Invisible String

Chapter 9: Permanent Damage

"And I see the permanent damage you did to me, never again, I just wish I could forget..."

🦷

"Hey, mom." Lizzie spoke up after a few minutes of staring at her mother's tombstone. She had cleaned the old, dead flowers and placed new ones, a bouquet of lilies. Evelyn's favorite flowers. "It's been so long, hasn't it? I miss you everyday."

Lizzie sat on the grass and talked. She tried to picture Evelyn in front of her, hearing her daughter talk about her life. She told everything, from her first day in college to a few weeks ago when her brothers hugged her after Rob left her life for good. Evelyn Halstead had a way to make everyone around her feel special. Lizzie could almost see her sitting on their kitchen table, smiling at her and offering to bake some cookies to help cheer her up.

"You'd be happy to see us now, mom. We're taking care of each other, just like you asked. Dad is doing fine too. He's as stubborn as ever and not too happy about his new diet but, well." she laughed softly, drying the tears that managed to fall down her cheeks. "Things are getting better, I think. I just wish you were here with us."

The wind was strong and cold that morning, and she tried to feel something, something that would tell her that her mother had heard everything she just said. Nothing happened, but she felt a little better after saying all that happened out loud. That would have to be enough.

"Anyway." Lizzie breathed in. Through her tears, she looked at her watch. It was almost time to start her shift and she hated to be late. "Thanks for listening, mom. I'll... try to come more often, I promise."

Once more, her words were met with only silence, and the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. But there was some peace in that silence, or perhaps it was pouring her feelings in front of her mother's grave. In any way, Lizzie stood up from her spot and left after saying goodbye to her mother.

🦷

"Dr. Halstead!" Lizzie heard a voice calling as she and Will entered the ED that morning. The two of them looked at the same time, and Maggie chuckled.

"Will! Look who decided to come back." Maggie announced, and Lizzie saw Natalie smiling radiantly by her side. Will faltered, the corners of his mouth pulling up in a smile.

"Hey, Nat."

"Hey."

"Good to see you."

"You, too."

Lizzie felt trapped in a ridiculous romantic comedy scene, with Natalie and Will staring at each other with heart eyes. She wondered what they were thinking, but suspected the only thing in her brother's mind was just filled with panicked screams and small fires, like that one scene in SpongeBob where all the little SpongeBobs inside his brain set the room on fire as they ran around in panic.

"Uh, oh. You're gonna have to catch up later." Maggie pulled them back into reality. "Incoming!"

"I packed some protein bars for you, don't forget to eat something. I'll see you later, Liz."

"Thanks, dad." she rolled her eyes as Will sprinted towards the treatment room. Then, she turned to Maggie, pointing at where Will and Natalie were just a minute ago. "Was that weird for you too, or was it just me?"

"He was about to drool over her." Maggie chuckled.

"Will needs to get his shit together, I've told him that already."

"Easier said than done." she scoffed, tapping on Lizzie's shoulder. "You have a good day, kid."

"Thanks, Maggie. You guys try to keep yourselves out of trouble today. " Lizzie replied.