A/N

The words in italics are Leah's voice over.

~•~•~•
Leah

Even after a year passed, everything felt brand new. Coming home from school to see mum preparing dinner or watching her new favourite series to actually going to school without thinking about what Gus will do next, everything was perfect.

"What are you doing Leah?" Mum asked as I stuck my tongue out and focused on the wall in front of me.

"I'm drawing a star mum" I told her. I finally got the loops to look like a star and I sighed. "There.. How does it look mama?" I asked smiling at my artwork.

"Well.." Mum strained and I looked at her in confusion before looking back at my drawing, "it looks like a star alright" she said and I nodded in agreement, "From a parallel universe, very different from ours. Very, very, very..."

"Ok, OK, I get it. It looks bad" I said dropping the paint brush in my hand. Mum took the brush and drew a much better star beside mine and I rolled my eyes. "Show off" I scoffed and she laughed.

"It's just a star" she said in between laughs.

"Yada yada ya" I said in a singsong tone before walking out of the room.

Everything was just right. We would chat all day long whenever we were free..

"So mum, why don't we have any other family members? Aside from Doctor Barnes, I literally don't know any other person from your childhood" I asked sitting on the kitchen stool as mum made dinner.

"Well.. Just so you know, Steve once had a tiny crush on me and he would always compete with your dad in everything just to get on my good side." Mum said and I wasn't even surprised at that. I'm pretty sure that crush was still alive in him. "Eventually he fell for this girl in chess club and boom, he's off to medical school" she concluded turning off the gas cooker.

"Any grandmas or grandpas?" I asked, giving her two plates.

"My mother..." She sighed, "She left when I was twelve. She said she couldn't do the whole training me thing anymore. My father sunk into depression and forgot I was around. When I turned sixteen, we got news that she died of some sickness. But her pictures showed that she was much happier." She said and I frowned. She didn't have a good life either.

"What about dad?" I asked as mum carried the filled plates to the living room while I carried the cups.

"He was brought here from Nigeria to stay with his distant relative. He didn't hear from them since he was seven till he clocked eighteen. They called and asked him to loan them money at first and it turned to a tradition. I don't even know them at all and I'm pretty sure your father doesn't even remember their faces." She said chuckling. "Less talking" she added, closing her eyes to say a short prayer.

"More eating" I concluded already digging in.

And for the first time in what felt like ages, we were together during that time of the year.

"Do you miss him?" I asked my mother as we both stared at my dad's picture in the living room.

"Always" she replied, her voice was barely above a whisper as we, in our thoughts, mourned him over and over again.

It was just mum and I in our own little world and sometimes Steve. I was so happy that I missed the signs..

"Happy birthday to~ youuu~" Steve ended, stretching the song more than necessary. We all sat on the living room ground with silly birthday hats on our heads while mum blew out her candle.

"Make a wish" Steve added and mum clasped her hands together and closed her eyes.

"You are even more excited than the birthday girl." I scoffed at Steve who was fangirling over mum's cake. He cleared his throat immediately and strengthened his poise.

"Let's eat th-" mum started before coughing hysterically. When she stopped, she looked at her elbow, then at Steve. "I need to use the restroom. Leah share the cake, I'll be right out" she quickly left with Steve hot on her tail.

Maybe the signs were always there and I failed to see them.

"Hey mum, where are you? I'm on my way back from the cafe" I said, holding up my phone with my shoulder as I counted how much change left in my purse.

"I just left the hospital, should I wait for you?" She asked and I nodded before realizing she couldn't see me.

"Yep, I'll be there in a sec" I replied before hanging up. I was about to pass a boutique when something caught my eyes. There in the show glass was a cream and blue sundress with a matching cream hat on top. It was a very nice summer outfit for middle aged women and it would look amazing on my mum. My eyes trailed down to the mannequin's wrist and I saw the price tag. There were so many zeros, I didn't even need to count the zeros for me to shudder.

I felt someone stand beside me and I embarrassingly walked away. It was probably the shop clerk, I stood there for way too long.

As I approached the hospital, I saw my mum standing at the entrance waiting. Something about her appearance was different. She looked slimmer, much slimmer and pale. She looked as though she would fall any time. But she looked at me and waved, instantly she was back to the woman I knew.

Maybe the signs were always there and I chose not to see them..

"This ice cream is so good" my mum said as she took another spoonful looking like a child having a sugar rush.

"So what did the doctor say?" I asked her licking my spoon. She paused before shrugging.

"Just stress" she replied and I nodded slowly, it was probably the stress. "Do you have any friends yet?" She suddenly asked and I nodded.

"Of course. I have tons; Lexi, Jerry, Sam, Kylie.. They're a lot actually" I replied, shoving a spoon of ice cream into my mouth and looking away.

"You'll end up lonely. Promise me you'll make friends and be happy" she said and I laced my pinky with hers before sinking into my seat.

And I obliviously made my own happy scenarios...

"Mum, what do I need all these clothes for?!" I whined as she threw another one on my face.

"You are a college student not a hobo. You need to start dressing like one. What if you suddenly want to go on a date and you have nothing to wear?" She said, making it sound like one of a natural disaster.

"Now's not the time mum" I replied.

"It might be too late then you know" she said before looking at a wrap style jumpsuit, "this is beautiful. We'll take it" she said, grinning brightly.

Even when her smile no longer reached her eyes and she stopped eating much, I was too blind to even notice till...

"Mum! Where is the conditioner?" I asked from the bathroom and I got no response. "Mum?!" I called out again and she didn't respond. I wrapped a towel around my hair and called out to her again but she didn't respond. As I stepped into the living room, I met a lurid sight in front of me.

"M-m mum?" I called out hoping it was sick joke. "Mama!" I yelled but she didn't move. I rushed to her side and hugged her close to me, wishing she would just open her eyes. Yet, those warm eyes that twinkled when she laughed remained shut.

Till her heartbeat stopped and I lost her...