Spitting Image • TFC 3.0 • l.t. au

Chapter Forty Seven

47

The 5th of January is one of the saddest days in our life. Early in the morning, the hospital called our home telephone. Blaine was the one to answer the call and came rushing in the room, shaking us awake.

I knew what was going to happen. I knew what the doctor was going to say. Louis talked to the doctor while I stand beside him, half awake. Somehow, even though I knew what was coming, I still hoped it wasn't true.

Summer and Seth were sitting on the stairs, listening to one side of the conversation between Louis and the doctor. Blaine and Louise are pretending that they're not listening but I know better.

"How long?" Louis asks the doctor. I feel my heart beating so hard against my chest. He sighs and gives me a look. "We'll make it." He says with his eyes fixed on me then he hangs up.

BLAINE'S POV

After dad has spoken to the doctor on the phone, mum tells us to get changed quickly. None of us showered at all, there wasn't enough time.

I thought I was the first one to finish but Louise already beat me to it. In the hall, mum and Louise are talking. Mum looks like she has cried already. She's been out of sight for 15 minutes and her eyes are already red and puffy.

Ever since Margo, mum has been quiet. She rarely talks now and at the dinner table, she'd just put food on the table and continue to do other work. Correct me if I'm wrong, it could be her way of distracting herself from the situation.

Dad as well. Well, he's a lot more quiet now. He hasn't gone to work yet since winter break. It's normal when he's quiet every time he's home because he's working. Now, he and mum would just space out during dinner or any meals.

Margo's situation is affecting very badly in the worst way possible.

Mum looks up when I shut my door. She tells Louise to head downstairs and walks up to me. "We're going to see her," she tells me, with a weak smile. "For the last time, love."

My brother, sisters and I only visited Margo a few times. It's always mum and dad going to the hospital checking on her but that doesn't lessen the remorse I feel for her. Every time mum and dad would pay her a visit, there's more bad news than good news. I'd overhear them talking sometimes and it makes me feel bad.

It's wrong to eavesdrop, I know. But they're talking about Margo. My little sister. I haven't even gotten the chance to know her and vice versa and she's already being taken away. And to think that the situation is like Louise or either of the twins being taken away, it's depressing.

Before I can say anything, dad walks out of the room and tells us to get to the car. I knock on Seth and Summer's door and they both come running out and down the stairs. Before I went down, I turned around to catch a glimpse of my parents. Dad pulls mum in a hug and rubs her back. I couldn't see mum's face because it's covered with her blonde hair.

Dad, however, looks like he's going to cry but trying not to. I turned back around and went down the stairs slowly. My siblings look at me as I come down, Louise stands up and approaches me.

"They're not doing so well." I tell her quietly to avoid being overheard. "They're so miserable, it's painful to watch."

She sighs and leans on the couch. "Its another bad start of the year, Blaine" she tells me sadly, crossing her arms.

I shrugged and put my hands in my jacket pocket. "We'll get through it. We always do." I tell her.

"You know," she says, "I've never seen mum and dad smile since Margo. If losing a sister feels this terrible, I wonder how mum feels."