. Keep an eye on the food,"

            "Of-course," He smiled.

△▼△▼△

                Devlin lay on his back, blinking, watching, and breathing in the cold air swimming from the outside. His American touristers were zipped and ready to go. But he wasn't ready to go, not yet. Something felt wrong.

He couldn't believe his mother, his life's strength, his anchor would do this to him. He lifted himself off the bed, like a wounded tiger, he groaned- as if there were knives and swords digging inside him.

His ebony fingers ran over the letter his mother had left him. The paper was slightly yellow and age-worn. Its corners were rough like the letter had survived many battles.

This was the last war the letter had to fight, the very last.

My Dear Devlin,

                I'm sorry, baby, I know by now you've been through hell and back. I'm sorry that I'm doing this to you but I have my reasons.

He began crying again, stars landed on the paper, smearing the ink, making a river of blue flow down the page.

If the doctors have given you this letter then it only means one thing, I've gotten worse and my Alzheimer's had progressed into its final days. I don't want to live a life as ghost, darling, I want to die in your memory as the mother who used laugh with you, not the one who doesn't remember her own son, her own family. I want to die with the little dignity I have left.

Why Nepal? You've must be asking yourself. Why does my mother want to die in Nepal? There are so many things I haven't told, there so many tales about my youth I want to tell you but I've run out of time like all of us do.

Before you and Sarah were born, before I met your dad, I was a mountaineer. A God damn, good one!

Devlin laughed through the tears.

Mt. Everest was my last mission. Ambitious as it was, I was never able to reach the summit. It was a beautiful journey though and I have no qualms or regrets about it.  Devlin, that mountain taught me so many things. Lessons I failed to learned from humans. It would free my soul to die in the air of Nepal.

 This is my last wish before I do die, my son, to die in the lap of my spirit, the spirit of Mt. Everest.

My love, look after your father- I know he scares you but he's doesn't have a bad heart. There is only love for you inside him, he loved more than I've ever loved you. He's lacking in the prospect of showing affection and so are you, maybe that's why you two never got along...

...Always stay by your older sister's side.   She can be selfish, that girl, but Devlin, you know her more than I do and you know how much she's done for all of us. You were always the pillar she could rest her head upon. I just fear you might hinder her from reaching her full potential. Sometimes we have to the bird fly on its own rather than carry it on our back.

And last of all, Devlin, take care of yourself.  I've always been worried for you. My dear, you're too soft-hearted and honest. Go so much after your father. He used to be like you until some people betrayed his trust.  In this world, there are many kinds of people, some who take advantage of good people. Remember dear, there's a thin line between being foolish and being good.

  Life gives us many scars. A true human being is the one that carries his scars and does not let them pull him down. I know my death will be hard on you, your father, and your sister. Remember, love, I will always be alive in your memories. All of us have to leave this world one day. It's just that some of us have to leave earlier than others.

I know you must be crying right now. Trust me when I write this, I can feel the wetness of your tears on my bosom. Dear, I don't want you to cry. I want to smile and be happy. You always used to say that I'm the funniest mum a boy can have. For your funny mama, laugh dear, give me a joyful farewell.

Your mother,

Dorothy Hutchins

The letter slipped out of his hand and landed on the floor, next to Sarah's feet. With frowning eyes, a downturn on her lips-Sarah whispered "Are you crying?"

Devlin quickly swept the tears from his eyes. "I was thinking about Alice," It seemed like a good enough excuse for everything these days. No-one doubted him when he said so, not even for a second.

"You should tell her how you feel," She was about to walk over to her brother's side, when her foot collided with the letter. "What is this?" She spoke, reaching for the worn piece of paper.

Her brother, always the quicker one, acted on his reflexes and swooped the letter from her feet. "Nothing important,"

Sarah, being the carefree one, shrugged her shoulders. "As you say. Get ready, we need to head out for dad's party. Apparently we've got new clients. Hooray!"

"Yah," Devlin swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Wear that black suit I bought for you last Christmas along with that brown-striped shirt." Sarah smiled, her rare smiles. There was a bright, happy light in her eyes. "It looks really good on you,"

"Okay,"

She was half-way out of the door when she spun around to face her beloved brother. "It's a really nice thing you're doing. Taking mum with you on your charity trip. Maybe her condition will start improving. God knows what can happen, maybe some kind of miracle,"

Devlin couldn't form any coherent words on his tongue. If she only the truth, he was going to Nepal not to save his mother but to fulfil her death wish.

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Note: You can tell me if I screwed this up- I won't mind. I just felt like Devlin's mother has been the reason Devlin's been living his life in a certain way. If his mother abandons him, everything he's built so far will collapse.

I don't know why, I just have a feeling of a massive writer's block approaching. I just want to finish this book before my mind gives up on me.

                *<3 *  I was thinking of entering this into the watties. I've been on wattpad for so long and I've never really properly entered anything. I don't have any hope. It's just something I want to do, once, sigh.

                Oh! What do you think of the new cover?