Black Rays

CHAPTER 37

Death was something that barely crossed her mind. She never once thought about that enigmatic phenomena that snatched people away forever. More so, when it came to her children, death was not a topic of discussion. She wanted them to live long and be healthy. Be successful and find fulfillment in life.
Now, standing at the doors leading into the room that was filled with the sickening scent of spirit and sanitizers, she felt like she had walked into a wall and she was still trying to push through. She could not imagine what she was going to find in there, her precious daughter breathless, cold and pale. The thought alone made her stomach churn and her throat constrict painfully. She felt like she was carrying the weight of the entire sky on her shoulders and she was barely managing to hold it up.

She dragged her feet into the room, as heavy as lead they were, she barely made a stride. She just walked slowly, like an old woman sagging with age. Her heart pounding loud in her ears, her hands trembling and tears clouding her view. She blinked rapidly, bringing the room back to focus. The cold bed was there, sitting ridiculously at the center of the room with the white sheets pulled over the figure under the sheets, covered from head to toe.

“That is my daughter” she wailed “That is my child”
She scolded the sheets, it was her girl, why was it wrapping her up like that as if she was not alive? As if she had no need of using oxygen anymore?
Laura stumbled forward, her bruised hands trembling on her side. She lifted them slowly reaching for the white sheet. She tightened her grip on it, squeezing it in her hand as if she expected it to feel the pain she was feeling as well.
Tears clouded her view as she slowly slid the white sheets off from the top revealing a pale, cold bruised face of her lovely daughter. She couldn’t bear the sight before her, she collapsed onto the floor, an agonizing cry escaping her mouth unannounced. Julian panicked, he rushed to sooth his wife, swallowing his tears for her sake. He could not bear the sight before him at all, but for her sake he tried to pull himself together. On the other side, the girls were breaking down and Lara who had arrived not long ago was standing in the door way frozen like a statue.

Zawadi was a crying mess, let alone Jane who could barely stand at the moment. Natalie was trying to hold it together for the sake of the others, but in real sense she was broken beyond repair.
Laura crawled out of her husband’s hold, scrambling to the bed again, trying to sake Monica awake. “Sweetheart … please wake up… wake up my child … you promised you will not get me worried right? Wake up!” she shook the cold body desperately but there was no movement not even a twitch of a finger.

“You cannot leave me yet. Six years are not enough. My child please …” she cried almost choking “we are family … you cannot leave your family behind and travel alone. Please Monica… please!” She caressed her face, rubbed her hands, shook her awake, but there was no response at all. She remained cold and still.
“I will be a better mother I promise. I will raise your monthly allowance, I will be home every weekend so we can have dinner together. I will…

Natalie could not hold it longer, she rushed out of the room brushing past Lewis who was powerlessly leaning against the wall staring at his mother helplessly. His mother was a strong woman, but the moment he saw Monica, how she looked at her like she was the daughter she has always wanted. He saw the connection they had, how they easily laughed with one another, escaped off to have private talks in the backyard. How Monica never missed to gift her something expensive for her birthday. Monica was the one who remembered everything about her mother, the things she hated, the things she loved and her fashion. She came and filled the gap her husband had left behind. She made her warm again, she reconnected her back to the family, and Monica brought their mother back to them. Back then, Laura would spend a lot of time working in the office, keeping herself occupied because no matter how long it took she still felt like an abandoned wife. She felt like she was casing the wind, truth be said she was always in love with Julian and it wrecked her entire being that he never showed up even once.
Monica warmed her, she was like her personal therapist and slowly she warmed her up and connected her back to the family. Everyone loved her for that, she brought the mother back. She warmed the family, she brought Julian and Lara back and completed the family. She was an angle sent from heaven, she was everyone’s angle. She helped Lewis find his passion, even when she didn’t know she did that. She helped Natalie, Jane and Zawadi find the courage to walk out there and discover their passion, she tolerated Ivy no matter what she did. She worked hard and loved everyone and the much love she gave, she got it back in return.