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Chapter 10

Mrs. Williams walked me home after our little empathy session and made sure I was okay. She'd offered to make me dinner but I told her I was fine so she'd said goodnight and left after saying yet another prayer with me.

Now, I lie in bed and find myself thinking about my day. It's so funny how everything can be going so well and then at the flip of a coin, it changes. It's all okay now though. It has to be.

Picking my phone up from my bedside table where it's charging, I plug in my earbuds. Then I fall asleep to the sounds of 'Blessed' by Schoolboy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar.

***

I wake up to my alarm going off and see that its a few minutes past 9 A.M. My phone vibrates and I check the texts I've received.

 One from my mum asking how I've been and informing me of the hospital's address. Another from Mrs. Williams checking in to see if I'm okay. Two from Adira and Davina telling me it'll all be fine and one from Alex wondering why I haven't hit him up.

Shoot! I'd totally neglected Alex all day yesterday. I decide to call him and fill him up on all that had happened but it'll have to wait until later because he would still be asleep by now. His parents aren't around, meaning he won't go to church.

After taking a shower, I have a light cereal breakfast and then make my way out the door. I make sure to lock it because I don't want to come back to any more surprises.

The hospital is only 20 minutes away so I get there in no time. 

Making my way to the receptionist's desk, I inform her that I'm here to see my aunt and after asking a few questions, she says to wait because my aunt has been transferred to the ICU so she'll take me up to the receptionist there.

 I decide to text my mum after hearing all that. Didn't she say Aunt Veronica is out of harm's way? What would she be doing in the ICU?

Mum says to go with the receptionist, and that she'll meet me at the reception upstairs and so I do as I'm told.

Audrey, the receptionist leads me down a white washed hallway until we get to the stairs.

"We'll take the stairs if you don't mind." She says. "It's only two floors up."

"Sure, no problem." I reply nodding my head.

We walk silently up the stairs until we get to the second floor and I feel like I all the air has been drawn out of my lungs.

Right there, standing next to a reception desk is my mum. She looks at least ten years older and I let out an involuntary gasp. Her hair is bedraggled, her eyes are red and puffy and she's tried to conceal it all with makeup but I see past that.

My heart goes out to her and I pull her into a hug. She holds on tightly and I can hear her sobbing quietly. Audrey, mouths that she'll be going now and I thank her before leading mum to a nearby chair.

When she calms down, she looks up at me and tries to smile but it's so strained that I wish she wouldn't try at all.

"How have you been mum?" I ask. I can see that the answer is obviously not okay but I don't know how else to begin.

"I'm trying Ricky," She replies. Then tears start to well up in her eyes again. I grasp her hand to comfort her and she squeezes mine.

 "Last night, just after I called you, something went wrong with your aunt. The doctors spoke with me afterwards, said her body had an adverse reaction to one of the drugs and she went into shock. They tried to resuscitate her but they haven't been able to." She starts crying again.

"Wait, do you mean she's..." I don't want to complete the question because I'm afraid to ask. I'm afraid of what the answer might be.

Mum shakes her head. She understands my fear. "No Ricky, she isn't. She is in a coma and we don't really know when she'll wake up. She's in a more stable state now though, and they'll be moving her out of the ICU later."

I pull my mum into another hug, this time for my sake not hers. I know what a coma is. I know all about them all right. 

I know that she could be under for months and I know that there's the possibility that she won't wake up. I can't voice all of this though, I have to keep staying positive.

"It's all going to be okay mum." I whisper into her ear.

"I hope so son, I really do hope so." She replies, squeezing me tight before letting go. "Do you want to go see her?"

I knew she would ask but I don't know if I really want to see my aunt in such a state. "Sure" I reply before I get the chance to say otherwise.

She leads me back to the reception desk where we're greeted by a friendly looking nurse. She has dirty blonde hair and eyes the color of the sky. Her nametag reads Lisa.

Mum interchanges pleasantries with her as she's been in the hospital all this while and informs her that we'd like to see my aunt. Lisa then smiles and leads us to go meet a nurse. 

Karl, the nurse in charge of my aunt's room, leads us into an antechamber where we're instructed to cover our hair and put on hospital aprons. 

I've seen this scene repeating itself several times on TV and now, it's happening to me.

Following Karl, we make our way to Aunt Veronica's room and I let out a soft involuntary gasp as my eyes drink in her appearance. 

My aunt, who is usually tough, funny, kind and dramatic, looks nothing like her old self. Rather, she looks frail, vulnerable and helpless. Even though she'd always managed to see humor in everything, there's absolutely nothing funny about her present state. She has got so many tubes going in and out of her that I wonder how it all fits.

Cautiously, I make my way towards her bed.

"She's not going to break, you know." Mum says, sensing my hesitation.

Carefully, I take her hand in mine. It feels so light. I smile sadly then, she always could pack a good punch.

"You have to be okay Aunt" I begin. I know she can hear me when I talk. "You still haven't shown me where you got that dummy made." I continue, smiling. "You've always been a fighter. Don't stop now." I hadn't realized that I'd been crying until the drops fall on our intertwined hands.

Mum places a hand on my shoulder and as I lean into her, I begin to feel a bit better. We will get through this.

We stay for a few more minutes before deciding to leave. Mum has to freshen up and I really feel like I could use some rest. 

Thanking everyone on our way down, we exit the building and walk across the nearly empty parking lot towards the car. The ride back home is a silent one as we're both too tired to talk. Tomorrow I will have to go to school and I still have some assignments left to finish up.

"I'm taking the day off tomorrow." Mum says as I unlock the front door to let us in.

"Okay." I reply, not knowing what else to say. She needs the rest anyway.

Making my way upstairs, I slip my shoes off and flop on the bed. I think about my aunt. About how lifeless she had looked and then I start to worry. It's my one weakness; worrying. After a while, I decide to call Alex like I planned to earlier for lack of something to do.

After the second ring, he picks up. "What's up mate?"

"Hey, Alex. Uh, can I come over?" my voice sounds tired, even to me. I'd meant to just talk to him, but I need the distraction.

"You know you're welcome anytime." He replies. "Is everything okay though?"

"We'll talk when I get there."

'Okay, I got something I want to talk to you about as well." He replies cheerfully. Well, someone seems happy.

Slipping my shoes back on, I head downstairs, leaving a note for my mum to find when she wakes up.

Ten minutes later, I text Alex to let him know I'm close and he sends Andrew, as usual, to get the door. Such a lazy ass, I muse, whilst smiling.

"The Rick-machine is here." Drew calls in a deep voice, sounding like a wrestling commentator. Will this boy ever learn?

"When will you stop saying random rubbish when you let me in?" I ask punching his shoulder playfully.

"When I run out of random rubbish to say." He replies, sticking out his tongue like a little child.

"I hope that happens soon then." I mumble to myself as I make my way upstairs.

"Tough luck" he calls after me but I pretend not to hear.

I tread as light as possible for fear of alerting Emily on my presence. There's no way I would survive another one of her tea parties. 

When I get to Alex's door, I give two soft raps before letting myself in. Immediately, I make a beeline for his king-sized bed and plunge in. The pillows make me feel a tiny bit better.

"What's wrong?" asks a deep voice behind me. I hadn't even noticed he was at his writing desk on the other side of the room.

"Who said anything is wrong?"

"Dude, you knocked before coming in. You never knock when you come over." Comes his reply.

"Well, what if I wanted to try something new?" I mumble through the mass of pillows I'm buried under. Do I really want to talk about this?

"Seriously Ricky" he replies in a stern voice.

"My aunt's in a coma." I mumble silently, burying myself deeper into the mass of pillows.

"What?"

"I said" I reply, finally sucking it up and sitting upright on the bed. "My aunt got in an accident and now she's in a coma."

"It didn't sound that long the first time you said it."

"Alexander Thomas Roberts." I scold, "I just told you my aunt is on death's door and that's all you have to say?" I finish, shaking my head. Seriously, people these days.

"Sorry." he replies, hanging his head a bit low like a toddler who was cut doing something bad. "I just got a bit distracted."

He looks embarrassed and disappointed in himself but it doesn't last long. "How did it happen though? Is she going to be alright?" he looks truly concerned now

"The doctors say she's stable for now but obviously, no one knows if she'll wake up."

"When, Ricky. When she'll wake up."

"Alex" I begin slowly. "You haven't seen her like I have. She's got all these tubes coming out of her and there are machines all around."

"She'll be okay." He replies, his eyes clouding with concern. "You just need a little faith and trust in God."

"I'm tired of everyone telling me what God is going to do and what he's not. What if I don't care?" I say

Taken aback by my reaction, Alex's expression of concern morphs into hurt.

"I'm only saying these things because they're true. I've known you for ages and I only want what's best for you. I know that He can make sure she's okay if you-

"Just don't, Alex." I reply, cutting him off. "I don't know what's happened to you but don't force any sort of crap on me." I say, getting up.

"Ricky, I'm sorry."

I just shake my head and start walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?" he continues.

"Someplace else." I reply before slamming the door. As I make my way down, Emily spots me and her eyes light up as she heads towards me with a bright smile on her face but I stalk right past her; So much for coming here as a distraction. I should have just stayed at home

I let myself out of the Roberts' household and begin making my way back home. Halfway there, I decide to go to the park instead. I need the clear breeze and quiet to help me calm down.

Picking a spot on the grass in a far corner, I lie down and shut my eyes but just as I start to drift into a peaceful unconsciousness, my phone vibrates in my pocket. What now? I muse angrily to myself as I take it out.

"Please meet me at The Full Court Press in ten so we can talk. K"

He couldn't have picked a more uncomfortable time to text me. I get up, dusting the grass off my pants; Might as well go meet him.

As soon as I step through the doors, my eyes home in on him. Yellow shirt, black cargo pants, black converse. Honestly, He looks way younger than he should. I mean he's young for father of a kid my age but still, he looks like he could pass for a model or something.

"Wanna order?" he turns towards me as I make my way to where he is, ever present smirk in place.

"No thanks. I'm fine." I reply curtly and begin making my way to a table in the far corner as Kenny orders a latte.

Taking the seat opposite me, he smiles. "I'm really glad you came."

"Save it." I hold my palm up in front of me. "Just get straight to the point."

"I heard about Veronica."

"Yeah, so?" I reply. I am not in the mood for all of this. I'm so tired; I don't even care how he found out.

"Your mum told me."

Wait what? Did I just hear that right? Why would she go off and tell Kenny about our lives?

"Why would she do that?" I ask calmly.

"She was stressed out Ricky. She needed someone to talk to." He replies.

"She can talk to me." I say through gritted teeth. "Is that why you asked me to come? To flaunt the fact that you've been talking to mum?" I yell losing my cool. 

A bunch of people stare in our direction but I'm too agitated to care. What was mum doing talking to Kenny like old friends? We don't need more problems on our already crammed plate.

"Please Jericho, Calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down." I say in an even tone. "And I keep telling you, it's Ricky! You would know if you were still a part of my life. You would know if you weren't such a useless father. You're a disgrace Kenny, a disgrace to all fathers!" I yell loudly, whilst pushing back in my chair. 

Tears are threatening to spill and my throat has begun to close up. I need to get out of here as fast as possible. 

Pushing my way blindly out, I make my way out the doors of The Full Court Press and break into a sprint. I hear footsteps behind me but I don't turn around. I just keep running.

I run wildly until my sides are sore, but still, he's following.

"Ricky, please wait." His deep voice calls pleadingly from behind.

I'm so sore from running that I stop to let him catch up. I feel tired, both physically and emotionally.

 Why can't I just have a normal life though? Why does all of this have to happen? I want a great dad and a non-comatose aunt and I want to be happy, but apparently, that's all just too much to ask for!

Kenny gets closer and I just stand there, numbly watching him. His face is a mask of uncertainty, concern, hurt and worry. 

Cautiously, he reaches for me and then surprises me by pulling me into a bear hug. He smells familiar and expensive and I surprise myself even more when I don't pull away. I just lean more into him and let my tears flow for a while.

"I'm sorry son.' He whispers quietly into my ear and somehow it seems like those words zap me back to my senses. Quickly, I pull away from him.

"Bye." I call out abruptly as I jog down the street. Then feeling guilty, I turn around. "Thanks Kenny." I say and he smiles. A really sad but hopeful smile which makes me not hate him as much at the moment. In fact, it nearly makes me pity him but I push the feeling away. 

I'm the one who deserves pity if anything. What he did, was inexcusable.

~

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New chapter!

I just want to say a big thank you once again to everyone who has and is still supporting me. I love y'all so damn much.

Anyways, Veronica's gone into coma *gasp*

and Ricky actually let Kenny give him a hug, he must be desperate for some love right now.

Later loves,

Vote,

Comment,

Stay Awesome :)


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