Chereads / It all began with Her / Chapter 3 - Empty

Chapter 3 - Empty

Inside the small yet warm living room, at the time where the stars can be seen throughout the cloak of the night. Every door is closed, every light in every home dimmed enough so that the moon is able to shine so bright in this small place that contains joyous cries of laughter as a video call commenced.

"Mom, how are you? its been a three days already, aren't you already okay?" the youngest asking with innocence as if dog waiting obediently for his owner to give food. 

"I'm already feeling great now that I've seen my baby once again. How are you doing are you eating healthy? Are your brothers bullying you again?" mother assures the child knowing that she's still young and is arrogant towards the world, asking in agony very noticeable as the words are muffled due to the cannula and phlegm that makes even breathing hard to breath. "Mom remember that time you guys said that you went to the sea? We weren't there last time, so I was thinking that maybe... we can all go there when your health's up again." Me, putting up a smile just to talk to mom, knowing that she still doesn't feel as good as new. "Come to think of it I only ever did take the girls there, I actually never got to take you and Alfred there. Then it's decided I guess when I'm back to health lets go to the beach to loosen up." Mother, excitedly says with a subtle smile as there isn't that much time that the family actually gets to bond like this. "Mom regarding the next assigned to go there is Alfred, he'll be taking over after El, so that she can rest. Also don't forget to take the examination, there's new the deaths for the epidemic keep on rising, its better to be safe than sorry." says Rie with eyes filled with concern and a troubled face. "Don't worry we'll be fine, this is just a cough because of the weather nothing to serious." Mother replies seeing the troubled expression on my sisters face, "I'll see you guys soon the nurse is here to give me the next dose of medicine. Lets talk later okay!!" Mom with a surprised expression, as she see's the nurse on the screen's reflection.

At the cold, damp, stuffy room. The air filled with the scent of various medicines, menthols, and the foul scent of the hallway creeping into the hospital room through the small crevices of the four corners of quarter. Mother laying on the bed as she get's ready for a check-up on her condition. "Your condition seems to be getting worse and worse with each visit." the nurse dictates the contents of the previous data to the current to mother. "Well it would just seem to be as though. but I'm perfectly recovering my strength slowly and surely." Mother replies to the nurse showing her optimistic side to the nurse. "Are you sure you don't your family to learn about this stuff?" the nurse asking in concern for mothers well being with a anxiety in her face as she knows well the condition of he patient. "It won't be necessary, I don't want to trouble those kids, much more that their exams are coming up." mother says to the nurse with a fake smile that cannot contain the agony and sorrow that is boiling up inside her. Silence echoed harshly in the cold walls of the four corners of the room till the nurse finished up and continued with her rounds.

Three days have passed since the time that mother has called, from the cold rain that's pouring down, to the lights of the busy evening main street the make the pouring rain seem so beautiful as it reflects the lights of the stores. Alfred and Averie can be seen taking shelter at the front of one of the closed stores with Alfred holding bags. "Hey, Sis, there's something I've been meaning to tell you." Alfred tells with a calm look at his face and seriousness in his voice. "What is it?" Rie asks with a hollow look knowing full well what the man wants to say. "Mom, was putting up a farce to not worry us when you called. The nurse told me everything. From the illness she got to her condition." the calm look on Alfred's face seemingly disappears fading into one with filled with sorrow in his eyes. "I already know about it, El told me about it the other day but it was the doctor that told her. I know it's hard but keep it together, we can't cry at home, it'll pain those two the most." Rie says while holding back the tears that are about to come out of those blue eyes of hers. As the night continues to pour down the cold droplets the two decided to walk in the middle of the rain, as the night continues to muffle their cries and hide their tears from the world. 

In a field full of hydrangeas, teal filled the land with it's vibrance, a symbol for renewal and calmness, as Louie sleeps at the center of this field enveloped by the flowers, under the shadow of the giant tree, there come a change in the field which awakens it's sleeping guardian. Louie slowly opening his eyes sees the undeniably bright horizon and leaves of the giant tree. From afar can be seen a lady in a white dress whose hair rides the winds, in the middle of the field of hydrangeas staying still in her position with elegance. Louie calls out to her with calmness "what are you doing there?". The lady does not respond. "Is there something I can help you with?" Louie asks again yet still no response. Louie walks toward the lady slowly, however at his tenth step he can no longer raise his feet, he can no longer continue to walk. The lady notices and walks towards Louie, with each step the field turns into roses of red at the base of her feet, with each step she mutters "Remember" as she gets nearer and nearer to Louie, but Louie is unable to she her face as the sun block the upper part of her face, only being able to see her nose and mouth. Louie rises from his bed with cold sweat in filling his comforter he say "What a strange dream.".