“The doctor knows nothing about Mom!” I shouted at him, “She’s good with us, okay? She’ll get better!”
Adam and Amelia started crying, which made Ned hug them both, and shushing them to calm down. My tears were streaming down my cheeks, and I balled my hands into fists, and gritted my teeth, “No one is taking her anywhere. No one!”
Dad walked to me, and rested his hands over my shoulders, “That’s what I told him.” And I finally saw tears dripping from his eyes, “I’ll never do that to her, ever.”
He hugged me into his chest, with my tears wetting his shirt, “It’s not fair,” I said with heavy voice full off sadness.
“I know,” he comforted, “I know, baby. I know.”
We stood there hugging, and crying. I rarely saw him cry before, but that was a moment of daughter and father bonding. It was unbreakable.
****************************************
At the hospital’s cafeteria, I was sitting at a table, and looking through my phone. That’s when I saw Jane’s missed calls, and texted her after that.
Me: Hey
Jane: Celia, where were you yesterday?
Me: SOS
Me: My mom was admitted to the hospital
Jane: Omg, I’m so sorry!
Jane: What happened?
Me: She was acting up
Me: I don’t know
Me: I don’t remember everything that happened
Jane: I’m sorry, Celia
Jane: I wish I knew earlier
Jane: I would have bought a ticket to see you
Me: Shit happens
Jane sent a hugging bear sticker
Celia sent a hugging bear sticker
Me: What’s even worse that
Me: I think I started liking Ned
Jane: Oh?
Me: Yeah, he’s been amazing so far
Me: He’s everything a girl wants
Jane: I’m glad to hear that you’re moving on
Me: But I still think of Kent
Me: Somehow I can’t forget him
Jane: Ugh, girls just do that
Jane: Remember my last boyfriend?
Jane: The baseball guy?
Me: With the big butt?
Jane: LOL
Jane: I still think about “what if” if we were still together
Jane: It has been years though
Me: I guess
Me: I hate it though
Me: I just don’t want to hurt Ned
Me: He’s amazing to me
Jane: Then what’s stopping you?
Me: I don’t know, Jane
Me: I don’t know
****************************************
It was dark outside when I woke up from my sleep, and found myself on the chair beside Mom’s bed. I got up slowly and checked on her and if she was still breathing. I saw her chest moving, so she was okay. There were people chatting outside the room. It sounded like Dad and Ned talking to some girls. Who would be awake at this time of the night? I thought.
I stepped outside the room to my surprise, and saw Max and Jane, talking to Dad and Ned. I stopped behind them, and looked at the girls. Max and Jane came to visit me? At that late hour?
Max got closer to me with tears in her eyes, and she kept playing with the hem of her long sleeve jacket, “I’m so sorry, Celia. I never meant to hurt you.”
I took a deep breath, “Max,” I called.
She stopped fiddling with her jacket, and looked at me with her puffy eyes, and red nose. She looked at me like she wanted my forgiveness. Like she wanted me to be her best friend again, but I was so mad at her. I was mad at both of us for arguing about nonsense.
“I forgive you, and I’m sorry for being selfish. I should have listened to you,” I said.
She shook her head, “No, we both did wrong,” She snuffled.
She came in and hugged me, and I hugged back.
“Yes, we did,” I confirmed.
I pulled back, and turned to Jane. She walked up to me and hugged me, “We’re here for you,” She said, and pulled back.
Then there was the last person I would have expected to show up. Kent, with his black hair, and dark eyes. He looked just as he always did. I was happy he was there, but I wasn’t impressed by him anymore. He didn’t impress me with the night before when he forgot to even text me. I wasn’t impressed when he used me to make him feel better about himself.
“Boo, are you okay?” he asked, and approached me.
I backed off, “Who told you that I was here?”
“I called your dad and he told me about your mom. I’m sorry,” he said, “I haven’t forgot about our date yet.”
I looked at Ned who looked very hurt, “What is he doing here?”
“I don’t know,” I told Ned, “I didn’t want him to come”
“Then why is he talking about a date? Is there something you’re hiding from me?” Ned snapped.
I ran to Ned, and said, “That was before I liked you!”
“You still have feelings for him, don’t you?” Ned asked, aloud.
I averted my eyes, “You can’t ask me that.”
“Why not?” Ned shouted, “I’ve tried to do everything for you, but you don’t cared.”
“I did care, I did!” I yelled back.
Kent came in and said, “Hey, hey, calm down you two.”
Ned pushed Kent’s chest that made Kent back off, “Fuck off!”
Kent swung his fist to punch Ned, but he dodged it, and punched Kent in the mouth causing him to bleed.
“What the fuck man?” Kent shouted as he covered his face, and groaned, “He’s fucking crazy!” That made Kent go crazy, and shout at Ned dramatically.
“Stay away from me!” Ned shouted at Kent, which made him flinch, then he walked backwards towards the door, and raised his arms at the sides, “I’m out. You can have him!”
Kent looked at me, and rubbed his chin that was stained with blood from his lips, and teeth. His chest heaved, and slowly walked up to me. “You
