Affected

Affected
Mark's POV

The car drive was silent as we rushed to the hospital to see my mother. I just wanted to get there. I cannot believe that I would feel this way about my mother in a million years after what she put me through. I guess the bond that we developed after she asked for forgiveness has brought us closer without me really knowing.

We pull up at the hospital and we get out of the car, making our way inside the hospital. It is a chilly evening but none of that matters to me as I rush. I basically forget about Gray, who is catching up with me because of the way that I am walking.

Really fast.

" I'm here for Rose Stern." I said to the reception desk.

"And you are?" the lady asks me as she types away on the computer. My patience is running thin. Gray is beside me now.

"Mark Stern, her son." I say.

"She is on G floor, room number twelve." she says.

"Thanks." I say as I hurry to the elevators. I press the button and we wait.

The elevator doors open and we walk inside. I press the button for the G floor and I'm just standing there, only hearing my heart beat. Gray remains silent. I don't need anyone to say anything to me right now until I know how my mother is.

Finally, the elevator door opens and we step out. We walk down the hall and then I find her room. As we step closer, the doctor exits her room. "Rose Stern...my mother is in this room." I say as he looks up from his folder. He is a bold headed, older man with black framed glasses.

He let's out a breath as he looks between the two of us. "I am very sorry, but your mother died a few minutes ago." my heart crushed, which I didn't expect it to. "Her heart couldn't handle the heart attack. I am sorry." he says, sympathetically.

"Can I see her?" I ask.

"Yes, there is a nurse inside too." he says, and then he walks away as I open the door. I pause, turning my attention to Gray, who looks concerned at me. "I need to be alone with her. " I say.

"Okay. I will be here. " she says with a little smile, but I can see that she is trying to hold it together for me.

I walk inside the room, closing the door behind me. The nurse is busy, "I will leave you alone for a few minutes, I'm sorry. " she gives me a sympathetic smile before she leaves. I walk towards the hospital bed where my mother is lying. The sheet covers her face.

I sit down on the chair, I take her lifeless hand in mine. I take in a deep breath. "I wish I was around when this happened. I wish that I was around to take care of you. I knew this day would come but I didn't expect it to make me feel like I lost an important person in my life. I lost a mother who was trying at the end. I don't know how I am able to tell the kids, they love you." Tears start to stream down my face. "I love you mother. I never thought that I would say this and I never did, but I love you. " I say as the tears blur my vision, I wipe them away with the back of my hand and I stand up. I walk out of there, I wanted to leave again. I walk past Gray. I can hear with her heels that she is trying to catch up to me, but my tears still fall and I continue to wipe them away.

I don't go to the elevator, instead I walk to the emergency exit and I down the flight of stairs. I hear Gray follow after me. "Mark! Slow down!" she calls out after me.

I continue, ignoring her. I need this. This is my way of just dealing with it. She should've taken the elevator. I no longer hear the heels, but I carry on. I am too afraid that I might explode at anyone around me. I just need Gray to leave me alone right now.

Even if that means that she takes the car and goes home. I will walk. How the f^ck can I tell my kids? They love their grandmother. She really loved them too.


Gray's POV

I hurry down the stairs after Mark, but he is just too fast. I end up removing my heels so that I can catch up to him. I am very worried about him and he seems upset, as if he might just explode. But I want to be there for him. I am out of breath just running down this flight of stairs.

Eventually, I hear the door slam closed and then I get to it. I pull the door open and I walk out onto the ground level of the hospital. My chest heaves as I catch my breath. I have my heels in my hand and I hurry after Mark. "Mark!" I call out, but he still ignores me.

Cool air hits me as we walk outside. As we get closer to the car, Mark stops and he holds his hand out, I come to a stop. The car keys are dangling. I look up at him. "Please, go home. I would like to be alone. " he says, not looking into my eyes.

"Mark, where are you going to?" I ask, my voice is filled with worry.

"Just go. " he says.

"Mark, I will not leave without you. Talk to me, I am here. " I say.

"Take the f^cking keys and go the f^ck home!" he barks at me harshly and I jump at his tone. Anger and pain are in his eyes as he looks at me. I swallow.

"Are you coming home tonight?" I ask.

"I don't know. " he says, still looking at me, and he continues to hold the keys out to me.

I take in a deep breath. I take the keys from him and then he starts to walk away towards the sidewalk. I remain rooted in my spot as my heart is breaking.

I start to walk slowly back to the car as my feet feel heavy to lift. I didn't think that this would affect him so much. He didn't care about her because of what she did to him and now that they have gotten closer, he is taking it hard. As much as I want to be with him, I don't think that I can when he is in this state.

I will give him the space that he needs and I will wait for him. It worries me that I don't know where he will go. What if he drinks again? That is my fear. He hasn't been drinking for years. I get inside of the car and I start the engine. When I get on the road, I see Mark walking on the sidewalk further away from me.

Tears blur my vision as I cannot hold them back any longer. They fall and I wipe them away with the back of my hand as I drive slowly as I get close to him. He just walks and I can see in his walk that he is not himself.

I wish to hold him and that is what I want to do. He will just push me away even if I try in this moment. I think about stopping the car, but it will be no use with him.

My phone rings and I reach over to the passenger seat and I feel for my bag. I put my hand inside of it because it's already open and I take my phone out. I glance quickly at the screen and its Reggie.

I answer because it could be the kids. I place the phone against my ear. I drive slowly on the road but close to Mark. "Hello, " I say.

"What time are you two getting back? Its getting close to midnight." Reggie says, sh^t.

"Can you keep them with you for the night, please? Mark's mother passed away because she had a heart attack. We went to the hospital. Mark isn't himself." I say as fresh tears start to fall and it blurs my vision. I drive past Mark and I look at him.

"Sh^t, I'm sorry to hear. Yes, we can keep them," he says.

"Thank you. I will get them tomorrow." I say. The headlights of the oncoming cars are bright in my blurry vision.

"Take the time that you need. " he says, and I hang up.

I swerve the car as another one wanted to make its turn, nearly crashing into me. My heart is beating fast. I don't stop. I continue to drive, making sure to try to keep my tears back.