125: Hope

125: Hope
ALMA

Carl didn't respond, and more tears trickled down his cheeks as he stared into my eyes. His eyes were red, and swollen, evidence that he had been crying for a longer time than right now. My eyes prickled at the sight of him crying, and tears began to roll down my cheeks as well.

Why was he crying? And why was I crying too. I didn't know why but my heart felt heavy in my chest, and it ached terribly. 

His silence stung me all over like a thousand bees. Why was he answering? What had happened to our baby?

"C-carl?" I stammered, arching a brow, "What happened to Velma?" The question barely left my lips, but again he was quiet. Almost like he couldn't speak, and I couldn't take it anymore.

The silence was killing me, just as much as not knowing what had happened to my baby. Could she—

No. I shook my head frantically at the thought of that. No way. I didn't even want to think about that. I couldn't bear the thought of it, and it felt like a part me died at that brief thought. I'd die if anything happened to her, that much was certain.

My heart twisted painfully in my chest andI grabbed Carl arm, shaking him, "What happened to my baby? Why won't you answer me?" I questioned as my emotions began to unravel. I was seriously losing my mind, "Tell me!" I yelled, and when he didn't answer I let him go, forcing myself to my feet.

"Hey, what are you doing? You're not supposed to be—"

I turned away, storming out of the room into the corridor. "Alma!" Carl called but I didn't answer nor looked back as I dashed into the corridor, taking my left like I knew exactly where I was going. I didn't.

"Velma!" I yelled as I dragged myself down the hall, drawing attention to myself but I didn't care. Nothing else mattered to me right now except Velma. She was everything I was thinking about.

"Alma, stop!" Carl ran after me, stepping before me, and blocking my path. I tried to brush past him but he stopped me, putting his hands on my shoulder. "Stop yelling," he said, glancing around the corridor, "You're making a scene."

"I don't care!" I yelled. "Tell me where she is!" I shouted at him, "Where is she, Carl? Where is my baby?" Tears streamed down my face, and I threw my head up to hold it in but nothing could stop these tears.

He slipped his hand up my cheeks, and wiped the tears off my face, "I'll take you to her. Come on," he led the way, and I followed him, feeling my heartbeat in my stomach.

With each step my heart pounded aggressively, not knowing what I was going to find. It was scary and my hands trembled. I balled them into fists as I followed him.

When we reached the door, Carl turned to me with a somber expression, his eyes welling up with tears. "She's in here," he whispered, his voice barely audible as he entered the room.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room frantically. The beeping of the machine was like a drumbeat in my head, echoing off the walls.

I saw Carl standing beside the bed, his tears flowing freely now, and my eyes drifted from him to the bed. My gaze fell on Velma, and my heart sank.

"Velma," I mumbled quietly, tear dropping from my eyes as I walked up to her standing next to Carl with my gaze fixed on her fragile state.

Velma lay motionless in the hospital bed, her head wrapped in a thick bandage, a tube inserted into her mouth. Her skin was pale and clammy, her eyes sunken. The machine beside her bed beeped steadily, monitoring her vital signs. IV fluids dripped into her veins, the clear liquid flowing through the tubes like a lifeline.

"Velma!" I mumbled, my voice shaking with emotion. I slipped my hand over hers, feeling the warmness of her skin as tear dropped from my eyes like rain, and I rubbed the back of her palm with my thumb. My chest burned through and through, watching her helplessly lay there while I was on my feet.

She didn't deserve this. If anyone should be in this bed it should be me. It should be.

"They don't know when she'll wake up," Carl muttered beside me, wiping his tears, "Or if she even will."

The words took the air from my lungs, and it suddenly felt like someone had a pillow pressed to my nose. I was suffocating, "If?" I echoed, glancing at him, "What the hell does that mean?" I arched my brow, "She could be like this forever?"

Carl was quiet. His eyes gleamed with more tears that he was holding back, "They have done everything they can, Alma. There's nothing more they can do. We just have to wait."

To wait? My heart clenched tightly. How was I supposed tos survive that? I couldn't live a moment with Velma like this because of me. It should have been me. It really should have been me. I would trade places with her in an instant if I could. She didn't deserve to suffer for just being my daughter.

I wiped the tears from my eyes, perhaps there was more we could do for her. Other options. "Can we take her to another hospital or something? Maybe they can do something."

"I've tried that. I looked into some specialist but—" he shook his head, "It's all the same, Alma. I'm afraid we just have to wait."

"For how long?" I retorted, raising my voice, and bursting into tears.

"Hey," Carl pulled me into his arms, hugging me tightly, and brushing his fingers through my hair as he whispered, "I'm sure she will be fine. She's as strong as you, remember that," he released me, and cupped my face, "She will definitely come back to us."

He wiped the tears as they rolled down my face, and hugged me again, calming mw down when the door creaked open, revealing Beverly. She was also in tears, and she rushed to us when she saw me.

"Alma," she hugged me, "Thank God, You're alright now," she squeezed me in her arms, "I was so worried about you," she released me, and we glanced at Velma, "She will wake up," Beverly muttered, rubbing my back in reassurance.

I nodded, "Yeah, she will."

She must. Beverly hugged me again, and the nurses came in to give Velma some shots so we cleared out of the room.

"What about Linda and Agatha?" I asked a while later as we were seated outside Velma's room, "Did they escape?"

Carl shook his head, "No. They have been arrested, and it's certain that they will rot in jail so don't worry about them."

I bobbed my head, glad to hear that. Thinking about it going to jail was a bit too lenient for Linda and Agatha after what those two had done they deserved worse.

The next day I stopped by the prison after visiting Alma to see Linda. I originally thought she might reject seeing me but she didn't. I guess even in prison she was still as gutsy.

"Fancy seeing you here," Linda grinned as she took her seat, and held the phone to her ear, "I didn't think you'd want to see me again given your daughter's situation."

I frowned, clenched my fist. I wished there was a way I could beat her to the pulp. "I do not. Seeing you makes me sick."

She rolled her eyes, "Then what brings you here, sister."

"I wanted to tell you something."

"And what's that?"

I leaned forward, my face contorting to a frown, "You will never have your freedom again, Linda, and I hope you die in here. I hope you rot in hell like you deserve for what you did to Velma."

"Is that it?" she arched a brow, feigning disappointment.

I got out of my seat, holding the phone to my ear, "Pretty much. Go to hell, Linda," I hung the phone, and walked away.



Two months later.

I gently wiped the damp cloth across Velma's forehead, my movements gentle and soothing as I moved to her cleavages, cleaning her up. I had done this everyday for the past two months now which was also the excruciatingly longest months of my life.

I woke up everyday with the hope that today would be the day Velma woke up, and went back home disappointed but it never stopped me from hoping. The hope was the only thing keeping me going. I stroked her hand with the cloth when I noticed it—a slight twitch in her fingers.

My heart skipped a beat. I froze, my eyes fixed on Velma's hand, wondering if I was just imagining things. But then, it moved again. A small flexing of her wrist, a tiny movement that sent my pulse racing with hope.

I leaned in closer, my voice barely above a whisper. "Velma?" I called, and to my own biggest shock her eyelids fluttered.

She's...awake. My daughter is awake!