Adaline couldn't believe everything that had happened. Everything she had overcome. She thanked her god every day for helping her become strong enough to see the truth. Finally, things seemed to be going her way. Her skin cleared up. She started exercising for the fun of it. She started dancing again and singing. She became more active in her sorority. She opened herself up to new friendships. Her grades were steadily rising. It was all going great! Somewhere deep inside though, she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Something always went wrong. She was laying in bed listening to music and reading her favorite Greek mythology book for the nth time.
*ring ring ring*
'Hmm...the caller ID says unknown number....'
"Bueno?" She always answered unknown numbers in Spanish. It usually scared off solicitors.
"Ducky..."
"...." She froze. Her hands began to sweat and her heart dropped to her stomach. 'Not again. But I blocked his number!' Suddenly she remembered how she used to prank call people in middle school by dialing a code before the number to hide her caller ID.
"Ducky...please..." She could hear Joseph's voice cracking and despite her hatred for him, her heart still broke at the thought of him hurting.
"What is it Joseph?"
"It's my dad. Addy....he's been in an accident. He was on a delivery and his 18 wheeler slipped on a patch of ice on the road. Addy it flipped over and he's in a coma. I don't know what to do. I'm so scared. The doctor said he's brain dead. What do I do?" Joseph cried into the phone. Adaline's heart shattered. She loved that old man. He had always been so nice to her. He taught her how to change the break pads on a car when Joseph didn't want to change them. He had watched shows with her and made her laugh when Joseph had talked crap to her and shut himself in his room. She hated Joseph, but she knew even he didn't deserve to be going through this.
"Joseph, I'm going to need you to calm down. What exactly have the doctors said?"
"They said he's brain dead! That he'll never wake up and even if he does, he'll never be the same! They want me to disconnect him!"
"Okay. Take deep breaths. You're going to get through this. Don't try to be strong alone. Lean on your family members. Your mom needs you, but you need her too. I know it hurts to hear this, but you need to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. You need to talk to your mom and see if your dad has a living will or who is his power of attorney. Someone will need to make a decision. The longer you put it off, the longer he and the rest of your family will suffer. The doctors say he is brain dead. There is no life after that. I'm sorry. Speak with your family and come to a decision together. Your dad deserves a decision."
"You're right"
"I know it's not easy. I can't even imagine-"
"Drive up here."
"....what?"
"Addy, I need you. Drive up here."
"Joseph, I can speak to you over the phone now only because you are hurting, but this doesn't mean I can drop everything and go to you. That is not my job anymore."
"I knew you didn't love me. How can you be so selfish? My dad is dying and you won't come see me? I knew you didn't want to get together again."
The world began to turn red. 'Get together again?' She couldn't believe what he was doing. Even now, he wanted to make her feel guilty.
"No. You know what Joseph? I should've hung up as soon as I heard your voice. I was trying to be nice to you. To be supportive."
"Not supportive enough."
"Joseph. You're sick. You're using your dad's condition to guilt me into being with you again!"
"You're selfish!" He yelled into the phone.
"Selfish? No. Take a good look in the mirror. You're the selfish one. You're a monster. I seriously considered being there for you during this terrible time for you and your family, but all you cared about was how you could use it to make me go back to you. No. It's not going to work. You need help. I will pray that you get the help you need and pray that god care for your father in whatever way he needs. That aside, go fuck yourself Joseph."
"You bit-"
*click*
Adaline was fuming. The tears that had been pushed down suddenly spilled over and she cried so hard and for so long that her stomach betrayed her too. The sour taste of the bile crawling up her throat made her dart to the bathroom. She sat on the floor, hugging her toilet, crying and hyperventilating. Her legs went numb and she lost sensation in her fingers. The world became blurry and she knew that her crying had become a full-blown panic attack. Her mom burst into her room at the sound of her daughter's cries.
"Addy! What's wrong mija? Talk to me!" She helped her up from the floor and to the couch by the window in Adaline's room. Adaline clutched onto her mom's neck and buried her head into her shoulder, continuing to cry her eyes out. Her mom didn't say another word, just held her and rubbed her back soothingly, rocking her gently and humming an old lullaby to her. Finally, the crying stopped. Adaline looked up at her mom.
"Joseph called me"
"I thought you blocked him."
"I did. He was able to bypass it."
"What did he want?" Her mom looked at her with wariness in her eyes.
"His dad is in a coma....Mom, I tried to give him support. I told him to lean on his family for support and let them be strong for him too. I told him to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. I didn't want to lie to him and say it would all be okay, his dad is brain dead! All of the doctors say they should disconnect him! Who am I to tell him what to do! It's not even my job anymore! The worst part of it all was that he tried to use the situation to make me get back with him! His dad is literally dying and all he can think about is 'Hey, this would be the perfect excuse to get her back!' Mom, he's sick! How can people like him exist?"
"Ay mi amor. I'm so sorry. I know you loved Joseph and you greatly respected his father, but you are right, it is not your job. You are not responsible for him and he had no right to even call you in the first place. I am sorry that Joseph and his family are going through this, but he had no reason and no right to call you, guilt you, and expect you to go back. You did the right thing mija and I'm so proud of you. No one else is important to me. Your happiness will always come first."
She knew her mom was right. She deserved to be happy. She hated the situation, but she wanted to be happy. He was no longer a part of her life, and his life should have no effect on her mental health. She hardened her heart, dried her tears, and hugged her mom. She always knew exactly what to say.
"I'll remember that from now on mami. I promise."