Page 6 of Fake To Forever

“Oh, hi there, sweetheart,” she says when she notices me. She smiles, but it’s weak and she looks beyond exhausted. Still, her golden brown eyes shimmer with delight as she watches me move closer to her bed. “Ahhh, flowers? You shouldn’t have.”

I collect an old bouquet out of the vase sitting on the table by her bed and replace it with the new one.

“We need to keep this place bright and cheerful,” I tell her. “It’s so gloomy and dark in here.”

She chuckles softly. “You’re right. I appreciate it, baby girl.”

I throw away the old, wilting flowers and then sit in the chair next to the bed.

“Where’s Peter?” My stepdad rarely leaves her side. Not see him here is odd.

“I told him he had to go home and shower.” Mom grins. “He was starting to stink.”

I chuckle. “I very much doubt that.”

“You’re right.” She nods. “That man is so meticulous about his hygiene, he only ever smells like soap and cologne. Still, he needed a break and there wasn’t any other way to get him to leave.”

Leaning forward, I squeeze her hand softly. “He just loves you.”

“I know.” She sighs. “But I don’t want his life to stop because mine is coming to an end.”

I swallow and suck in a sharp breath. “Don’t talk like that, Mom.”

She’s right, but I don’t want to accept it, even if it seems that she has. It isn’t fair or right in any way. Then again, death never is, I suppose.

She pats my hand and her gaze turns soft and sympathetic.

“I’m sorry,” she replies, clearly realizing how her words affect me. “Let’s change the subject… tell me what’s new,” she says, making her voice brighter. “Did Gary get to the oil fields all right?”

“Yeah, he did,” I assure her. “I talked to him before coming here. He’s settled and ready to dive into work next month.”

“That’s good.” She sighs. “I always worry about him when he’s out there.”

“I know, Mom,” I nod. “I worry too.”

“And Marie? How is she?”

“She’s good too,” I assure her. “Busy with the library and family stuff. I know she misses you, but… you know how hard it is for her to see you like this. Especially with what happened to her mom.”

Marie’s mom, Andrea, and my mother were childhood friends. The two of them were inseparable for as long as I can remember until the accident took her. I know if she was still alive today, she wouldn’t have left my mother’s side. Part of me believes she’s here in spirit. That she herself will be the one to greet my mother when the time comes.

“I know…” She sighs, nodding her head. “But make sure you let her know that I love her, and that I understand she can’t come. I don’t want her feeling guilty about anything.”

“I will.”

She pats my hand weakly and sinks back into her pillows. Her eyelids start to flutter, and I can tell she’s struggling to stay awake now. Our short conversation has wiped her out.

“Go to sleep, Mom. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“You don’t have to stay,” Mom whispers, her eyes completely shut now.

I give her hand a squeeze and sit back in my chair to watch over her as she sleeps, my heart breaking a little more with each of her weak, rattling breaths.

It’s only a matter of time.

***

After leaving the hospital, I head straight for Marie’s house. I need an outlet to forget about the pain from the last few hours, even if it’s only a temporary relief. Marie has been my best friend since we were in diapers, so she knows how to cheer me up better than anyone.

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