#21 Is Mother Dying?

"...iss. Miss. Miss Amanda!"

Someone was shaking me until I groaned in annoyance. That really interrupted my sweet dream I was having.

What is it? Am I late for school?

I forcefully opened my eyelids to peek at the clock at my bedside table. What, it's still early and my alarm hasn't gone off yet. Moreover, my hair was in a mess and not even the maids were supposed to see me like this, it's just… embarrassing.

"Miss, sorry for waking you up before your alarm did but we thought you would be happy to hear this so we came looking for you anyway."

What is she blabbering about?

"Miss, the lady has awakened!"

Alice rushed to me while I was having my morning tantrums. I glanced at my room door and saw Andrea. I had thought that was good news but why does she feel so sad?

To me, that single sentence was enough to jolt me up from my bed. Mother passed out for over a day and we received word this morning that she has finally opened her eyes again.

"Hurry up if you want to see her, this … last time."

Andrea mumbled something at the end of her sentence but I couldn't quite get it. I wanted to ask her to repeat her sentence but she walked away. Leaving me no choice, I proceed with my morning routine.

What day is it today? Do I have school? Well, whatever it is, seeing my mother is priority now so I wouldn't attend any classes even if I have them.

Oh! Where's my phone?

I took my phone from the bed after I was done showering. Can't forget to inform Mia about my absence or she'll get worried.

"Sure thing. I'll let the teacher know that you're sick!" ... was her reply. I never asked her to lie about my reason but she always had it covered up for me, mainly to prevent new gossip topics, of course.

I hopped into the car after dressing up. Do I need to tell Eric too? Nah, he would have known it sooner or later anyway.

My sister was silent during the whole journey. Either she wasn't fully awake yet or it has something to be with the worried look she had earlier. I wanted to hold a conversation to break the awkward silence in the car but the awkward atmosphere wouldn't let me.

Alice dropped us off at the lobby when we arrived at the hospital. She parked the car in a parking space and caught up to us. My excitement grew when the receptionist handed me the room card.

"Andrea, let's go!"

I was enveloped in my own happiness that I did not realize my own sister's feelings at that time. She was walking so slowly until I gave up on waiting and headed to the room first.

My hand reached to the door instinctively and knocked it. I swiped the keycard on the card reader and entered the room when it made a 'beep' sound, indicating the door was opened.

My mother was seen lying weak in the bed, with her gaze at the scenery outside although there was nothing much to see since it was still dark

"Mother."

I called out to her and she shifted her gaze to me with a bright smile on her face. She then gestured her hand to me to come closer.

The first thing that came to my mind when I got close was: a warm hug!

I dived into my mother's embrace and hugged her so tightly I worried if she could breathe.

"Amanda, you came."

"Yeah, I came once we received news that you woke up."

We chatted a little before my sister came. Her voice was weaker than before so I thought chatting wouldn't be a good idea.

I glanced at the bedside table and didn't expect to find an empty glass. Mother's coughing made my legs move on its own to fill a glass of water for her.

"Thank you," said mother while finishing the water in one gulp.

I took the once again empty glass from her hands and placed it on the table. She must be really thirsty, to be able to drink one glass of water so quickly.

Andrea was standing in a distance, watching us. Mother seemed to have taken notice of her and called out, "Andrea, come."

She hesitated before coming closer. They talked for a bit and we left soon after. Curiosity killed the cat so I asked my sister what she was so worried about since morning.

"Don't you remember?"

Remember what now?

"Grandma passed out as long as mother too few days before she left."

Now that I think about it, that really did happen, didn't it? Perhaps it's because I wasn't there at that time, so it didn't really cross my mind.

But, what does that have to do with our mother? Don't tell me…

"Is mother dying?"

My sister went silent. I took that as a 'yes'.

It's not like I could do anything about mother's lifespan, so I decided to keep myself together and move on. Just then, I recalled the conversation we had earlier in the hospital.

"Amanda, your fiance is a very lovely person, I'm certain you will love him."

"I don't even know who he is."

"You know him. In fact, I think you might have started to develop feelings towards him too, just that you are still unaware of his identity."

Ah, give me a break already, come on.

Ever since I was informed about my engagement, my mother wouldn't stop blabbering about how I would meet him eventually. And now she says I've met him and moreover, developed feelings? What nonsense is that?

Whenever I ask about my fiance, she would just say he's a lovely person or the sorts.

I wonder if she was aware that that sentence of hers wasn't giving me a single clue?

"Young Misses, we have arrived."

We got out of the car and when I checked the time, I thought I might be able to reach on time.

"Alice, I'm going to school after changing my clothes."

"Miss, what about breakfast?"

"Don't need any. I'm not hungry."

Besides, I would be fed with all the food from Mia during recess anyway.