Chapter Fifty-Seven-1

Chapter Fifty-Seven Before I get the call that ruins my life, I feel like my life is finally changing for the better. "Let's go," Lee says standing with his arm outstretched, empty palm waiting. He has the, previously heavy but now light, wine bottle in the other. He's like a dark knight in his black suit and solemn face. At times, his patience is a spectacle to marvel at. "Can't disappear from my own party this year...again." I take his hand, pulling myself up. "You're right. Wouldn't want to keep people waiting. any longer." A thought enters my mind. "Oh my god, Daniel." I pick up the bottom of my dress. "I have to go. I completely forgot." Within a second, I am running as fast and as stable as I can half-drunk and in heels. I barely have a chance to see Lee's reaction. The room feels the same as I had previously left it, but I barely can process the probable amount of time I've disappeared. I begin to shift throughout the crowd, standing on my toes even though I am wearing heels with my head turning every which way looking for a certain boy. I search nearly every part of the crowd. A sweaty ten minutes later of just moving around between bodies and conversations, I lean against one of the walls defeated. A waiter holding glasses of champagne walk by and I snag a drink, sipping an incredible amount from the tall glass. "Ivory!" I know it's Daniel before I even see him. I turn around to his voice which comes from my left. "Daniel! Hey," I say. What else do I say? Sorry I disappeared for like an hour? "Where have you been?" he says, jogging up to me. He is a little out of breath but mostly sounds concerned rather than upset. He presses a worried hand to his forehead. "I thought you might've left or something. I know you haven't felt your best. And I know my words...." Daniel looks at me for any reaction. I stand still as if it'll hide my emotions. He finally just says, "They're a lot to handle." I purse my lips. Everything seems clearer yet so confusing. "I..." His eyebrows perk up and he walks closer. "Yeah?" The gentle music in the room suddenly halts. The only sound is a spoon hitting the side of a champagne glass. Everyone pauses before turning their attention to Lee, who stands in the front of the room with a cupcake in front of him. The intricately designed cupcake has a single candle that has a small flame emitting from it. All eyes are on him. "I just want to thank everyone for coming again to yet again another birthday bash of mine. Yes, I know. They're starting to get annoying," he jokes, causing the crowd to erupt in soft chuckles. "I mean, who doesn't like dressing up, free food and champagne, and a night out in the town? I certainly don't." Laughter booms across the room again. If they only knew how serious he is. "And thank you to those who stayed home, picking their bed and the latest TV drama over me. Either way, I am getting old again. To the pursuit of life and happiness! May we all remain young at heart. Cheers!" On his account, the crowd all raise their glasses and chorus "Cheers!" as they laugh and smile at his shenanigans and joy for the night. I raise my glass in a strange proud, happy moment. I stare at Lee in delight. He blows the candle and everyone begins clapping as servers spread around in a manicured fashion with cupcake trays. "Ivory, where were you?" Daniel asks, gently pressing my arm. I glance at him quickly before watching Lee smile and take a bite of his cupcake. "I was..." The cupcake is chocolate and smears his upper lip. I find myself smiling big at that. Lee suddenly locks eyes with me and grins, chocolate mess and all. "Ivory?" Daniel's stern voice snaps me out of my daze. I face the man in front of me. What was he saying? "I asked where you went. I was worried, that's all." "I...I was...," I say, stumbling on what to say. Why can't I just tell the truth? Then again, if I could do that, would I be here at all? Probably not. To the side of my vision, I see Lee walking over with a cheeky grin and half a cupcake. My eyes dart back to Daniel. What do I say? Just as I open my mouth again and Lee stands next to me, my phone rings. Saved by the bell, I think as I inwardly sigh in relief. I look at both of the boys and raise my index finger, signaling for them to hold and make a show of pulling out my phone. I don't even look at the caller ID. I just need this distraction to save me from somehow telling my boyfriend where I was while the man who stole my time stands right by us. The situation is so tragically cliche that I am ready to leave any second now. "Hello?" I greet. Daniel sighs, taking off his glasses and pressing the temple of his nose in stress. Lee takes another careful bite before pulling out the handkerchief from his chest pocket. It's also black like the entirety of his dark outfit tonight. "Hello? Ivory Flores?" a female voice asks. Her voice is low and quiet. Raspy too. Smoker? "Yes, this is she." "This is Elle from your mother's medical team." Hearing anything about my mother sobers me up. Anything from before seems trivial. "Yes? Is there an update?" I ask. Usually, Madam Jin contacts me. However, she's been M.I.A. ever since she told me she's "onto something" and therefore has been researching whatever latest family theory she has. Still, it's weird. I've never heard of Elle. "Ivory...." There is a long pause, long enough for Lee to finish eating his cupcake and Daniel to take a champagne glass from a server. "I am sorry to inform you of this. Unfortunately, your mother"—I begin to lose feeling—"underwent cardiac arrest earlier. We are unsure to the cause currently. But due to the extreme stress already from the aneurysm and her prolonged coma status, her body was unable to handle the effects and our doctors were unable to recover your mother even through the most forward medical advancements.....We are so sorry for your loss." And then...silence. Absolute silence. I don't move. I stand in the same position from when she began talking, phone pressed to the ear. The noise in the room fades—it's a wild sensation. The other side of the line is quiet. It's as if a blanket of darkness spreads slowly over every inch of my life. I can't hear anything, not the party and life that continues or even my own breathing. I don't think I'm breathing. I can't feel my lungs. I don't know how to. I think I'm crying. My throat feels small and I feel like an observer watching everything uncover, but that's not the truth. This is happening. To me. "She's having a panic attack." Four hands, two on each arm. One moves to my back. I'm sinking into the ground. No one notices yet. "Bring her out." "Who's she on the phone with?" I'm being taken somewhere. My mother's dead. It doesn't matter where I go. "Hello? Who is this?" My feet scrape against the floor and trip. I'm caught and held onto more firmly. I see a blur of dresses and feet. I don't want to look up. "Fuck, you're kidding me." "What?"