Angel's eyes flew open as she felt something warm and soft touch her face. Everything around her seemed a little hazy and bright as her eyes slowly adjusted to the light. She could see a figure looking down at her and Angel had to shade her eyes to see the person's face clearly.
"Hello, my sweetheart," came the voice of the person looking down at her.
Angel quickly stood up from the floor she was lying on and faced the person in front of her. The sound of the person's voice was so familiar now that Angel felt dumb not to have realised it sooner.
"Mum, is that you?" Angel asked.
"Of course, its me, my lovely Angel," her mother replied as she touched Angel's cheek with her soft hand.
Angel closed her eyes at the touch of her mother's hand and felt like lingering on it for a life time. She opened her eyes and her mother smiled at her.
"I thought you were dead," said Angel.
"Honey, I know it will be difficult to tell you this, but sadly, I'm not where you're right now."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm long gone from earth, Angel. I'm simply no more."
"But why did you leave me?" Angel asked with tears in her eyes. "Things have gone horribly wrong and this is the time to leave?"
"I'm sorry I can't answer that, my dear. I wish I could. I know you're heartbroken over everything thats happened to you."
"Carly, she's really disappointed me, mum," said Angel as she wiped the tears falling from her eyes.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"If it means forgiving her I'm not going to do it. That will take a life time."
"I know you don't mean that, Angel. As much as she has done wrong, nothing is going to change the fact that you're sisters."
"I bet you're going to remind me of my promise, aren't you?"
Angel's mother gave her daughter a bright smile while she stroked her cheek. "Of course, I was going to remind you of just that. I know that now that I'm no longer around, its going to be difficult for you. Your life will get even more complicated after all this, but just know that I'm always there when you need me. And the most important thing, always take care of your sister no matter what she does. And that you always try to fix things even when it seems impossible to do so."
"You know I already gave you my word."
"And I know that you'll keep it. I know you might try to tear your sister to shreds, but please try to be patient with her, okay?"
Before Angel could reply, she noticed that her mother had stood further away from her towards something bright.
"I have to go now, just remember that I love you, Angel and your sister too," said her mother.
"Mum, wait, don't go," said Angel as she started to run towards her mother. Her mother didn't move from where she stood and Angel felt the distance widen. She tried running as fast as she could, but that just made the distance between them even bigger.
And then all of the sudden, darkness begun to swallow everything around and the smile on her mother's face was the last thing Angel saw.
***
It felt like drowning as Angel took in air through her nostrils, filling up her painful lungs. A sudden pain and heaviness quickly descended on her body and she might have heard herself wince in pain. Her eyes felt too heavy to open, but she did her best to do so anyway. She could tell as she opened her eyes and her vision cleared, that she was staring at a ceiling. The sound of a beeping machine was the first thing she heard and when she tried to turn her neck, she realised she couldn't move and her body ached all over. Her eyes rolled around, but all she could see was the ceiling above her.
Angel's heart started to beat aimlessly as she realised she couldn't move at all. She felt quite scared thinking she was all alone until she heard her sister's voice.
"Angel? Oh my gosh, she's alive!"
Angel felt like breathing out a sigh of relief, but she knew it was going to be painful. She noticed the face mask on her face and wanted to remove it. She could feel her fingers, but lifting her whole hand was going to be a painful process. Her body felt heavy as it already was.
"Please, call the doctor! My sister is alive!" Carly seemed to be calling out to someone in the room and a male voice grabbed Angel's attention.
"I'm going, I'm going." Quick footsteps were heard and faded away. Angel could tell that the voice sounded very familiar but she couldn't process everything at the moment.
Carly's face came into view as she looked down at Angel. Angel could tell that her sister had been crying. Her puffy red eyes and stuffy red nose showed it all.
"I thought I lost you, Angel," said Carly, "when your heart stopped beating, I thought you were gone forever. I don't want to lose you too."
Angel noticed the black shirt Carly was wearing and her eyes stung with tears as she remembered that her mother had passed on. Her heart felt heavy with remorse and her body ached even more.
"I'm so sorry, Angel," said Carly as tears sreamed down her face. "I feel most of this is all my fault and I know I let you down. Please forgive me. And I also hope that wherever mum is, that she will also be able to forgive me too."
A tear streamed down Angel's cheek as she continued to stare up at her sister. She wanted to comfort her sister, but she was still mad at Carly and she didn't feel like speaking at the moment. Soon she heard quick footsteps.
"Doctor, my sister is okay," said Carly as she turned to address the doctor.
"Well, isn't that a miracle?" the doctor said, "looks like your sister fought with death and won. I also thought she was gone the time we tried to revive her."
"Well, Angel is as tough as I thought," came the male voice again which Angel still couldn't recognise.
"I think you two better leave while we take some tests," said the doctor, "don't you worry."
Carly looked down at her sister, tears still rolling down her cheeks. "I'm glad you're back, Angel. I don't know what I would've have done without you."
"And so as I," came the male voice.
Eric soon appeared within Angel's sights and he had a sad smile on his face. Angel's eyes widen at the sight of his cute sad face. She felt like smiling at him, but a sudden wince of pain came out of her mouth.
"Angel, are you feeling hurt?" Carly asked looking worried.
"You don't worry, she's in pain, but that will wear off as soon as she takes her medication," said the doctor, "I suggest you leave while she takes her rest."
"Let's go, Carly, the doctor's right," said Eric, "we will come see her later on when she feels better."
"Okay, let's go," said Carly.
Carly and Eric looked at Angel one last time. As the two left the room, the doctor appeared beside Angel with a bright warm smile on his face.
"It's good to see you alive, Angel," said the doctor, "now, I'll give you a little sedative to ease the pain and you can have enough rest."
Angel saw the doctor inject some liquid into her IV and she quickly felt the effects of the sedative taking over. Her eyes peacefully closed as she realised that rest was exactly what she needed.
***
A week had passed and Angel was recovering slowly. It seemed like forever, but Angel was patient enough to wait until her body mended itself. Carly was always there everyday to watch over and take care of her. Even Eric also did the same, surprisingly. And that made Angel wonder why he would be so interested in her well being.
As the week passed on, Angel had quickly recovered from her mother's death. It didn't really have a mental effect as she thought it would have. But she pulled through anyway.
Apparently, one thing seemed to bother Carly, Eric, the doctor and nurses who took care of Angel.
Angel had never altered a word since she gained consciousness.
Carly had once asked the doctor this and wondered if their mother's death had anything to do with it or maybe her vocal cords had a problem. But sadly, the doctor had no answer because he recently had a check up on Angel's vocal cords and everything seemed perfectly normal. All she did was nod or shake her head if they ever asked a question, but she wouldn't say anything.
Even after the third day after Angel gained consciousness, the police decided to take a police statement from her, but everything went to no avail. Even Angel's workmates would come now and then to see how she was doing and her boss, Mark Dean, came to see her as well. But still, Angel kept her mouth shut.
On Saturday, Carly was around, taking care of Angel. It was lunch time and Carly was feeding her sister. Angel was now able to sit up in bed even though her body still ached like hell. She still had a bandage wrapped around her forehead because of a deep scar, her left arm was still broken and it was heavily bandaged. Her neck had healed drastically over a few days and her legs were doing okay, but they ached a little sometimes.
As Carly fed Angel another spoon of chicken soup, the door suddenly flew open and Eric came in with a bouquet of roses and a basket of friut.
"Hello, there," said Eric.
"Oh, hi, Eric," said Carly and Angel just gave him a half smile.
"Well, I see that you're doing better today, Angel," said Eric as he placed the roses on top of the drawer next to her bedside together with the basket of fruits.
"Wow, aren't those like the third bouquet of flowers you sent her this week?" Carly asked.
"Maybe, I don't really count anyway."
"Awww! You see, Angel, looks like you have someone crushing on you. What do you have to say about that?"
Angel's smile widen a little, but she still didn't say anything.
"Um.. Carly, he's here and he wants to speak to you," said Eric.
Angel raised an eyebrow. Something fishy was going on and she didn't like it. Who are they talking about? she wondered.
Carly looked at Angel and then at Eric. She gave the bowl of soup to Eric.
"I'll be right back," said Carly
Eric looked up at Angel as Carly left the room. Angel looked at him giving him a face indicating that he should tell her what was going on.
"I know that look on your face, Angel," said Eric as he sat on the edge of the hospital bed to feed her. "You want to know what's going on, right?"
Angel nodded.
Eric shook his head. "I can't tell you all that at the moment. It's best if Carly does. It has something to do with your mother."
Angel now started to think of the worst. What was it now? Did her mother have debts she failed to pay before she died or was it something far much worse?
"But you don't worry about anything. Carly told me that you'll find out what's going on," said Eric as he lifted the spoon towards Angel's mouth.
"Now, open wide. You need to finish your lunch, okay?"
Angel did as she was told and Eric put the spoon in her mouth.
"That's a good girl. I might just give you some special dessert at the end of all this. What do you think about that?" Eric asked as he wiggled his eyebrows.
"And will that dessert be your lips? Because if it is, I'll gladly slap your cheek."
Eric stared at Angel with his mouth agape. She finally spoke. He didn't know whether to hug her or kiss her for her to slap him and see if he was dreaming.
"You... talked!" Eric almost exclaimed, but Angel covered his mouth with her good right hand.
"I don't want Carly to find out, keep your voice down," said Angel quietly.
"Don't worry, Carly is in the lobby. But why have you been quiet all this time, Angel? You had all of us worried."
"I know," Angel leaned her back onto the soft pillows behind her, "I just didn't feel like talking and all. After all that had happened, being quiet was the only way to keep calm."
"But you should have said something to someone. If not Carly or I, at least the doctor."
Angel looked at Eric and held his hand. "Thank you, Eric."
"Thanks, for what?"
"For being there even if we barely know each other," said Angel with a sad smile on her face. "You kept my sister company even though I never said a word to her. I just didn't want to leash out my anger on her."
"Its nothing, Angel. When I said I was glad to meet you back at the bar, I truly meant it."
Angel smiled and then something quickly came to mind. Images of what had happened last week at the day of the accident came back.
"Hey, are you okay?" Eric asked. "You looked pale for a second."
"The.... the day, I had the accident," started Angel, "what really happened? Because all I remember is the phone call of someone telling me about my mother's death and then nothing."
"You don't really remember a car hitting you on that day?"
"I know a car hit me, but who was driving the car? I want to know. I was hoping you and Carly would bring up the topic these past few days, but you didn't. When the police came, I knew I wasn't going to say much because I don't know anything. Now you tell me, was it a hit and run or do you know who did it?"
Eric looked the other way for a moment. "No, Angel. It wasn't a hit and run."
"Then will you tell me?" Angel asked. "Why do you look like that? Is there something I should know?"
"Remember, the guy who was with your sister at the bar that day?"
"Ya, I remember the jerk. Why?"
"That person who just called a jerk, is none other than my cousin, Leo."
"Oh," Angel paused for a second. "I didn't know. Sorry about that."
"No, he's a jerk, that's for sure. On that day he was supposed to get married. But he left the wedding and came by the bar looking for Carly."
"A jerk indeed. Why did he come there anyway?"
"Well, he changed his mind completely after the bachelor party to get married."
"And he did all that just because of my sister? Ridiculous."
"Coming back to your accident," Eric now looked straight at Angel, "I'm afraid to tell you that he was the one who ran you over."
Angel didn't say anything. Eric expected her to burst in anger but she looked calm. Even her response seemed to surprise Eric even more.
"So, he almost kills me with his car and he hasn't come by just to apologise?" Angel asked calmly.
"I... well," Eric was lost for words. He expected Angel to shout and act wild, but she didn't. "He still feels bad after everything."
"He still feels bad or is he just too full of pride to apologise?"
"How do you know that?"
"I spent five minutes in that office in the bar with your cousin, trust me, I know."
Eric passed a hand through his hair and sighed. "On behalf of Leo, I simply apologise. I'm also part of the reason why you're in this mess."
"It's nothing, Eric. I would prefer if Leo bought himself to do that, don't you think?"
"You're right."
"I hope the person Carly has gone out to see by the lobby isn't him."
"No, it isn't him. He wouldn't even dare come to this place," said Eric, "Carly is talking to my uncle, Leo's father."
"But what is he doing here?" Angel asked.
"I'm not the one supposed to be telling you this, but apparently, your mother and my uncle were good friends. The time your mother had fallen ill, he was there and took her to the hospital."
Angel didn't say anything as she continued to look at Eric. The thought of her mother during her dying moments made Angel's heart break. She wondered how much pain her mother must have gone through.
"Since you weren't talking, he decided to talk to Carly over some things."
"What things?"
"I don't know," Eric shrugged his shoulders, "must be something about your mother."
Angel thought for a second. "Tell him to come in, I would like to speak with him."
"You're sure?"
"Of course, please do so, Eric."
Eric nodded and put her bowl of soup aside. He quickly rushed out of the door and he soon came back with Carly and a tall good looking man. By the look of his designer clothes, Angel could tell that he was one type of a person living the good life.
"Angel, Eric told me you can talk again," said Carly, "is that true?"
"Yes, it's true," replied Angel trying to put up a smile for her sister, but even her cheeks wouldn't twitch.
"I'm so glad!" Carly ran over excitedly and hugged her sister. For a second Angel wanted to revolt and push her away, but that would seem rude in front of Eric and his uncle. And so she just had to put up with it.
"I thought you were still mad at me and didn't want to talk to me anymore," said Carly, "I did say I was sorry."
"And I still feel like hitting you with a frying pan!" Angel finally pulled out a smile even when she knew it was completely fake. Despite Carly taking care of her this past week, Angel still couldn't stand her sister after everything.
"It's fine, Carly," said Angel, finding it a little hard to speak. "Don't say such things, okay? All that is over now."
"Sorry to intervene on the little reunion," spoke Eric's uncle, "but I think we have more important things to discuss regarding your mother, Angel."
At last, someone had to bring up that point and Angel felt like breathing out a sigh of relief. She didn't want to talk to Carly anymore. And she was starting to like this man already.
"Yes, Eric told me who you were and that you were good friends with my mother," said Angel.
"Yes, Eric told you right," said Mr McDonell, "I came here to give my deepest condolences."
"Thank you."
"I also came to apologise on behalf of my son, Leo. I know he hasn't been here to apologise, but please don't be too offended."
"No, don't worry about it. You aren't the only one who has apologised on his behalf." Angel stared at Eric.
"Well, putting that aside, I came to talk to you about the burial processions. We didn't want to go ahead with the burial until you fully recovered. And your mother, before she passed away, made me promise her something. And I hope that you'll agree to it. I already talked to Carly about it and she agreed, but the final consent is yours to make."
"I hope you agree to it, Angel," said Carly. That almost made Angel want to slap her mouth as she stared at her sister who stared back with hopeful eyes.
Angel turned to face Mr McDonell who was staring calmy at her. Eric stood right beside him and he too looked on eagerly, hoping that Angel would agree to what's coming.
"Okay, what is it my mother promised you to do?" Angel asked.