How Long Will You Last?

The world's colors began to emerge as the moon soon veiled itself in the early morning light. Alicia must have awakened a dozen or more times in the 10 hours of the entire night she spent in bed. Not because she was disturbed but because she was aware of every move her mother made while she was ill. She would spritz water on her face and drink whenever she noticed her eyes getting heavy.

Closed eyes and arched eyebrows were directly exposed to the window's intruding light. As soon as the brilliant rays touched her face, the eyes that had been tightly closed opened wide. Alicia used her hands to obstruct and opened her eyes, dilating and trying to process.

She let out a faint gasp as she remembered her mother's condition. She was supposed to take care of her mother, but she had fallen asleep unbeknownst to her. She stood up too soon, only to feel her floor crumble. Her hands shot forward to grab hold of the bedpost as she leaped.

She was astounded by how recklessly she had dozed off. As she touched her mother's burning skin with her palm, she muttered swear words under her breath. There was nothing said. Taking her mother to the hospital was not an option but a must.

"Ma?" She muttered as she removed her mother's wet blond hair from her face. "Let's not wait any longer. I'm going to get you treated in some way."

___

"Aunt Lily, thank you so much! I wouldn't have made it to the hospital without your help." Alicia kept complimenting the woman.

If it weren't for Aunt Lily stopping by to see them and giving her a new dish she had cooked as she was attempting to move her mother out of the room, she would have still been struggling to take her mother to the hospital. When the woman saw Alicia straining to drag her mother forward, she rushed to assist her, and soon they were in front of the locked doors of the hospital. Her mother was being checked by the doctor.

"What nonsense! I'm always here if you need me, sweetheart." She waved her hands in the air. "You've been straining to care for your mother since last night. I'm upset that you didn't even want to seek assistance or notify me about the problem." Aunt Lily looked away with a dejected expression.

"Aishh! Aunt Lily, it all happened all of a sudden, not to say it was already past ten. How was I to bother you at that time?" Standing in front of her kind neighbor, Alicia made an effort to get her message across.

"So what?!" She raised her voice, startling Alicia, who stepped back at her sudden yell. For a split second, Alicia saw the lady's gaze flitter. Alicia blinked twice, making sure she saw it right.

'I must have imagined.' Alicia thought as she saw her eyes normal, unlike how she saw them green for a split second. Alicia agreed, believing that her lack of sleep was causing her mind to play games for real.

"Like, Alicia, does an emergency ever have time?" She heard Aunt Lily soften her voice as she shook her head and stepped forward. "I'm sorry for my outburst, but please know that I'm always available if you need me." With a motherly grin, she caressed her cheeks and patted her on the head.

"Okay, I'll be back for lunch. Don't you buy anything, alright? I'll make sure to have something ready for both your mother and you."

"Oh no, Aunt. Please don't trouble yourself."

"Shush now. Just wait for me while I'm there before you starve your tummy."

Alicia had no choice but to accept her words, and she trailed her eyes where the lady left before her attention shifted toward the door in front of her. She waited and waited for what felt like an hour, though in truth, it wasn't; there was no sign of the door opening anytime soon. She kept pacing back and forth, inserting her hands into the pockets of her brown coat, which protected her from showing off the nightwear underneath it.

Alicia did not have the time to get dressed up when she saw her mother's condition this morning. All she did was take a long coat and drape it over her thin nightwear. Thankfully, there was a hoody attached to it, so she didn't need to disguise her ears.

Finally, the long wait came to an end. She saw a nurse come out and look for something. As soon as her gaze swept past her, it returned to her. "Miss. Anderson?" She questioned.

Alicia dashed toward her desperately, hoping her mother was all right. "Y-yes," came the stuttering, quick response.

"The doctor wishes to see you." The nurse waved her hands inside, gesturing for her to come in, but didn't wait for her to step in as she was quick on her feet.

"Uh, is my mother alright?"

Alicia felt her heart thud loudly as she waited for the nurse to respond, but the nurse gave her a cold look before she disappeared behind the blue curtain.

She wondered what that was supposed to mean. She glanced at the curtain and slid it slightly aside, only to see the nurse treating her mom. Her feet took a step ahead, but she stepped back when the nurse glanced at her with a frown.

"You're not allowed in here. Go see the doctor," she spat, pointing in the opposite direction. Alicia glanced at her mother for a brief moment, only to get a pointed look from the nurse. "What?"

She shook her head and sped to the other side. The doctor in the green hospital suit glanced at her with a serious look.

'What was the attitude of these nurses and doctors? It's not like I tried to strangle them, did I?'

"Take a seat," said the lady doctor, and she went back to reading the file in her hand. Alicia sat on one of the chairs that stood in front of the doctor's table.

"Doctor? How's my mother? Is–is everything alright? Will she have to be admitted? Do-"

"Calm down, dear. There's nothing to be worried about. She's actually doing great," said the doctor, dropping the file on the table covered with a white sheet.

"Alicia, is it?" She asked as if to make sure she got the name right. Alicia nodded her head vigorously, biting her lips nervously.

The doctor stood up from her chair, confusing her. She followed every movement of hers as the doctor came to stand beside her and stretched her hand forward. Alicia glanced confusedly.

"I'm Eva," she introduced herself with a polite smile. Alicia accepted the handshake, but with a frown on her forehead.

"I'm sorry, but can I know my mother's condition?" She questioned and earned another smile before the doctor handed the file that she was reading a while ago to Alicia.

The doctor went into great detail regarding her mother's health and how she should take special care of her mother while avoiding any sort of pressure. Because of overthinking and worry, her mother had developed HBP. For a few days, she was rigorously instructed to have her mother take bed rest and refrain from working.

Compared to what she seemed to look like, the doctor was a lot more different than how she thought at first sight. She was extra kind to Alicia.

Her mother was allowed to get discharged only in the evening, so she has to wait till then.

"Don't you try to get up, Mama! The doctor has strictly prohibited you from tiring yourself."

Mrs. Anderson tried to pour herself a glass of water only to get an earful from her daughter, who glared at her before she handed her the glass.

"Aishh! Don't you think you're overreacting? I just wanted to pour it myself. You–"

"Nope."

"But–"

"There are no buts or ifs. From now onwards, all you have to do is ask, and I'll be at your service, Madame." Alicia stood up and pretended like a maid, bowing her head.

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yes, Ma'am, how may I serve you?" Alicia muffled her laugh, but as soon as she heard her mother laugh, she could no longer hold it back. Both the mother and daughter duo kept teasing and making fun like they were some best friends.

The nurses who stood by could not help but glance at them and whisper about how they looked so cute and beautiful together.

As the time for lunch hit, the door to the room was knocked, and in came a nurse in a green and white uniform.

"Miss, are you expecting a guest?"

"Oh, it must be Aunt Lily. I'll be right there, Mama."

Mrs. Anderson nodded her head and waited for her daughter and her neighbor. Alicia thanked the nurse and let Aunt Lily in.

As promised, the lady had brought them food for lunch and some porridge for her mother. The three conversed heartily.

"Com'on, Alice, drink this porridge. I made it for you with chicken breast. I bet you'd love it." Aunt Lily poured the porridge into a small bowl and handed it to her. The smell of chicken wafted in the air, mouthwatering Alicia more than she already was.

"Oh, so I don't get to taste it?"

"Don't worry, Ed, you'll get to drink it once you're all fine. I've added some ingredients that won't suit your current condition," she said, sending a wink at Alicia. Alicia burst out in laughter.

"The porridge tastes so good, Aunt Lily," commented Alicia.

"How would it not be when I prepared specially for you, my dear?" She asked and smiled at Alicia, who grinned ear to ear and excused herself to the ensuite. As soon as she stepped out of the room, her sweet smile turned into a dangerous smirk with an evil glint in her eyes.

"Especially for you, my dear. Let's see how long you will last with it."