Catherine wakes up the next day feeling happy. She feels so because she won't be going to work. She rushly cleans, cook, and have her bath.
She packs her mum's breakfast and set to go. She calls at Mrs Johnson house to thank her for visiting her mum the previous day and making her dinner.
She walks to the entrance and knocks. She waits for some time and knocks again but there is no response. She turns back seeing she is not at home.
She gets to the hospital and sees her mum from the door reading. She is a little bit better now though she wants her to stay a bit longer. There are still traces of weakness in her. But right now she smiles to herself seeing she does not seems to be so weak and tired unlike before.
She opens the door.
'Hi mum,' she greets ,walking up to her.
'Hi Kat', her mum responds cheerfully, taking her eyes off the book.
'Wow You're reading', Catherine comments taking the seat beside her. She drops the food on the bed.
'As you can see', her mum replies smiling. She frowns a little 'You're late for work'
Catherine smiles 'Actually, it's a suprise!' she declares
'Suprise?' her mum asks
Catherine nods. 'Yeah, Bianca ask me to take the day off so I'm spending the day with you', she answers happily
'That's nice but I don't want you here all day' her mum replies
Catherine looks confused. 'As in? Are you sending me away?'
'No Kat', her mum replies and holds her hand , 'I want you to go out', she continues 'Go and have fun, go to the beach or wherever'.
Catherine looks into her mum eyes and sees she is serious. It will be a waste of time arguing with her and besides, she doesn't want her arguing at all.
'Okay mum', she agrees and continues 'but at least let me stay with you for some hours'
''No!' her mum objects 'not for some hours. Stay for an hour or even half. You can come to see me when you come back'
'Okay mum', Catherine agrees.
She looks at the novel in her hand, 'Mum you're reading a romantic novel?' she teases laughing.
Her mum puts the book away, 'I'm not like you that don't believe in love'
'Of course I believe in love or, what do you call the one I have for you?' Catherine asks back pretending not to know what she is saying
'You know what I mean stop pretending' her mum replies
Catherine looks away. Her eyes draws attention to the flowers on the drawer, close to the wall.
'Who brought this flower?' she inquires
'Oh! Thomas and Sam. They brought it along with their mother yesterday', she replies
'Wow! so sweet of them', she remarks examining the flowers wrapped in a fancy nylon wrapper. She sees a card in it 'Wow! they even bought a card', Catherine comments further and opens it.
A handwritten cursive writings shows on the card. Catherine reads out it content 'Get well soon. Awwn so sweet', she puts it back in the flowers and places them back on the drawer.
'I'm jealous', Catherine says to her mum
'Of what?' she asks
'I didn't even bring you flowers but those kid got to', she replies
Her mum smiles 'It's fine You have a lot on your mind already dear'
Catherine smiles back 'So mum, what are you reading?' she ask changing the topic.
'What?', her mum asks back
Catherine eyes the book, 'The book of course ' she replies
Her mum chuckles 'When did you start having interest in books like this Kat? Anyways the doctor ask you to see him when you come. I'll be coming home tomorrow' she tells her
'For real? are you really fine now', she questions, looking into her face 'Mum you're...'
'I'm fine Kat. Besides I can't keep being here. My sickness isn't something that will heal by staying here. I don't want to keep pilling bills Kat' she explains
'Mum wait, don't tell me all this is because of the bills?'
'No Kat. Okay listen', she swallows hard 'The drugs are not working. The doctor said I'll have to opt for chemo but I have to come back in a week for it'. She explains
'Chemo what?' Catherine asks in suprise
'Kat I know what you're thinking'
'Then don't do it mum. No! not chemo we can try surgery'
'Kat', her mum tries to explain ' I told you then I found this out late. It's our only option'
Tears begins to form in Catherine's eyes 'So this is why the doctor wants to see me?'
'Yes Kat I'm so...'
'It's fine mum', she cuts in and stands up feeling hurt, 'I guess I'll have to come back to hear that from him'
'Kat' her mum calls
'I'm fine mum. I'll see you later', she replies and storms out of the room
She gets out of the hospital and begins to run hoping the pains that lingers in her heart will run out of her. She wants to shout, curse and cry out so her mind won't longer be heavy with the pains. She suddenly stops to catch her breath.
She bends low and burst out in tears drawing attention from passersby.
A young man walks to her and holds her trying to be nice.
'Hey damsel why are you crying?' He asks and raises her up 'You shouldn't be like this, not in public'. He looks around suspiciously, 'Look ', he says pointing at a street down the road, ' There's an hotel down that road, that's where I stay'. He brings out a card and stretches it to her, 'You can give me a call later in the night so we can meet in my room and sort things out alright?' he smiles at her slyly.
Catherine looks at him and regrets taking him for a honest man. She looks at her shoulder in the man's arm and shruggs him off angrily
'Get your filthy hands off me!' She yells, throws him an annoying look and walks away.
'