Overdoses and Ultimatums

"Mom!!!" I screamed.

I shook her body in despair seeing her pale.

"SOMEBODY HELP!!!" I shouted loudly hoping someone could hear me in the middle of the night.

The door opened wide and I saw Mrs. Gibbs was confused.

"Mrs. Gibbs!! I need help," I said, crying and panicking.

"Oh, dear God!" she exclaimed the moment she approached us.

"I--I came home and… and…"

"Did you call the hospital?" she asked while putting two fingers on her neck.

"What?" I asked. I can't seem to process what she was saying because I was deeply panicking.

"Did you call the hospital?" she repeated.

"No. No, I haven't," I replied.

"Then call them now!" she said urgently.

"Y-yes. Right. Call. uhhmm.. the hospital," I said stammering. The phone fell off the first time I took it from my bag. My hands were shaking. I couldn't control it.

I took a deep breath and then called for an ambulance. They asked me for details of the situation. I was trying my best to calm down because the person on the other line couldn't get anything from me. My mind went blank and I couldn't get a hold of myself.

I could still feel my hands shaking. The last time I ever felt something like this was exactly a year ago. I called Nate because I was feeling like a mess. I don't understand a thing. I can't think straight.

Mrs. Gibbs, Mom, and I arrived at the hospital around 11:30 in the evening. As soon as we arrived, there were also a lot of evening emergencies rushing in. I was just really grateful that we were accommodated immediately because I really have no idea what to do. We were told to wait and that they will do their best to save her.

Mrs. Gibbs and I were sitting at one end of the room. I kept on fidgeting my hands. I can't make myself calm. Mrs. Gibbs was patting me and telling me that everything will be fine. She even told me to just pray and believe that an Almighty being will help us. Fuck that, he didn't even help me last year, what's different now? I feel so helpless and weak. I hate feeling this way.

"Luna!" someone shouted then I saw Nate who was standing by the entrance of the emergency room. He was wearing his oversized gray hoodie, black shorts, and flip-flops. I guess he was ready for bed when I called.

"Nate! Over here," I shouted. He saw me and came running towards me.

"What happened? Are you okay?" he asked while checking up on me.

"I… I'm scared," I defeatedly admitted to him. I cried as soon as he hugged me to comfort me.

We waited for what felt like hours of waiting. Finally, I saw a doctor coming over to us.

"Family or relative of Ms. Selene Harper?" the doctor said.

"Here," I answered. We stood up ready to listen to whatever he is supposed to report to us.

"Are you her daughter?" she asked. I nodded in reply. "I see. Your mother is actually stable now. If you haven't rushed her here, we could've hit a lot of complications, and worst it would have led to death. But she's fine now. We have given her an antidote, but she's not regaining consciousness. We will have to admit her to the ICU for close monitoring," the doctor said.

"But... She's fine, right? She'll live?" I asked the doctor and when I did that, I was gripping Nate's hand really hard for I was anxious to know if she'll live through it or not.

"We need to closely monitor her to know because aside from drug overdose, your mother has been experiencing already illnesses that may have been caused by substance abuse," the doctor said. "If you may excuse me, I still have patients to tend to."

I don't know what to feel. I'm so confused and overwhelmed right now. A nurse came next telling us that we would have to be in the waiting area if we want to stay because the ICU is no longer available for visiting hours. She assured us that they will be taking care of her and that we need not worry so much.

We went to where they say the waiting area was. Nate offered coffee and food which he bought from the vending machine. Mrs. Gibbs was trying to assure me that everything will be fine.

"I'm just afraid someone so close to me again," I said while crying in frustration.

Mom was transferred to the ICU already. We couldn't be there with her not until it's visiting hours again. So, we stayed in the waiting area instead. I told Mrs. Gibbs that she can head home already and I will be staying here with Nate. But she insisted to stay until she can be there with me during the morning. I thanked her for her show of support, which I really needed right now because I don't know what to think or feel. I'm too overwhelmed.

She's still my mother despite the hateful things she had committed in the past. No matter what happens, even if the world turns upside down, she is still my mother - the woman who bore me into this world.

I woke up because of the noises I heard in my sleep. It was like someone was arguing. I thought how insensitive is the man to be shouting with all the patients and people trying to sleep and get a rest. I was still stretching because it felt like my muscles were no longer there due to an abnormal position but that stop midway when I was able to peek with my one eye and saw a familiar old man standing by the entrance door of the ICU.

I saw Nate waking up next but then told him, "Stay there. Don't follow me."

How can this weekend get any worse?

As I walk towards the commotion, Grandfather and I locked eyes. I gripped at my dress, trying to hide the fact that Nate is with me. I remembered the threats that made me fear him immediately.

"What happened?" he grittily asked.

I stammered but then answered, "Mom had a drug overdose. The doctor said that they were able to recover her by giving her the antidote but she's still not regaining consciousness. She's admitted in the ICU for close mo--"

"What the hell were you thinking not calling the mansion, me?" he asked, raising a hand to hit me. I closed my eyes waiting for it to land on my cheek while gripping my dress. Yet, I didn't felt anything but I heard the slap. I opened my eyes only to see Nate standing in front of me.

My eyes widened. This is the first time that Grandfather and Nate had a face to face encounter. Grandfather's face is now worse than it was earlier. Seeing Nate made him think that I disobeyed him.

"Grandfather, please. Not now," I begged. "Let's not create a commotion here. It wouldn't help us and it may affect our family."

I was able to calm myself when I saw him walking away after that.

When visiting hours were opened, Mrs. Gibbs, Nate, and I went to check up on her. She looked very peaceful sleeping but it didn't really help me feel a little less worried because I can see that a lot of these medical things attached to her. After a while, I told Mrs. Gibbs to go home and that we could take care of ourselves from then on. She asked me if I'm sure that I could handle things on my own, but I told her then that Grandfather is around the premises already taking care of the documents and the billing. So, she left and told me that she'll come to visit again. I thanked her for her help and support.

"You should take some rest, too. Go home and freshen up." Nate told me as he placed his hand on my head and patted me.

"But--"

"No, buts. Just listen to me. I'm sure the doctors and nurses here will take care of your mom, but no one else will take care of us but ourselves. So, go home then freshen up and come back. I will look after your Mom while you're still not around, okay?" he said assuringly.

"Okay," I said. I looked at Mom one more time before leaving and whispered to my head, "Mom, please fight. You're the only one left I have." I held her hand, hoping that she could feel it in her slumber.

When I came back by lunch, people were shouting and an alarm went off.

"Code blue. Code blue in the ICU."

My eyes widened and my body suddenly felt a rush of anxiety all over it. Code blue? That doesn't sound right, right?

I ran towards the ICU, but the nurses wouldn't let me in. I was trying to look for Nate but he's nowhere to be found. I checked my pocket for my phone but I think I left it with Nate.

What the hell's going on?

"I have to go in there. Is it my mom?" I asked while trying to move past the nurse and checking through the glass window who the patient was being checked upon.

"Miss, I'm really sorry, but you can't enter the premises right now," the nurse said, trying with all her energy to stop me from entering.

"But I really have to go in there. I need to be beside my mom!" I shouted in annoyance. Then, suddenly, I felt a hand holding my wrist with force.

"Luna," I heard a familiar voice.

I turned around to see Grandfather and Ms. Nora with him. I was surprised and relieved at the same time to see Ms. Nora but my mind keeps diverting on wanting to see mom.

"Luna, let the doctors and nurses do their work before we enter. We don't want to complicate things just because we are there on their way."

I was surprised to hear Grandfather being calm, but he was right.

Minutes later, the sound of the equipment blaring earlier has now stabilized and the doctors and nurses seem to be calmer than earlier. The alarm has already died down too.

When the other nurses and doctors moved out of the room, I saw that it wasn't Mom who was being attended to, but the other patient that was across from her. I felt like a big lump was taken out from my stomach. As soon as I was able to enter the room, I hugged Nate in relief. He brushed my hair in return that made me smile and felt safe in his arms.

Now we're in the hospital's cafeteria getting our lunch. A lot of people - both doctors, nurses, and visitors - are here eating their meals. Nate is getting our food, while I sit at the table waiting for him. I checked my phone for any messages and I saw a particular one that caught my attention.

It was from Grandfather.

"I'll be leaving. As I mentioned earlier, all the documents and billings were already processed, so you don't have to worry about that. She's still my daughter.

Although, I think you need a reminder, my dear little one of our discussion when you were at the mansion. Are you testing me?"

While reading his message, I felt a shiver down my spine. I can't believe this. The problem keeps finding its way to me.

I only had one good day, but now I feel like I don't deserve any. Every single time I wanna have a fun day or night, everything is ruined the next one. It's like the universe is telling me that I am not allowed to enjoy life at all.

Nate arrived by the table with a tray that he's holding, containing our meals.

"Are you alright? You look pale," he asked as he sat down across from me.

"Yeah. I think I'm just hungry," I shamelessly lied. I don't even feel hunger. I didn't even think that I was hungry at all. With everything that's been going on, I feel numb inside.

"Oh, okay. Well, good thing I got all the good stuff. Dig in," he said and we did.

The afternoon came and I'm alone sitting beside Mom's bed. Nate had to go home. He also told me if I needed anything, but I just shook my head because I can't think of any that I would be needing right now. He told me that he will swing by the apartment to get some of my things for school too. I just nodded my head as a response.

I held my Mom's hand while looking at her who seems to be at peace but I know deep inside she's in pain and in a lot of suffering. My mind was really blank. I didn't know what to do.

I knew Mom and I haven't really been on good terms at all ever since last year. We have always been head to head at almost every little thing - home rent, the bills, her boys, my boys, and a lot more. But still, she's my Mom, no matter what. Even if I hated her for what she had done in the past, the world will still be almost a round shape and she will still be my Mother - the woman who carried me for nine months.

I wished Dad would be here to help me calm the fuck myself down, but he's far away and no one can actually contact him.

"Mom, fight," I whispered in my head.

Mom is a fighter. I know she is. She may not be the best mom, but I know she doesn't like her pride getting hurt.

Suddenly, I felt a hand placed on my shoulder. I looked over and saw Grandfather standing beside me. I was surprised to see him because I thought he already left.

"Grandfather, I thought you--" I said, standing up to greet him.

"Sit young lady," he said and did as instructed.

"How is your mother doing?" he asked.

"She looks peaceful but I know she's hurting," I answered. Grandfather didn't say anything else. He was just looking at my mother with a blank facial expression.

I looked at Mom again and all I can feel is a part of her pain because I have no idea what she's feeling right now. I hope I can just take a part of it to end it - whatever that is she is feeling.

"Let's walk," Grandfather said. And of course, as someone who can't resist despite not wanting to go, I followed him.

We're outside the hospital building, walking around to I guess a therapeutic garden. There were lots of trimmed bushes giving the garden a neat and well-maintained look. There were also some benches to sit on and light lamps to light the small pathway for nights.

Grandfather sat on one of the benches and so did I. He cleared his throat before speaking, but even before that, I know what words will come out of his mouth.

"Grandfather about Nate--" I said, trying to cut him off, but I failed to do so.

"Break it off with him now," he said with a stern voice and eyes glaring at me.

"But why?" I protested.

"Just because," he replied.

"That's not an answer, Grandfather," I said retorted. His eyes glared fiercely at me but I didn't back down.

"Leave him now or you will suffer the consequences," he said again, trying to threaten me. I know that Grandfather is not used to someone who will go against his word. His words have always been absolute. Everyone bows their heads down in front of him and can not even dare to stab words behind his back without him knowing.

"Consequences? What consequences? Haven't we suffered enough of your wrath since last year? What else can you take away from me?"

"Your education. Your home. Your career," he plainly said. I was left dumbfounded by his answer. Grandfather always knows how to get what he wants. I gasped at how manipulating and controlling he can be.

"Leave him or you will no longer have a future," he said and walked away.