This is goodbye

I brushed my hair in front of the mirror. This time I was not in a gloomy mood. My baby blue eyes had a sparkle to them and my skin had a healthy complexion. During my 2 weeks off, I have been going to see Sarah every day. I still didn't tell her my deepest thoughts or feelings but she says we have to take baby steps. I take back everything I said about physiologists. They are not all bad.

Today I am going to go back to work. I stopped brushing my hair when I came to a realization. Mia didn't wake me up today. Whenever she and I had to go out together, me to work and her going to school, she would always wake me up. Unless...

I stood up immediately and speed-walked to her room. Once I reached in front of the door, I slowly opened it.

"Mia? Sweetie are you okay?" I asked and walked towards the bed. Mia was strangely still sleeping. I looked at her alarm, that was how she always wakes up on time, and noticed that it went off. She always listened to her alarm and always wakes up once she hears it.

"Mia? Sweetie, it's time to get ready for school?" I said as I gently shook her. For a normal parent of a 4-year-old turning 5, it would seem normal for them to sleep in, but not my Mia. She loves being up and early and hates sleeping in.

"Hmmm," Mia mumbled. She didn't open her eyes. My brows furrowed. I touched her forehead to check if she had a fever.

She did actually, but it was a mild one. I sighed in relief.

"Mia? Wake up. Mummy wants to help you bath," I quietly said at her ear. Mia opened her eyes slowly and blinked multiple times. She turned to me and widened her eyes.

She sat up. "Mia slept in! Mia will be late!" she yelled and tried to get out of bed. I chuckled at the sight of my adorable girl acting like she was older than her age. I laughed at the sight of her trying to get out of bed but struggling because it was high, and it took all her strength to get her short legs down. I scooped her up in my arms.

'Gosh, she is heavy.' I thought.

"You are not going to school today because you have a mild fever," I explained. Mia puffed her chest and replied, "A small fever can't stop Mia from going to school. Mummy can Mia still go to school, please?" she asked and fluttered her eyes. I raised my eyebrow at her.

"No," I replied and carried her to the bathroom.

Once I was done bathing her, I helped her get dressed in her new pajamas.

"Hold still, Mia," I ordered as I brushed her hair. Her hair was thick so it was hard to brush than my thin hair. I could put things inside there and nobody would see it, Mia included.

"Ouch! Mummy can't you just cut my hair?" whined Mia. I replied with a definite no.

As I was brushing, I saw that a lot of Mia's hair was stuck on the brush.

'Wow, I need to get a better brush. Once I have enough money I will take Mia to the salon.' I thought

"Ok, done. Mia, I have to go to work today. I'll call your babysitter to look after you, okay."

Mia pouted. "Mummy, you know I can look after myself very well," she said, dropping the third person. I shook my head. She is not going to convince me. So what if she can look after herself? I'll raise Mia like her age and not like she is 18 years old! Add to the fact, she is a child and who knows what will happen to her if she is left alone.

"Your babysitter is coming, final."

I kissed Mia goodbye once the babysitter arrived, and I told her the medicine to give to Mia.

×××

Being back at work I noticed that people treated me differently. There were no longer rude and snarky remarks towards me, like when Vicky was around. No one tried to keep a distance from me because of my past and because of the pressure of Vicky. It felt refreshing to me.

"How are you feeling?" asked Chef Ronald.

I placed my elbow on the counter and cupped my cheek. "I'm okay, and yes I did see the physiologist that you mentioned," I quieted my voice when I said the word physiologist. When people hear that you go see one they immediately think that you are depressed, have mental issues, or tried to commit suicide.

Chef Ronald smiled. "That's good. You'll see that you will feel better once you tell someone your problems and they know the solution to help you overcome them," he explained like the wise, old man he is. I nodded and then kissed his cheek.

"Okay, grandpa. I'll go back to my work now," I joked. Chef nodded shook his head, "I know I am old but don't let me feel like I am. My grandson does that enough already."

I stopped and turn. "You have a grandson? I didn't know that," I said.

Chef Ronald stopped his chopping. "Yes. A son too. They are...I don't see them that often. How could I ever... they're always so busy for me. They don't know that I work here," he explained. His eyes looked dull as he spoke.

I frowned. "Well from today I will be your, grandchild," I declared. Chef Ronald raised a brow.

"Then what does that makes Mia?"

I smirked. "Your great-grandchild." Chef Ronald's eyes widened. "No, goodness! That makes me sound too old."

I chuckled as I left the kitchen. "Lily! Your're back?!" I called out to her. Lily turned her head in my direction. I furrowed my brows at her.

"Is it true that you resigned?" I asked. Lily nodded. "I knew that you would come back today and I just wanted to say goodbye to you."

I stepped closer to her. "Why did you resign? Do you still feel guilty? If you are, it's not your fault," I said and placed my hands on her shoulders. Lily brightly smiled and shook her head.

" I will forever be guilty of what I have done to you, though it's not the case. You see, I only applied to this job to pay for the hospital bills for my brother and other expenses."

I got confused. "Okay? But Lily...how will you afford to take care of your brother and the expenses?" In realization, I widened my eyes and roughly shook her, "You got the money to pay, don't you? How?!"

I didn't think that Lily got the money from almost hurting me, I was worried that because she was so desperate, she would even go as far as giving up her body. She did say that she would do anything for her little brother.

Lily took my hands and chuckled. "It's not what you are thinking. I promise you, I swear, that the money was offered to me by a good and kind person."

"Who?" I asked.

Lily shook her head. "I can't say. All I can tell you is that I can go back to college and finish my education. I want to say thank you for giving me a second chance. I have always looked at you as a role model as a big sister. I will honor it by finishing my education, get a job and never try to hurt someone again...the way I hurt you," she softly said and tears began falling. Lily as always was a crybaby. The words she said touched my heart. In truth, I was extremely hurt that she almost got me into a situation that could have jeopardize Mia's and my peaceful life. I almost wondered if I should have let her go to jail, but now I am so happy I didn't.

"Aww, that's so sweet. I hope you achieve your dreams and your brother gets better," I said and gave her a bear hug. Lily cried on my shoulder and I patted her back as a result.

"Thank you," she whispered and then left...

I wondered if I'll ever be able to see her again because she said she will move out of the area. My heart warmed at the thought that there are good people in the world. I do wonder though, who helped Lily?

***

Dear Readers

Comment to me on what grammar errors I should improve on, please.

Are the sentences sometimes not making sense?

Am I putting commas in the wrong places?

Or am I not sticking in one tense?

From Crimson7