two.

By: Kaylyn C.

"Mama, I'm home!" I yell throwing my jacket and purse on my bed. It was four am. Work got a little hectic after my minor breakdown at the diner. I talked to Aunt Rose some more and it helped me calm down a little bit.

Usually mama doesn't fall asleep until she knows I'm home safe. And that's another reason why I loved her so much. 'Hm, maybe she fell asleep.' I thought to myself. I untied my apron and hung it on the hook on my wall.

I slid off my shoes and groaned. My feet were so sore!

I walked up the steps to mama's room at the end of the hallway and her door was closed. I knocked quietly at the door. She didn't answer. Now usually when mama's door closed she always told me never come in there for any reason.

But I had gotten an uneasy feeling. I shook my head and walked away. It was probably nothing and I was completely overreacting.

I stopped walking then shut my eyes tightly. Nope, just go check on her. I turned back around and went directly in her room. I looked around and saw mama's bed a little messy as if she'd been laying in it. Her pink house shoes that she keep by her bed are still there.

Mama never leaves her bed without those shoes. I flipped the switch on the wall. Beside mama's house shoes was a line of blood leading all the way into her bathroom.

Instantly, my heart sank. "Mama!" I whimpered then managed to shuffle my way into her bathroom. When I walked inside I spot mama laying on the cold tile floor with a small bowl with blood in it. "M-Mama, get up! C'mon."

I heard a low moan spill from her lips. "Mmm, Tequila.."

"Mama." I sobbed and grabbed her up into my arms. This wasn't the first time I found her like this. Doctors told me there was nothing they could do but let it pass. And each time this happened my heart just broke more and more.

Reaching over, I grabbed a clean towel from the short stand then I turned on the warm water from the bathtub. Mama slowly opened her teared eyes and smiled. "I'm alright, child. I just need to-" Mama's breathing changed then she starts coughing, spitting out blood.

I grabbed the towel and started wiping her mouth. "I don't know what to do, just tell me what to do!" My whole body shook as I cried hysterically.

"Breathe, Tequila!" Mama yelled out. And I did. I closed my eyes and took a long inhale. "Breathe." She grabs my shoulders tightly. I exhale.

"Please stay with me.." I choked out holding her closely.

"Aileen..call Aileen." She whispered. I leaned up, pulling my phone from my back pocket and speed dialed Aileen.

On the third ring, Aileen groaned into the phone. "Tequila, it's four am. Is everything alright?"

"It's bad, we need you...she needs you." I told her, worried emotion in my voice.

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes!" Aileen ended the call.

My eyes traveled down to mama and her chest was rising slowly. Too slowly..

Please hurry, Aileen..

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A few hours later, I'm sitting on the floor outside of mama's bedroom and Aileen hasn't been out since she's got here. I must've fallen asleep because when I checked my phone it read 7:53am. How long was she gonna be in there?

I closed my eyes and sighed. She was okay, she just had to be.

A few moments later I heard the doorknob rattle. I instantly pushed myself off the floor and came face to face with Aileen.

Aileen looked at the floor and sighed. "Well?" I blurted out folding my arms.

"Her heart is giving out, Tequila. I say she has a few months left. I have her on a ventilator for now and it's having her breathing a little better. She's stable for now." Aileen said sadness. I just blinked at her.

"No. You told me she was fine just yesterday morning! What changed? N-No you have to save her, what does she need? More medicine? I-I know it's expensive, I can have the money in two weeks just-"

"Tequila!" Aileen stops me, grabbing me shoulders. "Listen, two weeks isn't enough. The ventilator..isn't accurate, besides as far as medicine goes. I found out medicine isn't what she needs. Lena needs her mate..your father."

The inside of my body suddenly turns hot and my shoulders tensed. "Why does everyone keep bringing him up? Aunt Rose and now you! What's the deal with needing her mate bullshit?!"

Aileen places her hand on my shoulders trying to calm me down. "You need to find him, Tequila. When your father left, he didn't just reject her he-"

"That doesn't make any sense. I-I don't know much about having a mate but if that was the case mama would've been gone a long time ago." I growled at her.

There was a short silence between us. I didn't mean to take my anger out on Aileen. The past nine hours I've heard about the man that was supposed to be my other half.

The man that was supposed to see me take my first step, my first day of school, my wolf, my first everything. Until now, I never hated anyone so much in my life.

Years later, he's still causing my mother pain. I knew I was right. I mean mama has been fine for the last twenty years without him, why the hell does she need him now?

"Tequila, there's something you should know... there's a lot you need to know." Aileen breaks the silence. "You should know how your mother survived this long."

Confused, my eyes searched hers. "There's no other way. You want to know how she survived? She survived this long because my mother is the strongest woman I've ever known. And she had me, I'm the one that kept her going, not him!" I could hear my voice breaking. A single tear ran down my cheek and I wiped it away with the back of my hand.

"I understand you're upset. I do, but I need you to listen to me. You're in-" Aileen was caught off by my a loud groan coming from mama's room.

"Tequila?" Mom called out softly. I side stepped Aileen and rushed into the room.

"Tequila, please I have to talk to you it's important!" I shut Aileen's voice out when she called out to me. Mama was right, she wasn't any use at all.

Mama had a clear oxygen mask halfway down her face. My heart broke at the sight of her. She already was losing some color in her face. I slowly walked over holding my breath. I was afraid if I exhaled I would break down in tears.

Mama's eyes opened and connected with mine. Her eyes were filled with tears so much stress. She looked so tired. "Teq-" She grabs the mask, trying to pull it off.

"No, don't talk, okay?" I tell her. I reach over to pull the mask back over her face. "Y-You need to keep this on. Everything's gonna be fine. I promise, mama."

I felt her hand touch my wrist. She was too warm. Why was she so warm? "You gotta find him, babygirl." Her voice rasps.

"Find who?" I questioned.

"You know." She says then she just stared at me.

I closed my eyes feeling my chest tighten. Why after all these years she finally take up for him? I was angry all over again.

"No, I can't. I can't. After everything he put you through? Why do you want to find him? You hate him. You told me yourself." I told her putting my fingers between hers. "There's nothing you can do but make sure you get better."

"I was wrong, Tequila. I lied. I lied to protect you. You need him." She whispered.

"No, I need you. You didn't abandon me, he did. You don't need him to get better. I'm gonna help you, I promise."

"I'm dying, babygirl. You want to promise me something? Promise me that you will find him. It is not his fault, Tequila. Your father is a goodman. One of the best I've ever known. I just-"

My eyes searched hers. "Then why, mama? Why did you make me hate him all these years?"

"To protect you. Whatever we did, we did for you. Tequila, just because he wasn't in your life then doesn't mean he ever stopped loving you. Jesus, he was so ready to meet you babygirl. You were all he talked about. When I was pregnant, before we slept he sang to you every night..you were his world and there's no doubt you still are." Tears roll down my mama's cheeks.

I have never seen this side of her. My arms wanted to wrap around her and never let her go. I couldn't believe how selfish I was acting.

Mama lifted her finger to her closet behind me. "There's a wooden box in the safe behind you, grab it for me? The code is your birthday." She says smiling a bit.

I turned around to her closet. It was too dark in there and something heavy instantly pulled me towards it. I slowly walked to the closet. I took a deep breath before I pulled the short chain hanging from the ceiling. The light then flipped on.

I looked down and there was a black safe as tall as my knees. I squatted down and ran my hand along the top of the safe. There was dust left on my palm.

My fingers punched in my birthday. 1-28-99.

Slowly opening the door, I reach inside for the wooden box. Over the top of it was the letters L + D carved into it.

What the hell?

Gosh, it's heavy. I carried the box over to mama.

Mama watched me as I walked towards her. I went to place my hand on the lock but mama stopped me. "No, don't open that."

"What? Mom it's just a old wooden box." I shrugged at her.

"It's not just a box, Tequila!" She rasps and I grip her hand tightly. "Y-You have to give this to your father. Please don't fight me with this. You have to promise you'll find him. He'll know what to do then." She says quietly.

I sat down on the edge of the bed. I felt tears slide my cheeks. "Even if I do find him, then what? You think I'm just gonna go to him with open arms?"

I couldn't do it. I didn't want to see him. I mean where would I even look, the man could be dead for all I knew.

"I don't want to, mom. I'll stay here, me and Aileen we'll find another way to save you. W-We'll just-"

"He has the key, child. You said you will anything for me, right? I need you to do this for me." My eyes connected with her again.

I sighed then nodded my head. "Okay, mama. I'll leave right away." I said quietly. "What do I do? I mean, where do I find him? I have to go alone? Mom, you how I feel about-"

"You won't be alone, Darius is going with you." She responded.

Aunt Rose's son?

Oh hell no.

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To be continued. ♥