Elizabeth's Pov:
Here I was in front of the hospital. How dare he takes Alice from me?
I walked straight to the reception. Where can I find Mr Jonathan? I ask her.
She tells me he is on the second floor in room four.
When I arrived and walk in, I see Jonathan lying on the bed.
I fake a smile and ask him
How are you doing?
He looks at me and laughs.
"If you care about me, why didn't you come here earlier?"
It is not like I care about you, but I came here for Alice.
"Why did you lie to me, Beth? Don't you know I care about you?"
She walks towards him and sits next to him without any feelings.
************
Jonathan's Pov:
She sits next to me and smirks.
"Even if you know everything, I won't let you have Alice. You know I am capable of everything?"
What happened to you? You are not like the Beth I used to know.
"I don't know what you are talking about!"
"You should be more worried about yourself than me right now."
"Where is she?" She asks me without caring.
What made you think that I want to take Alice from you? Isn't this the reason you are here? Did I ask you too much? Alice is also my child. You know that too.
"Do you think she will be happy seeing you like this every time she visits you? Tell me, what can you do for her now? Except to be an extra burden to her. She has been here for hours without changing her clothes. God knows if she even ate any food."
I was speechless, she was right this time, but I don't want to lose Alice. She is my only child.
"Agree or disagree. I am going to take Alice home today." she turns around and walks away.
So this is how you are? Are you leaving me right now because I am disabled?
She stops walking and turns around.
"I left you before the accident. We don't have anything to do with each other anymore."
"Mum. What's going on?" Alice walks into the room.
"It's nothing sweety. Let's go outside. I need to tell you something." says Beth. She takes Alice and walks outside.
Is this is the end of my life? I have nobody now if she takes Alice from me.
****
Alice's pov:
I am on my way to see dad, but I hear a voice coming out of his room. Who could it be?
I walk softly to the door. I think he is talking to mom.
I hope everything will turn out good.
I listen carefully.
What? my parents are not together anymore. So this is why they were acting up earlier.
I don't want to hear more of their conversation anymore and open the door.
Mom takes me out of the room.
"Listen, sweety, your father and me are going to divorce. I know it is late to tell you and not the right time at this moment, but I want you to know this right now."
What do you mean you are divorcing, mom? Are you doing this because of dad's condition? Are you leaving him now he needs you the most?
"NO, no. I didn't want to tell you this yet, but your dad cheated on me."
WHAT! NO! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME? STOP LYING!!. DAD WOULD NEVER DO THIS. I shouted and started to cry hard.
You know dad the best. You have lived with him for so long. How can you think he would cheat on you?
"It is true what I am saying. You should listen to mom right now!" She grabs my hand.
DON'T TOUCH ME! If you leave dad... You will never see me again. I don't want to come with you! He needs me right now.
He needs you, mom. I don't know why you are doing this but if you want to go then go alone. I am not leaving! I will never leave dad alone.
I take some steps back. I feel the glare from people and run away.
I want to run... far away from everybody and cry.
I want to be alone and have some time to digest everything.
Without realising, I came outside the hospital in the park. I see a lot of patients around here.
I walk to the nearest bench.
Why does my life have to be like this?
Instead of getting comfort from my mom, I have to go through this? I say to myself. How can she believe that dad cheated on her? What for bullshit is that?!
What am I going to do now? How will I help dad alone?
GREAT! Now I look like a crazy person talking to herself. I put my hand in my hair and look down on the ground.
"We meet each other a lot, don't you think?" I hear a voice next to me. I look up and see the boy from earlier sitting with me.
Oh, it's you again. I sight and look in his face.
Where is your head bandage? Can you see now? I ask him out of curiosity. Not only because of that, but I don't want to think about the awful fight between my parents.
"Let me see" he comes closer to my face, and he looks at me.
My heart started pounding at an increasingly rapid pace.
"I see everything blurry. I can't recognise people faces yet, which annoys me. Why is it like I know you? Have we met before?" he says innocently.
I quickly look away and move from him.
Luckily he can't see me, or he would see my tomato face.
No. I have never met you before. Why? Do I look like your first love or something? I ask him while smiling.
"Is none of your business!" He gets up and walks away.
You little rude...
Why is he always bad-tempered when I ask him a question?
She gets up and goes back to her dad. She opens the door and goes in.
I see dad crying. I run to him straight away.
Dad, are you okay? Is it because of mom? I am sorry. Mom keeps saying weird things to me, but I don't believe her. I wipe his tears away and try to comfort him, but he looks the other way.
Is it true what mom was saying?
"You should go home, eat, change and have some sleep. Don't even come back before you do all of that", my dad softly replies.
I can see that he is avoiding my questions. I get up and leave the building.
I can't argue with him now. I know he needs time.
Alice takes the taxi.
When she came out of the taxi, she walked to her house and saw that her mother was packing up.
Mom, what are you doing? I run to her.
"What else does this look like, do you think? I am packing up. I am going to leave this house!" She says harshly, stuffing up her luggage.
What? Are you serious, mom? I tried to take the clothes out of the luggage, but she pushed me to the ground.
"Don't you dare call me your mom anymore! You took the side of that man, not mine."
Mom, what do you mean by "that man"? Dad didn't do anything wrong. Please, don't do this to us! Quickly, I run and grab her feet and cry.
She bends down and strokes over my hair.
"Don't be foolish! I'm not leaving you behind, but I am giving you a chance to live a better life, Alice. I always thought you were intelligent, so don't disappoint me! Get up and get your clothes.
I knew you would come back to this house. That is why I waited here for you. Hurry up! I don't have that much time!"
This is the moment I stood up. I am so disappointed in mom. I have to be brave for myself and dad. I have to be strong since I am the only person dad has now.
NO... I DON'T WANT TO COME WITH YOU!
"WHAT! HOW DARE YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME?-
SLAPP!
She slaps me in the face. My cheek is tingly... it hurts. Never in my life, I thought this would happen. I want to talk and shout at her, but I don't have the energy to do it. My body feels weak, and I don't dare to know what she could say next.
"I know you can't accept everything today, but think about what I said before. I know you will come to me one day. I will text you the address. If you change your mind, know that you can always come back to me." she takes her things and walks out.
I lie down on the ground. It looks like the world is spinning around me. I have no words to say right now. I am just lost. All I want is this to be a bad dream and that I can finally wake up from it.
But the reality isn't on my side right now.
This is not the moment to be sad but I have to be with dad right now. He needs me the most. Even if he shows me that he doesn't need me, I will stay with him. I will give him time.
I will let him see that it is my time to help him out.
I change my clothes and take some bites of the leftover food in the fridge. I look if I can take some for dad, but I see it is not enough.
I will just buy some on my way.
As fast as she can, she goes to the hospital to see her dad.
I touch the button of the lift. When I turn around, I see a boy walking towards me. He comes closer and closer to the point I reach the wall.
What the hell is he doing?!
He pressed his hand on the wall and, looks me in the eyes.
"Long time no see, Alice."