Chapter 3

Nathan's P.O.V

The bell rings dismissing the teacher, I heave out a happy sigh and pack my bag, I look over to the side and notice Emma's already gone and I didn't get her number. I turn to the other side and notice Emily's head on her desk, she only does that when she's sad or thinking about something.

"Hey, is something wrong?" I tap her and ask.

"No. Nothing, I just have to go" she says and hurriedly starts packing her things into her bag.

"Wait! Have you forgotten we have an interview at the superstore"

She drops her bag back on her desk.

"I completely forgot about that, I could use the cash, let's go"

"Yeah but I'm too tired to walk" I use my fingers and comb through my hair.

She rolls her eyes at me

"Just ask Zeke to give us a ride"

"He'll only agree if you ask him"

"Okay"

She turns to face Zeke

"Hey Zeke"

"Could you please give Nathan and me a ride to Frosty's superstore"

"Okay but once you get the job, you owe me"

"Deal"

Zeke stretches his hand out for a handshake to seal the deal and Emily takes it.

"Let's go"

We get to the store and luckily we get the job and we're to start the next day, Emily and I have to walk home since Zeke already left. Once I'm home, my stomach starts growling and all I want is my mum's cooking. I search the kitchen for something to eat but there's nothing. I go to my parent's room, the door is wide open, and my dad is sitting on the bed looking down with his hands clasped together.

"Dad. Where's mum?" He looks up and I see a tear escape from his eyes, in all my years I've never seen my father cry

"What's wrong?" I ask. I try to clear my head as bad thoughts start coming into my head.

"Come closer," he says in between stifles.

I oblige and walk closer to him, he wipes the tears on his face and clears his throat

"Your mum is in the hospital"

"What happened to her?"

"She had an accident on her way back home from visiting a friend, she was hit by a car, it was a hit and run, according to the doctor she had spent up to an hour before she was found. They say they'll try their best but they cannot say for sure if she'll make it" he breaks into tears once again and I just stand there looking at him, unsure of what to do.

*********

It took us some time but when we arrive at the hospital, we go straight to the room where my mum is but my dad has to go settle the bills so I'm left alone. I open the door and stop in my tracks at the sight of my mother lying on the bed in an unconscious state, she has bruises and stitches around her face, half of her body is covered with a cast including her head, and there's also a drip connected to her wrist.

My mum has always been the strong one in our home, so seeing her like this isn't easy, she's the one who always knows what to do and what to say whenever something goes wrong. I don't know anything. I stare at her for a whole five minutes before moving close to her.

"Mum"

"Na..te" her voice comes out dry and with a crack.

I walk to her side and drag a chair, I sit down and hold her other hand that wasn't connected to the drip. A tear slides down from my eyes, and I hold in the rest. My mum is always strong for me, it's time for me to be strong for her.

I form a weak smile and look at her.

She smiles back as hard as she can

"H..oow was sch…oool today?"

I decide making good conversation is the best thing to do for her

"It was fine, I got to talk to Emma"

The corner of her eyebrow rises in a question

"E..mma?"

"Yes Emma, she's a girl at school, a very pretty and smart girl" the goofy smile from earlier finds it's way to my face as I talk about Emma

"Did you br…eak u..p wi..the Emily?"

"No mum Emily and I are just friends"

"You sure?"

"Yes I'm more than sure"

She laughs a little and then gradually she transits from laughing to coughing.

I get up quickly and rush outside the room, I see a nurse and drag her attention to my mum, she calls a doctor and they both go in leaving me outside.

My breathing starts to increase as I stand outside the door waiting for them to come out and tell me if she is okay.

"Nathan what's wrong why are you outside?" My dad asks from behind me. My breathing normalizes a little

"Mum and I were just chatting and then she started coughing, the doctor is checking on her right now"

He nods his head and rubs his hands together.

I trembled at the image of her coughing so roughly

"Dad"

"Yes" he answers still looking head-on at the door

"I'm scared"

He releases his gaze from the door and turns to me, he puts a fatherly hand on my shoulder.

"Me too. But she's going to be okay, out of the three of us if there's any of us that's strong enough to survive this then it's her, trust me"

As if on cue, the doctor comes out and stands right in front of us.

"She had a little issue so we administered some pain relief meds, right now she's taking a nap, she needs to rest. I advise you two to go home or at least the boy should go home and you can stay in case something comes up"

"I'll stay too" I quickly say.

"No you have school tomorrow, you have to go home and rest, you can come back after school tomorrow" my father commands.

The doctor pipes in

"The way things are going there is a slight chance that she would be able to go home with you in two days"

My eyes light up at his words of hope but I still have to ask

"Are you sure about that doc"

"As I said there is a chance we can't be a hundred percent sure of anything right now"

"I'll stay here okay please Nathan just listen to me. Go home, eat something and get some rest, you have to be in school tomorrow"

"Okay dad, keep me posted"

"I will"

I walk out of the hospital and start walking home. I pass by Emily's house before reaching mine and give her a call, she answers the call and in less than five minutes she's outside her house and by my side.

"Hey," I say and take a seat on the sidewalk. She seats down beside me

"I heard about what happened from my dad, how is she?"

I wrap my arms around my knee, feeling exhausted.

"The doctors say she is going to be fine but she doesn't look it"

Emily puts a hand on my shoulder and pats it slowly

"She's going to get through this, your mum is the strongest person I've ever met. She'll surely get well soon it might take a while but she'll be fine sooner or later"

"I hope so"

"I know so" she affirms.

I stand up and dust the back of my trousers she does the same.

"Thanks. I really needed to talk to someone"

"Don't mention it, what are friends for?" She replies with an easy smile.

"I think I need a hug," I say in a low voice but knowing Emily she already knew it before I said it.

She walks closer to me and wraps her hands around me, I wrap mine around her too. The warmth and comfort from the hug, make me feel a little better, I separate from the hug, bid her goodbye and continue to walk to my house.