Parting: The action of leaving or being separated from someone

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Stroking the gentle kitten, I gazed back at Mum, "Do you ever want to sit back and just watch life pass by?"

Her smile was almost pained, "And take a break from participating in the ride?"

"Exactly." I nodded my head and sighed, there was a horrible feeling in my chest that had clawed into my throat.

"You know what your father used to always tell me?"

"I'm not sure I want to know." I pulled a face at the reference to him.

"If opportunity comes knocking at your door, don't wait for someone else to open it."

Momo tottered onto her paws until she had successfully reached my head, where she persisted to knead my hair as if it was the most interesting dough.

"Does it still hurt you, Ava?" Mum detested my ambiguity almost as much as I did.

I nodded slowly, "What about you? How do you feel about it?"

She ran a hand through my hair, "Recently the pain has come back, because all I can think about is how much he's missing out from you."

"Why couldn't he ever just come and visit me?"

"I think he was scared of facing what he had destroyed. Do you want to see him?"

"Honestly," I sighed as my pet fell asleep on the strands of my hair, "There is so much hatred I've accumulated over time for him, but it all started from misunderstandings. I just want answers."

"Do you need closure?"

"Kind of. I'm scared that if I see him, I'll want it to stay that way."

"You know he called, don't you?"

I awkwardly admitted to the eavesdropping with a nod, "Somehow...I don't even know anything about him anymore."

"Because you tend to pack up what you don't want, Ava." The truth in that sentence was blinding.

"It's been so long." I murmured, "Thinking about him is like reaching out to something that's a decade away."

"Quite literally," Mum tilted my head gently, "And for the last ten years we never discussed anything. We never removed the tension."

"Are you okay?" I asked her softly.

The laugh juxtaposed it's purpose, "I'm stronger with you."

I squeezed her hand in support, "Can you tell me why he called? Or is it not worth it?"

"He wanted communication with you, you're his daughter after all."

I could sense the bitterness in her tone, "And he also vowed to be there for you, for better and worse."

"I really did love him, and that commitment is gone. I have never found anyone else to take seriously."

I smiled and reflected on my own turn of events, "That's because interesting people come into your life at the most convenient times, but the best ones are there to stay."

We were silent after my words had sunk in, and as Momo drifted into another dream, Mum nudged my side, "It's time for the nebuliser now."

I groaned and heaved myself off of my beloved bed, "Fine."

She smiled fondly at me, before it skipped to a playful glare, "And after that, I want you to take a trip to the park."

"What?" I exclaimed, placing the grey kitten off of my head and onto my mother, "I don't feel like it!"

"Well your body will appreciate it." She retorted.

I rolled my eyes, "There's really no other option, right?"

"Enjoy." Mum gave me a teasing wave as I made my way to the machine whilst grumbling.

~

My back was pressed against the tree as I panted with a passionate resemblance to an animal.

"Seriously, how do characters sprint without having water around?" I asked myself, glimpsing at my phone to see a notification that Sadia had sent me.

As I clicked onto the video, cheerful music in the background of a dancing cat enlightened my exhaustion. However, the sound was disrupted by a sharp snap, and my head instinctively drew upwards at the sudden sound.

My eyes met a suspicious figure who was a little distance away, his hunched shoulders immediately making me feel wary. Dressed in a dark jacket and black jeans, the man definitely appeared to not fit into my generation.

My left foot hesitantly took a step back, and his response was to move forward.

"My body won't appreciate this exercise when it's kidnapped." I mumbled to myself, bending down to grab my bottle of water and immediately retreating in the opposite direction.

I didn't care to look back at him until my feet were firmly planted at a safe distance, beside a family and their golden labrador.

As I clutched my stomach and turned back to assume everything was safe, I caught a glimpse of the man bending down to my prior spot before my attention was snatched elsewhere.

I wished my light panting and red cheeks could disappear as the familiar figure started a conversation, "Fancy seeing you here."

As much as I would have loved to sarcastically reply, my breath was still gone. For another minute I regained my necessary supply of oxygen, "I am so glad to see someone familiar."

His smile only broadened and I wished I could automatically take those words back, because I knew the extent of Davis's feelings. "Well since you're not going to ask, I'm training for the Fundraising race."

"Cool." I murmured in distraction, gazing back at the old destination.

There wasn't a single presence in that spot.

"Hey," He gently tugged my arm for attention, "What's got you so startled?"

"Sorry," I exhaled in relief, "I took a breather before, but this weird guy started moving towards me."

Davis snapped as abruptly as that previous sound, and had consequently pulled me to his side, his right arm securely around me.

I could feel the tension in his body, and believe me, my own levels weren't doing so great either.

"He's gone, Davis." I eventually stated awkwardly, moving away so I could just face him instead.

"Right," He sheepishly smiled, "Sorry."

"It's okay," I was more relieved to have him replace the stranger, "When's the run?"

"This Thursday at four. There's gonna be a couple of stalls before that too."

"Oh yeah, Sasha was talking about running something." I reached a hand to my forehead to wipe away my sweat, then realised all my stray hairs had escaped onto my face.

Did I always have to look like such a mess?

"Shit!" I groaned, annoyed at my tiny loss, "My Bobby-pin must have fallen before."

"What a tragedy." He sarcastically remarked.

I scowled at the guy, "Nearly as bad as the time when you threw up in the middle of a dare."

"Hey," Davis raised his hands mockingly, "There were a ton of marshmallows, and I had just eaten before."

"I envy your metabolism." I dryly commented as he pulled out his phone from the initiation of a vibration.

The third snap was in his expression, where it reached the epiphany of gloom due to the contents of his screen.

"Everything okay?" I asked curiously, preferring his smile automatically against the current frown.

"Yeah?" He looked up as if my presence was surprising, then pocketed the phone, "My Mum just wants to meet up again."

After noting his use of the word that suggested it was a regular occurrence, I pried, "You're not okay with that?"

"Mum meets with me, but Mimi has no idea who she is, so the woman doesn't even bother with her. It's completely ridiculous."

"That's a shame, does Mimi ask questions?"

"Nah, she doesn't seem to care, at least for now." His face was still a storm.

I bit my lip enviously, "Guess Mimi and I are both in oblivion."

"You don't know what your Dad looks like?" Davis raised his eyebrows as we began walking towards the exit of the park.

Shaking my head, I expressed, "He left when I was only five, my memories aren't that amazing either."

"No way! And he never appeared again?"

"Never," I nodded as we walked out of the gate, "He probably doesn't have a clue about how I look either."

Davis earnestly smirked, "Well he doesn't know what he's missing out on."

The pesk sent me a swift wave and departed in the opposite direction. My redness continued and I covered my sweaty face with my hands in embarrassment, "Why is he like that?"

~

Familiar walls surrounded me in an enclosed comfort as my feet tapped softly against the floor. The posters about hygiene were an eyesore of constant repetition, brightened to appeal to children.

"It all seems up to date, I'm glad to see everything else is fine." Dr Ravensha nodded approvingly.

"Really?" I sceptically asked, as someone who was adjusted to expecting the worst.

She chuckled in amusement, "Yes. You're keeping up with the exercise and medication superbly, so think of the present as a stationary situation right now."

"It won't get better or worse?" I raised my eyebrows enquiringly.

"I can't promise anything," She shook her head, "But for now you just need to continue exactly what your doing."

"A few weeks ago she was suffering from some blood in her mucus, it's fine now, isn't it?" Mum asked doubtfully.

"Completely fine, it was minimal so there wasn't too much of a worry." The Doctor confirmed.

A sigh of relief was echoed between us both as we re-encountered that problem. I used to be so worried about having coughing fits in public, specifically about others opinions.

Now, I allowed my body to do what it needed, regardless of the stares from irrelevant people who would disregard my sounds by the end of the lesson anyway.

"So, I'll see you again as scheduled in June."

Mum nodded her head and we both choruses, "Thankyou," which was rewarded by a smile.

As we exited the room, I turned to my mother, "What's wrong?"

Stress was loudly painted over her face, ever since I had met up with her outside the faded building.

"There was a letter delivered today, it was addressed to you so I assumed that it was just a reminder from a doctor, I opened it when you were at the park."

"What was it?" I frowned as we climbed down the stairs.

"I think you should read it yourself, it's difficult to put into words."

"The writer did just that." I raised my eyebrows suspiciously.

Mum's smile had been missing for some time, "It's not that easy, Ava."

~

"So you agree?" I glared back at the envelope whilst holding my phone to my left ear.

"I hate to, but yes."

Dina dramatically sighed through the receiver, and I emphasised the sound through repetition.

"I know the exact potential it has, that's why I need the most precaution."

"You don't need to justify it Av, I understand," Her voice was tender with empathy, "Having someone who can relate to the situation is always more supporting."

"I'm so glad you always read my mind." I confessed to my best friend.

She laughed lightly, then sternly remarked, "I trust you'll report back to me pronto."

"Of course," I stroked the creased white cover with a finger, "You can be the fourth to see it. He isn't confidential."

"Who was the first?" Dina curiously asked.

"Mum did... And that was enough to make me worry about the content."

"It's like one sudden sound after over a decade of silence."

I bit my lip apprehensively, "Only, I'm sure I would rather be deaf to it."

"You master of riddles," She murmured, "I have to go make some tea for the guests, so I want to catch up with you tomorrow morning, okay?"

"Deal," I nodded my head, "Just save me some of your paneer."

"Is that even a request?" Dina laughed, accustomed to my passion for her delicously seasoned cheese.

"I'll see you soon then?"

"Haan." I could almost imagine her nodding her head.

"Ciao."

A/N: I can't wait for the next chapter guys!

Yesterday was results day, and it was of the most tense days of my life. I'm extremely happy to say that I PASSED MATHS WITH A B (that's basically a record for my horrid skills okay)

My highest achievements were with Art, English Literature and English Language, where I scored three A*'s. I didn't do aaamaazing overall compared to others, but I'm really happy to have maintained A*'s - B's in every subject.

Also, I AM SO SO SO PROUD OF MY SHINING STAR TheInvisibleFreak
She's the smartest person I know, and I owe passing maths to her facetime sessions ❤️

Until next time, Baii!