"Did you see that? Did you hear the way she talked to me? And you didn't even say anything about it! Do you know how annoying that was?" She complained.
"Hannah does has a point too. She's already been through a lot. She needs time…"
"And how long will I wait? Can she see I only have her best interests at heart? What is wrong with her?" She interrupted.
"You should calm down Constance, it's not good for your health," He advised.
"At least someone cares how I feel, but it appears that Hannah doesn't!" She shouted.
"Why don't we…"
She didn't wait for him to finish before she left the room. He slouched on the armchair he was sitting on. He put on his glasses and picked up the newspaper, trying to forget all that had just happened.
"I'll see you soon…" She said patting her soft hair.
Julianne nodded and hugged her mother one more time. She apologized to her mother and they made up, although she knew Constance wouldn't easily forget about it. They watched her hail a taxi and drive out before they went back into the house.
One week passed. Julianne was at the back of the house chasing a butterfly when her grandmother called for her. She looked at the butterfly one more time before running into the house.
"Your mother is on her way. She'll be here in an hour,"
She nodded happily. She couldn't wait to see her mother. She looked at her clothes. The one white gown had smudges of dirt over it. The same thing applied to the shoes. She decided to take a bath because she knew her mother wouldn't be happy if she saw her looking dirty. She went into the bathroom to quickly run a bath.
An hour passed. Two hours passed. Three hours passed, but Hannah was no where in sight. By this time, Constance and Harold began to worry. They tried calling her but her phone was switched off. An hour later, Constance received a call.
"Hello," She said in a choked voice due to her crying.
"Are you Constance Williams?" said the speaker on the other end.
"Yes I am, can I help you?" She said, still shaking.
"Your daughter has been involved in a ghastly road accident on the outskirts of the city. She's at the general hospital…"
The phone fell from her hand. She let out a dirge of sorrow. Harold and Julianne who were there when she answered the phone, wondered what was wrong, and after a little persuasion, they found out that Hannah had been involved in a terrible accident.
"Crying won't solve matters, Constance. We should go to the hospital," Harold said calmly. They gathered their things and went to the hospital.
It didn't take much time for them to find Hannah's ward. When they stepped into the ward, Constance broke down. "My poor baby!" She cried, rushing over to Hannah's side. She had regained consciousness but had been covered up in bandages. Julianne clutched her grandmother's dress staring at her mother who was wrapped up in bandages. Hannah told her to come closer, which she did. She gave her the locket she loved so much, wearing it on her.
"Are you going to be okay Mommy?" She asked in her child-like innocence.
"I'll be fine…" She said smiling.
After a while, Harold and Julianne left the hospital, leaving Constance behind because she insisted on staying with her. It was at that moment the doctor called.
"Is there any problem doctor?" She said worriedly.
"It's concerning your daughter…" He said fidgeting with his fingers.
"What about her?" She said in a cold tone.
The doctor cleared his throat and said, "Your daughter's condition is very severe. Although she seems fine, tests show that she's bleeding internally and if it continues at this rate, she may lose her life,"
"What rubbish are you saying?" She screamed, "My daughter is fine, you just don't know how to do your job properly! Nothing will happen to her!"
"I know it's hard to accept madam but…"
"Spare me the talk doctor!" She spat before walking back to the ward.
"What did the doctor say?" Hannah asked her mother.
She put on her biggest smile and said, "He said that you are doing just fine. Your condition is getting better!"
She softly smiled but after a while, her face fell. "What's wrong?" Constance asked.
"I'm sorry Mom for all the pain I brought you. You and Dad invested so much in me but I blew it up. I know you're both disappointed…" She cried.
She frowned and said, "Who says you're a disappointment? I'm proud of the woman you've become. You used to be so timid and afraid but now, you're bold and courageous. You're a multi-millionaire and are every parents' dream. I am so lucky to be blessed with a wonderful child, even if she's a girl,"
Both mother and daughter softly embraced, shedding tears. She felt dizzy and weak so she lay her head on the pillow, looking at her mother.
"You should get some rest," Hannah said to her mother.
She smiled and said, "Once you're asleep, I will rest,"
She made herself comfortable on the bed and looked at her mother's swollen eyes. "She must have cried a lot," She thought. She always used to ask herself if she would ever find love. At that moment, she realized she had more love than she could ever imagine. Her parents, June, and Julianne loved her. Her mind went to Julian. It was at that moment she realized she loved him. But she couldn't tell him, he was a million miles away. She wondered if he felt the same way. She was hit by a wave of dizziness and slowly closed her eyes. She looked at her mother for one last time. She had fallen asleep. She chuckled and said, "I love you, mom," in a hushed tone. She closed her eyes, finally finding the peace she always searched for.