Chapter 16 Visiting Mom

Chapter 16 Visiting Mom

Harley

“And then he said, ‘do you wanna get coffee sometime' and I was like ‘yeah, I'd love to'. Then when I got home, he sent me this funny meme and he's been doing so for the past four days. And I’m wondering when the coffee date would happen. Henry said not to stress about it that he will do something soon if he was actually into me. What do you think, Mom?”

“I think your mom would love to have some rest. You've been yapping nonstop since you got here, Harley. All patients need rest, even comatose ones.” Nurse Beatrice said as she popped her head from behind the curtain separating my mom and the other patient in the ward.

Nurse Beatrice was one of my favourite nurses in the b hospital my mom was admitted. She wasn't overly nice like other nurses or pretend to care. She was the one that broke the news about my mom's comatose state and stayed with me as I cried my eyes out. My father, of course, hadn't been around then. He was too busy running his company to the ground.

The nurse and I had formed a somewhat close relationship over the last few months. She talks very sternly, but she also let me stay with my mom a little past visiting hours sometime. She is kind but doesn't seem to like showing it for some reasons.

“You're right, Nurse B. But it feels good to talk to her about this.”

“This, as in your boy drama?” The nurse raised an eyebrow and clutched her clipboard to her chest.

“It's not boy drama. It's just this boy I like and I'm not exactly sure whether he likes me back. There is no drama involved.”

“Sweetie, you're eighteen and in your senior year. There's nothing wrong in having a little drama with boys, just don't let it affect your grades. Plus, you've never had a boyfriend, maybe this would be your first.” Nurse B said.

“Why did I tell you about that?” I groaned.

I knew why, during the nights I stayed to look after my mother, Nurse B was usually on night shifts. I had told her the lack of any romance in my life. She always manages to bring it up and telling me I needed to live my life. Even Henry doesn't nag me as much as she does.

She let out a light chuckle. “I'll leave you to finish catching up with your mother. You have fifteen minutes maximum and you need to leave the hospital premises. It's a Saturday night and it's already getting late. You know how dangerous this place can be after dark.”

“Thank you, Nurse B.” I smiled. I watched as she walked out the door.

When she was gone, I sat on the chair by my mom's bedside. I took her hand in mine. The room was quiet, except for the steady beeping of the life support machine my mom was plugged on. Tears stung at the corner of my eyes as I stared at her pale face. I blinked them back to keep from falling.

“I’m so sorry, Mom. This is all my fault. I'm the reason you're in this state. I'm the reason for Dad's…” I paused, tears streaked down my cheeks. I wiped them away and sniffed.

“Things have gotten really bad, Mom. Dad and I don't live together anymore. Our whole family has fallen apart and it's all because of me. I just wish I could go back to the night and change the way things turned out. And you wouldn't be here, Dad's business would probably not have turned out the way it did, and we would still be a happy family. But all that is gone now.” I sniffed.

“I just miss you so much. I can't do this anymore. I can't handle it by myself. All I do is mess things up and fuck up everyone's lives. Please, come back to me. Please.”

I lowered my head and let the tests flow freely. I clutched her hand tightly and sobbed. I let out all the pent up frustrations from the bullies at school, my dad disowning me, and my messed up life in general. I cried so hard until there were no tears left to shed.

Then I placed my head on the bed and stared at her face, just like I had done when she first slipped into this state. I had watched her every single night, hoping that she would wake up if I stared hard enough. She never did, but it didn't stop me from staring, just like I was doing now.

A slight knock on the door followed by the sliding sound of it opening jolted me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Nurse Beatrice enter.

“Time to go, Harley. My shift is ending soon.” She said. Her gaze softened when she saw my swollen eyes.

“Oh honey, come here.” She spread her arms open for me. I stood up and rushed into her embrace. I didn't cry this time, I just stood there, absorbing her warmth.

“Your mom is going to be fine.” The nurse said when she pulled away from me. “Her condition is stable. All that's remaining is for her to wake up.”

“That's literally what everyone has been saying for the past couple weeks, and yet, she's not waking up. When will she wake up?”

“Soon, honey. She'll wake up soon. In the meantime, you should come around often and entertain her with stories about that new boy you like. I'm pretty sure she'll love to hear that.” She smiled.

“Were you eavesdropping? Isn't that against some medical code and conducts?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

She chuckled. “You were being so loud that I didn't have to. I was just behind that curtain.”

She patted my back gently. “Take care of yourself, honey.”

I nodded. She walked to the other patient behind the curtain and began her work. I let her words settle in me. I let myself hope that they would come true and my mom would wake up soon.

“Nurse B.” I called. She popped her out from behind the curtain. “Thank you, for everything.”

“You're welcome, dear.”

I threw one last glance at my mother and walked out the door.
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Natalie and Alex had gone for a business trip over the weekend so the house was empty except for Asher and I, or at least, it was supposed to be.

My jaws fell open when I got the Henderson's house to see different cars parked outside and music blasting from inside the house. I didn't want to believe it at first, because there was no way Asher was having a party without parental supervision.

But what was I thinking, it was Asher Henderson for fuck's sake. He was used to doing whatever he wanted. My thoughts were confirmed the second I stepped into the living room and saw our entire class here.

Actually no, this amount of students couldn't be just my classmates. Asher had invited the whole school to his party. My fingers clenched tightly around the duffel bag I was carrying as I contemplated my decision.

I could go in and join the party, mingle with my classmates, and hopefully don't embarrass myself. Or I could pretend all these wasn't happening and walk up to my room for a much needed rest.

The more I watched the crowd, the better the second idea seems. I took a step forward and immediately stopped when I caught sight of Ryan. I turned around and began walking out of the door before he saw me.

There's no way I'm letting him see me in overalls, my eyes red from crying, and my make up mostly ruined. I pivoted and entered the house through the back door in the kitchen, which was empty. Or at least I thought it was.

“Look who finally decided to show up.” Asher chuckled as he walked in and headed straight for the refrigerator.

I ground my teeth together, in an attempt to clamp down the rage currently brewing inside me.

“Why didn't you tell me you were having a party?” I said through gritted teeth.

“Didn't you get my message?”

“What message?”

“I sent you a DM hours ago about the party. I told you not to invite any jackasses, well, except that boy you're always chatting with.” He shrugged.

“I didn't get your message.” I unlocked my phone, and sure enough, there was a message from ‘Ashie’ about the party.

“I've been so busy and I haven't had the chance to check my phone.” I sighed.

“Oh, that's bad. It would've been lovely to finally meet for boyfriend.” He clicked his tongue.

“Well, you don't have to worry about that, he's right outside. And he's not my boyfriend.” I glared at him.

“Oh please, I've never seen you blush so much while texting someone, not even when you had a crush on Liam in sixth grade.” He rolled his eyes.

“I didn't know you were this invested in my love life.”

“That would mean you had one in the first place. Anyway, let's see who this new guy is.”

“There's no way I'm meeting him in my overalls with my make-up free face and messy hair. I'm gonna go upstairs, take a long bath, and binge watch Bridgerton all night. Have fun at your party.” I made my way to the door.

“Full disclosure, if he doesn't see how beautiful you are without makeup or a pretty dress, then he doesn't deserve you.” Asher said, his eyes locked with mine. I saw the sincerity in his eyes, the emotions in them, a part of me awoke.

But before I could respond, he walked out the door.