~A MOTHER'S SURPRISE~

~A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary~

- Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Song - Mother by Megan Trainor

─────────

Sophie smiled mischievously as she stood over Aubrey, who was lying on her bed, looking adorably helpless. "Okay, patient, it's time for your check-up," she said, trying to sound stern but failing miserably.

"Do we really have to do this? I... I feel dumb," Aubrey said, looking at the fake bandage wrapped on his arm.

"C'mon Aubrey, get use to this. Consider this your first taste of what I'll be practicing on you. Now hold still let me check your heartbeat."

"It's definitely beating for someone."

Sophie playfully rolled her eyes. "Hmmm, let me listen to your heartbeat then."

As she leaned in close to Aubrey, he couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked. Her dark hair was tied up in a messy bun, and her bright brown eyes sparkled with mischief. He felt his heart skip a beat as she leaned in closer, her face inches from his.

Sophie, on the other hand, was trying to focus on the task at hand. But it was hard to concentrate when Aubrey's eyes were looking up at her like that. She felt a flutter in her chest as she listened to his heartbeat, trying to pretend that she wasn't affected by his proximity.

After a few moments, Sophie pulled back and smiled. "Your heartbeat is perfectly normal," she said, trying to sound professional.

"Normal? Nah, check again."

Sophie raised an eyebrow, laughing slightly. "What do you mean?"

"It can't be normal, because every time you're near me, it skips a beat."

Sophie's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she looked away, trying to compose herself. A tiny smile played on her lips, and she nervously cleared her throat.

After a few more minutes of "examining" Aubrey, Sophie finally declared him fit and healthy. Aubrey sat up, grinning at her.

"Thanks, nurse. You're the best doctor I've ever had," his tone sacarstic.

"Anytime, patient," she said, leaning in close to him. "Now, let me just give you a prescription for some rest and relaxation."

Aubrey's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Then, without thinking, Aubrey leaned in to kiss Sophie softly on her lips.

But before that could happen, Sophie suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She tried to brush it off, thinking it was just a side effect of not eating breakfast yet.

Sophie's stomach churned and she felt her mouth start to water. She quickly turned around and made a dash for the bathroom, hoping to make it there before she threw up.

She barely made it to the toilet before she started vomiting. She felt a wave of humiliation wash over her. She hated throwing up, and she hated that Aubrey was in the other room, probably wondering what was going on.

As she sat on the floor, trying to catch her breath, she heard a knock on the door.

"Sophie, are you okay?" Aubrey called out, his voice laced with concern.

Sophie quickly got up and rinsed her mouth out with water. She didn't want Aubrey to know that she had thrown up.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, trying to sound casual.

There was a pause, and then Aubrey spoke up again. "Do you need some water or something?"

Sophie sighed inwardly. She didn't want Aubrey to come into the bathroom and see her like this. She didn't want him to know that she was feeling weak and vulnerable.

"No, I'm good. Just...just give me a minute, okay?"

There was another pause, and then Aubrey said, "Okay, Soph. Take your time."

Sophie let out a sigh of relief as she heard Aubrey walk away from the door. She sat down on the edge of the bathtub, feeling exhausted and drained. She knew things were getting out of hand and her treatment was declining.

As she sat there, trying to collect her thoughts, Sophie heard a faint knock at the door again.

"Sophie, I'm sorry to bother you, but...uh...can I come in?" Aubrey asked, his voice hesitant.

Sophie sighed inwardly, getting up. She didn't want Aubrey to come in and see her like this. But at the same time, she didn't want to be rude to him. He was just trying to take care of her.

"Yes, come in."

Aubrey opened the door and peeked inside. His eyes widened in concern as he took in Sophie's pale face and disheveled hair.

"Sophie, what's going on?"

Sophie suddenly fell down and tried to wave him off, but Aubrey just pushed his way into the bathroom and knelt down beside her.

"Soph, tell me what's going on."

Sophie felt a surge of panic at Aubrey's perceptiveness. She didn't want him to know that something was wrong. She didn't want him to worry about her or feel sorry for her.

She hated pity!

But as she looked into Aubrey's eyes, Sophie saw something there that gave her pause. She saw a deep and abiding concern for her well-being.

And in that moment, Sophie felt her defenses crumble. She felt herself wanting to open up to Aubrey, to tell him the truth about what was going on.

But she didn't. Instead, Sophie just shook her head and tried to smile. "I'm fine, Aubrey."

Sophie tried to smile and brush off Aubrey's concerns, but he could see the faintest glimmer of fear in her eyes. He knew that she was hiding something from him, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Aubrey gently took Sophie's arm and helped her into the room, leading her over to the bed. "Here, sit down," he said softly.

"You're shaking, Sophie. What's going on?"

Sophie tried to shake her head again, but Aubrey was having none of it. He sat down beside her on the bed and took her hands in his, his eyes locked on hers.

"Sophie, please," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Tell me what's wrong. I can see that something's bothering you. Let me help you."

Sophie felt a lump form in her throat as she looked into Aubrey's eyes. But she still didn't want to tell him. She didn't want to burden him with her problems. So she just shook her head again, trying to smile.

Aubrey sighed softly and stood up, going over to the nightstand to grab a glass of water. "Here, drink this," he said, coming back over to Sophie and holding out the glass.

Sophie shook her head again, feeling a wave of nausea wash over her. "No, I don't want it," she said, trying to push the glass away.

But Aubrey was insistent. He gently took Sophie's hand and wrapped it around the glass, his fingers intertwining with hers. "Please, Sophie," he said softly, his eyes locked on hers. "Just take a sip for me."

Sophie felt a surge of emotion at Aubrey's words, so she nodded slowly. Aubrey smiled softly and lifted the glass to her lips, his fingers brushing against her skin as he did so.

She felt a shiver run down her spine as Aubrey's fingers touched hers. She took a sip of the water, feeling it cool her parched throat. And then she looked up at Aubrey.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm always here for you."

As he spoke, Aubrey gently took the glass from Sophie's hand and set it down on the nightstand. Then he turned back to her.

"Sophie, please. Tell me what's wrong."

Sophie felt a lump form in her throat,
but she still didn't want to tell him. "Nothing."

Aubrey sighed softly and wrapped his arms around Sophie, pulling her close. "It's okay, Sophie," he said softly, his voice full of comfort. "I'm here for you. Whenever you're ready, I'm here to listen."

As they sat there together, wrapped in each other's arms, Sophie knew that she had found something special in Aubrey. She knew that she had found a true friend, someone who would always be there for her, no matter what.

Aubrey's phone suddenly rang, breaking the peaceful moment between them. Sophie pulled back slightly, and Aubrey smiled apologetically as he reached for his phone.

He groaned inwardly before answering the call. "Hey, Momma."

"Momma?" Sophie muttered under her breath as she stifled her laughter and watched as Aubrey's expression changed from relaxed to confused.

"What do you mean, what am I doing this weekend?" Aubrey asked, his brows furrowed.

There was a pause, and then Aubrey's eyes widened in surprise.

"Maa, what are you talking about? You're outside my dorm?"

Sophie's eyes met Aubrey's, and she raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" he asked, his voice slightly exasperated.

There was another pause, and then Aubrey sighed.

"A'ight. I'll be right down," he said, hanging up the phone.

Sophie looked at Aubrey, a questioning expression on her face. "What's going on?"

"My mom is outside, and she's here to see me," Aubrey explained.

"Without warning?" she asked, laughing.

Aubrey nodded, exhaling. "That's my momma for you,"

"Momma?"

"Yeah, that's what I call her."

"Seems like you're a momma's boy," she cooed.

"Yo, stop," Aubrey said, laughing.

"Well, you better go, she's still outside," Sophie said, standing up. "Thank God this place is already tidy."

"Yeah, thanks to my effort. I guess I'd better go." He stood up and smoothed out his clothes, before heading to the door.

As he opened it, his mom, Emily, stood on the other side, a bright smile on her face. "Hey, baby!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around Aubrey's neck.

Aubrey gasped for air, tapping Emily's back slightly. "Hey, Maa."

Emily pulled back and looked him up and down. "I came to see my baby. Omg, you look so thin!"

"I'm fine. I can take care of myself."

Emily waved her hand dismissively, "Oh, don't be silly. You're still my baby. Won't you invite me in? Or is there some funny business going on in your room?"

Aubrey chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nah. Let's go."

As Emily followed Aubrey into the dorm room, her eyes scanned the space, taking in the tidy room.

"Your roommate must be hygienic, because I know you don't clean up."

Aubrey chuckled nervously, how would his mom react on seeing Sophie? He hadn't mentioned it to her yet, so their meeting was going to be plain awkward.

That's when Sophie walked out of the bathroom and Emily's eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh, you have a...visitor," she said, her voice trailing off as she took in Sophie's feminine appearance.

Aubrey rubbed the back of his neck, as his eyes darted nervously between his mom and Sophie, his mind racing with thoughts of how he was going to explain this situation.

─────────