"Mom.."
With a hint of exhaustion, Veda called the woman who was sitting on the couch. Her gaze was dull as if the world had no meaning anymore. "Are you sure you require to check dad's body?" The girl queried, worriedly. Locking her eyes with the woman's. "Mhmm.."
Irena assured. Standing up from the couch as the two walked out of the house. "Are you certain with your decision, mom?" again, Veda asked. Revealing her concern openly. It caused the woman to cease her steps. She looked down into her daughter's eyes.
"Yes. I have you by my side anyway" she flashed a smile. And so both of them directed to the hospital where the body of the man was. "Don't let go of my hand, sweetheart" Irena advised as the girl nodded in understanding. Clasping her mother's hand tightly.
They two headed to the reception counter as soon as they entered into the hospital. "May I know where Luke Amos is?" Irena queried. "Can you please tell me your relation with him, Miss?" the receptionist asked back politely. "I am his wife, Irena" the woman replied.
"Oh. Please follow me, Miss. I will show you the way" the receptionist promptly stepped out from reception counter. Leading from the front as a pair of mother and daughter went after in silence. "You can walk in and check, Miss. I am sorry for your loss" the nurse flashed a tiny smile.
Opening the door for the two.
"Thanks" in a low tone which had no energy, Irena responded. Stepping into the room while holding in her breath. The tightened grip on her hand, caused Veda to look up at the woman. Her mother was terrified. It seemed like she did not even realize how she was gripping tight.
And the scene of the man laying on hospital bed with thin blanket covered on him, entered the sight of the two. The breath Irena held in to swallow the urge to cry had now escaped from her grasp. The view had made the woman fall on her knees immediately. "Luke.."
She sobbed while Veda stared at the dead body with tears in her eyes. She no longer had energy to yell out loud. She used all her energy by crying for three hours straight. All she knew was she would like to take a rest. She would like to follow after her father.
Irena approached near to the man with tears in her eyes. She gently caressed the cheek of her husband. How cruel could this world be? Why was it her husband who died?! This was not fair! This could not be happening for real! No! This could not be true! He must be pranking her!
"Luke.. How dare you leave me like this?! Get up! I am here now! Don't mess around with me like this, jerk! Wake up! This is not a funny prank! Please.. please don't leave me!" Irena shouted. Meanwhile, Veda stood far from the two. Her eyelids drooped in tiredness.
What should she do?
Her father was gone. He's dead. She should worry about her mother's condition now. The six years old girl began to concern for her mother's future instead of hers. She commenced to overthink. She started considering for a way to find money for her mother and herself.
In silence, tears rolled down on Veda's cheeks unceasingly. Was it her fault? A question crossed her mind at the moment. Did her father die because of her? She asked herself quietly. Was she in wrong for attending school and making her father pick her up? She questioned.
Observing the sight of Irena gripping tight on her husband and crying out loud. It pained Veda wholly. She pressed her lips tightly. This was too much to handle for a six years old girl like her. In agony, Irena began to gasp for breath. Causing the girl to panic.
"MOM!" Veda yelled out loud as soon as her mother's body fell onto the floor. Irena had lost consciousness. Without hesitating, Veda walked out of the room. "DOCTOR!! NURSE!!" A shout echoed the hallway. Her harsh yell captured everyone's attention. "Stay here, kid"
The nurse flashed a smile at the girl. Running into the room with doctor and the body of Irena. Veda could only nod. She settled down at the bench which was located in front of the room. She pressed her lips tightly with lowered head. Balling up fists in irritation.
She patiently waited at there.
What a sorrowful situation for the girl around six years old to endure. How pitiful. How heartbreaking. How pathetic. At last, after a few minutes, the doctor stepped out of the room. Catching the attention of the girl who was sitting quietly on the bench.
She promptly jumped up. Staring up at the man with sparkling eyes. She clearly was hoping for good news from him. A smile tugged at doctor's lips. "Don't worry. Your mother is all right now. You can go in" He notified. Delighting the girl entirely so that her face brightened.
Veda quickly dashed inside the room. Sitting beside the bed as her mother was still unconscious. "Mom.." the girl voiced. Holding tightly of the woman's hand. And she wished quietly. Three hours passed as Veda fell asleep while gripping tight of her mother's hand.
"Ugh.."
A groan escaped between Irena's lips. Glancing around the room, only to discover her daughter laying head on bed while holding her hand firmly. The sight made the woman grin immediately. The movements of Irena awakened the girl. Causing Veda to lift her head instantly.
Only to suffer from migraine. "Ugh.." she muttered with a tightened frown. It perplexed the woman. "Dear, what's wrong?" Irena queried. "Oh it is nothing, mom. Are you feeling better now?" promptly, the girl changed the topic. Earning a nod back from the woman.
"I have something to ask, mom" Veda voiced. "Carry on, my love" Irena allowed. Listening to her daughter in tranquility. "Now that dad is gone, how do we fill our stomach, mom? I don't know how to work. But I want to find money" with a slight frown, Veda disclosed.
Her words stunned the woman totally. Look at the young girl around six years old, concerning about something which adults should be worried instead. What had she done? "Sweetheart, you have to continue the school and achieve your life goals" Irena stated. "I will make money"
She added up. Surprising Veda. "But mom, you have heart disease. You cannot be in heat more than an hour" the girl complained. Hushing down the woman. "How do you know about my sickness?" With widened eyes, the woman queried. It quieted down the girl.
"Veda. How did you find out?"
Irena repeated the question. "I read Dad's diary a few months ago and discovered how he would like to heal your illness. He also divulged that he felt guilty because he could not do anything for you, mom" in the end, Veda admitted truthfully while lowering her gaze.
It was the moment, tears began to scroll down on Irena's cheeks. She thought no one knew about her heart disease. She believed she was the only one who was aware of the truth about her sickness. Turned out both her husband and daughter already found out from the start.
They were just pretending to be clueless. No wonder they were giving all their time and affection to her strangely. "So you knew.." Irena gritted her teeth. Holding herself back from crying out loud. She missed Luke. She required to be hugged by her husband. She missed his warmth.
Whenever she's depressed, Luke would be the one who always embrace her and hold her tight without saying any words because he knew his wife bottle up all her emotions alone to herself. Now the man who would stay by her side had left the world already.
She was alone with her beloved daughter in the end. "Please don't worry, mom. I will try to find some money" Veda affirmed. Making the woman shook her head. "You are not at age to concern about money right now, darling. Focus on school and your dreams instead"
Irena reminded.
Causing Veda to pout in annoyance. How could such a young girl like her get disappointed just because she could not find money for herself and her mother? "Am I understood, sweetheart?" the woman queried with a slight frown. "Yes.." In a low tone, Veda responded.
"Come here" Irena voiced and sat up on bed slowly. Spreading her arms for the girl. Without hesitating, Veda went in for hug in an instant. Embracing her mother tightly. The woman pressed her lips at the moment. Words were not enough to describe her desire.
Craving for the hug. The embrace from her husband, Luke. "I love you, sweetheart" Irena whispered. Holding her daughter dearly in her arms with shut eyes. It delighted the girl somehow. "I love you too, mom" she replied. Relishing the moment quietly in her mind.
They shared a tight and long hug. And then they went back to the house. Irena managed to restrain herself. She did not freak out again after bidding farewell to her dead husband. She only cared on what to do. She only considered to fill her daughter and her stomach.
As a single mother, she was concerned.