"Dad, I want to talk to you. Can you please come home. I'm sorry. I was just angry." Jennifer called her father on the way back home. "No. Your mother needs me and I don't have too much time to waste on you." Mr. Williams were also angry now. Jennifer definitely inherited a hell of a temper from her father. Once done. Forever done. "Dad please. I'm sorry. I realized my mistake. Please come back home. Your princess needs you." Jennifer said with a trembling voice.
The other side of the line was silent until she heard her father say, "Driver, turn back home." And then he disconnected the call. Jennifer also hurried back home, totally ready to ask for forgiveness from her father. She entered her home and sat on the coffee table. She knew her father won't take long , probably two or four more minutes so she kept on rehearsing her apology again and again in her mind. She didn't even realize her father was standing right behind her.
"Dad, I'm so sorry. I've realized my mistake. I knew I hurt you and mom. I was angry and took an impulsive decision that could have had serious consequences. I'm really sorry. I just want everything to go back to normal. When I was your princess and when you were my best friend and my favorite person. Dad, even when I ran away, I couldn't stop thinking about you. I used to wake up at nights thinking about how you and mom would be dealing with this. I just want to say that I'm so so sorry. I was reckless. Please forgive me. Take me to see mom. I just miss her so so so much."
Jennifer was saying these lines when she felt someone back hugging her. She instantly knew who he was. Her father. She turned around only to get a kiss implanted from him on her forehead. He hugged her so tightly making her feel protected and loved. "That was just what I wanted to hear. I just wanted you to realize your mistake. I just wanted to know that you still cared about us." He whispered in a voice dripping with love.
"I always care about you dad. No matter what happens." Jennifer slowly said in a low voice. "Can we go to see mom? I miss her." She added. Jennifer could feel her father's body stiffen and then loosen up again. "I'll take you." He said and walked straight to the door without making an eye contact with her. Jennifer followed her. She knew it would take some time for her father to forgive her. He really loved her mother and couldn't see her in pain. And Jennifer had caused unbearable pain to her.
She was ready to give him all the time he needed. At least she was going to see her mother now. If her mother saw her, she would recover faster. Jennifer wanted nothing more than a happy family with her parents. Adrian was still a reason for pain in her heart but he could be dealt with later. Right now, she needed to focus on her parents.
Jennifer and her father reached the hospital building within five minutes. She should have guessed it. There were only a handful of seven star hospitals in town. The nearest one was 'Medicine plus'. Jennifer followed her father into a long corridor that smelled of alcohol disinfectant and medicines. A long white corridor which was someone's heaven and someone's hell. She saw people, old and young, scattered along the way. Some where praying for their loved ones, some looked happy as their loved ones were saved. Some were even crying.
Mr. Williams stooped in front of a door. Room number 515. "This is where your mom is admitted." He said as he opened the door to led her inside. Jennifer was shocked by the amount of change in her mother's health. She looked pale. Her hairs were messy and scattered. Her lips were almost white. She was breathing with difficulty. Her body looked like a dried apricot. "Mom." Jennifer breathed.
Mrs. Williams opened her eyes to see Jennifer standing next to her. She immediately pulled herself up in shock. Mr. Williams supported her to sit up and then said, "Jennifer has come back home." Mrs. Williams smiled widely in days. "My baby. I missed you so much." She said while hugging Jennifer with her frail arms. Jennifer hugged her back but she didn't feel like her mother. She felt like a model of wires and bandages reeking of disinfectant.
"I'm so sorry mom. I was reckless. In my anger I forgot all about you. I'm sorry." Jennifer said as her voice broke down at the end. She was the reason her mother was in such a miserable state. She loved her so much and Jennifer forgot her. How selfish could she be! Jennifer was mentally loathing herself for what she did to her lovable mother as she hugged her not ready to let go. She had been in her embrace after so along. She wouldn't give up so easily.
"Are you going to stay with us now?" Mrs. Williams asked weakly. "Of course mom. I'm not leaving you. I will never leave you." Jennifer said. "Here, have some milk. You'll feel better. Now lie down and rest. Don't exert yourself too much." Mr. Williams helped his wife to lie flat on her back again. Jennifer noticed that even this smallest exertion left her panting. How weak was she? How badly had Jennifer's loss affected her?
"Come Jennifer, I'll drop you home." Mr. Williams said. "I have some unavoidable work at the company. I'll be right back darling." He patted Mrs. Williams head and then kissed her forehead. "I can stay with mom. I'll be fine here. Besides, go ahead and work. You can take your mind off mom for once." Jennifer offered to stay with her mother. She noticed that her father was hesitant but he still agreed. As Mr. Williams left the room, Jennifer caught herself thinking about Adrian. Again.
She had already tired to shove him out of her mind a thousand times but couldn't succeed. Oh Adrian! When did I learn to love someone so much!