Smiles sure she is hallucinating, maybe because she's gone through a lot lately.
She watched the lady take gentle strides toward her, she could hear her heartbeats and her senses were alert.
It can't be that I am dead right? She thought, trying so hard not to scream.
"Smiles, it's me, Fiona!" The lady said, reaching out to her.
Smiles pull away, taking the edge of the bed."I can't die now, lord save me" she silently cries hoping someone will come to save her.
But no one came, she was left to faint for herself. To fight alone. Even if she wanted to die, she couldn't. She can't let her baby die without experiencing life, she can't leave her baby behind just like her mom did only for her to end up suffering.
"Stay away from me, you are dead" Smiles warns, pushing herself to the wall.
"No, I'm not! Hear me out, please!" Fiona begs, eyes teary.
"Don't come any closer, I will scream" Smiles warn, tone firm and decisive.
Hearing her, Fiona takes two steps behind. "Fine, I won't come close but please hear me out before you conclude" she begs.
Fiona can accept being called a ghost by anyone but not Smiles, not her baby.
Smiles burst into tears seeing her retreat. "Why is all this happening to me?" She cries, not understanding what life is giving her.
"Why can't I be happy too, why must I always have to beg for love, why can't I be loved and treated as someone deserving?" She laments.
Fiona's heart shatters into pieces upon seeing her cry. She so much wants to hug her, caress her hair, and tell her it's ok but she can't.
Smiles wipes away her tears and turns to her, "I don't know who you are, if you were sent by Keane, then go tell him you didn't see me 'cause I will never fall into his facades again" Her tone was commanding, ordering the lady.
"Listen to me first, please" Fiona begs, " I promise to explain everything to you. I am not dead, I was never dead" she explains.
Smiles looked confused," if you are truly one, then what happened years ago? Why didn't you come for me?" she asked, "why didn't you come and take me away from those people? They did nothing but torture me, the abuse me, they told me how pathetic and useless I am. They said I killed you because I'm a witch," she cries.
"But I didn't believe them, I believed you would come for me. But you never did, no one came. I spent my nights hoping, waiting but no one came" Smiles couldn't hold on to her tears any longer.
Her life right now is a good description of disaster and tragedy.
"no, no, no! '' Fiona shakes her head continuously," I came for you, I promised I did. But I was too late." She moved two steps closer, "When I woke up from consciousness, I was told my baby died in my womb before she came out. Do you know how that felt? You were the only family I had then, everyone had turned their back on me even the person I loved" she cries.
"I so much wanted to die, I couldn't bear living without you. But just in time, a nurse told me my child was not dead, that she was sent to an orphanage but she never told me where and which ", " I search for you everywhere, going from one orphanage to the next. But I was too weak to continue my search. I don't know how but I found myself in the hospital. I had lost a lot of blood, I could barely help myself up"
Fiona sits by the bedside," I am so sorry you had to go through all this, I never planned for it. If it was my wish, then I would've wished for us to stay together." She pulls her in for a hug.
Smiles didn't refuse, she let herself feel the comfort she'd been missing for twenty-one years now. She cried in her arms, Fiona didn't mind, she was her daughter after all.
"When I was discharged from the hospital, I succeeded in getting to the orphanage you were sent to but I was told it no longer operates. All the children were sent to different orphanages. I couldn't trace you, but I never stopped looking for you" Fiona said, as she pulled away from the hug.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Smiles apologized.
Fiona smiles at her sweetly," You don't have to be, it's neither your fault nor mine. Those that are responsible are paying for it" Her tone was different, the look on her face was dangerously fierce.
Smiles felt weak and tired from the intense crying, she had no time to think.
Fiona saw how pale she looked, she definitely knew she needed some rest.
She pulls her down to the bed, urging her to rest herself on the pillow.
"I have sent for your meal, get some rest now" She placed a kiss on her forehead, caressing her hair.
This feeling was new, Smiles didn't know how it felt until now. Tears roll down her eyes wetting on the pillow, she can't believe this is what she's been missing for God knows how long.
"Mom!" Smiles call out, stunning Fiona.
She wasn't expecting to be called mom so soon, but she didn't mind. she is happy." yes!" She responds, still stroking in her hair.
"I am pregnant," Smiles tells her.
Fiona nodded, "I know" She gave her a sweet smile.
"You were the one that brought me here?" Smiles asked, and she nodded.
"Less talking, you need your strength, rest". Fiona said.
Smiles nods, and closes her eyes. She never stops peeping to see if she's real or just her imagination.
Life was indeed playing a take-and-give game. At first, it took away her family and gave her Mark, then it took Mark and gave her Keane. Now, it has taken Keane and given it to her mom. What a game.
She couldn't close her eyes, scared she might wake up and not find her.
"Mom!" Smiles calls again, her mom answers with a hum, "You won't leave me again, right?" She asked with pleading eyes.
"I am right here, till you wake up," Fiona assured but Smiles wasn't convinced.
"Promise!" Smiles said, urging her to repeat the word. She knows she's been childish right now, but she doesn't mind 'cause right now, she needs her more than ever.
"I promise, I will never leave you" Fiona assured with a promise.
As if it was all she wanted, Smiles closes her eyes and lets herself be consumed in the fantasy world in fantasy. Hopefully, her fantasy will be good for her.