'None of us were given a chance. We were built on broken dreams.'
'Mom-,'
'Enough Khushi. We better get home before it gets colder.' Abruptly she stood up from the bench. 'Are you coming?', she asked coldly. 'No I will stay here for a bit.' Weakly I replied back aching from the tone of her voice. Giving me a one last nod she walked off without a single glance my way.
Once her figure disappeared out of my sight I collapsed against the wall. My eyes shut from exhaustion. Memories began to replay within the closed doors of my sight and I remembered.
'Mom it's nothing. Please stop worrying so much,' I stated once more in an annoyed tone, even though deep down fear was beginning to make its way in to the pit of my gut.
'Khushi this isn't a joke! You know what happened to your father. Please honey you have to get this checked. This has been happening for year hasn't it?'
Avoiding my mother's eyes I walked over to the kitchen to make myself some coffee. 'No.. it's just been a couple of months,' I responded quietly. That was a completely lie. Somehow I knew, she knew the lies I was brewing to run away from the true horrors of this ordeal. She walked over and stood behind me. 'Khushi,' her broken voice whispered, 'he did the same thing you know. Denied it for years until this got worse. Please get this checked. Please. Don't make me go through this again because I won't be able to bear it.'
Hesitantly I turned around to face her. Tears were already cascading down her pale face shattering my heart in to pieces. Flinging myself in to her arms I began to cry along with her. 'I am scared mom.'
She wrapped her arms around me tight. 'Let's be scared together and not alone.' Pulling myself from her I looked at her. 'Together,' I whispered the promise we both knew will be the most difficult phase of our lives.
***
He did not need no words to proclaim the news I already knew. The sheer pity in his eyes gave me the answer. For a minute I felt my entire body fade in to a wide black hole. Sucking me in to a state of deep sorrow whilst absorbing every ounce of energy I had stored inside of me.
'Isn't there anythin-', I heard my mother ask desperately. He cut her off, 'I am sorry Miss. Thorn. There is nothing we can do anymore since the tumor has gotten too large. If we try to operate now she'd die on the spot. So it's best...,' his voice faltered for a bit, 'it's best if she lives these days while she can.'
'How many days do I have?' I heard myself quietly ask.
'Five, you have five days.'
Tears streaming down my face as I took out the file from my coat pocket. Evidence of my life slowly deteriorating stared back before me. Five days to live my life, five days to get myself together, five days to make everything right. Searing pain shot to my skull that very second. Gripping the sides of my head I bent down to ease the throb circulating my brain. Squeezing my eyes shut I waited for a minute until I felt the pain decreasing and completely evaporating.
Momentarily after the episode of my headache I got up from the bench. Checking my surroundings I came to the realization of how late it was. Chills went down my back when the stench of medicine traveled to my nostrils. This hall way looked like a mental asylum out of a horror movie. Fear ripped through my body at my silly thoughts and I walked out quickly in to the chilly autumn night.
***
Winds howled through the streets of Regina as I stepped forth in to the night. Dusk has already taken its rightful place. Tightening my coat around me I quickened the pace, hoping to get home quickly before my mother got angry. It was already too late for me to be walking in deserted parts of the streets.
Ten minutes in to the walk a sudden rush of wind slammed the back of my body right in to a wall. I gasped for breath at the power of the throw. Regaining my senses I got up to finally see the figure of a tall man storming past me in a hurry. Did he push me in to the wall? Just as I was about to start my walk something silver caught my eye, glistening in the dark, on the floor. Bending down I took a proper look at the object. It was a small key; the man- he probably dropped it while running like a hooligan. At that moment I knew I had to give it to him. Picking up the little key I started running like my life depend on it to return the key to its rightful owner.
His black coat swayed as he ran and I followed. The stranger was indeed faster than I expected. Maybe if I called out to him he'd stop. Testing the waters I yelled out to gain his attention. 'Oi! Hey you! Mr! You dropped your key!' Nothing. He did not turn nor did he slow down.
Pausing for a second to catch some breath I saw the man take a turn towards the left. Regaining my pace I ran once again to the next street, except it wasn't a street, but an ally came in to my view. I saw him stand, his head tilted up looking up at a red brick building. Annoyed I walked closer in a hurry. 'Mr! You dropped your key!,' I said, finally making him turn with a surprised expression sketched on his features. The breath in my lungs faltered at the beauty which stood before me. He was no man; not in an ordinary sense at least.
Extraordinary was the right word to describe this unique creature. The chiselled features of his face, to the stormy grey eyes. As I glanced at his eyebrows I felt a flood jealousy wash in to my stomach. Such perfectly shaped eyebrows for a man. How was it even possible. Checking out his attire properly I realized he was dressed in a well fitted dark blue sweater and dark pants. Even his body was in proper shape. The black coat he wore on top only made it seem more mysteriously beautiful. Clearing my throat awkwardly I snapped out of my fantasy and spoke. 'Sorry I.. Um you dropped your key.' I held out the key in front of him. He raised one of his sinfully beautiful eyebrows at me. Dawn of realization flashed in his eyes. 'Oh. I didn't know,' he replied, stunning me in to another phase of shock. The tone of his voice sounded like a chocolate flowing river; alluringly smooth with a hint of huskiness.
Gulping I handed him the key making sure to not make any physical contact what so ever. 'Thank you,' he said with a slight smile. Nodding my head I quickly turned to walk away without a word until I heard his frantic voice. 'Wait!' I froze on the spot, but didn't dare to turn. . 'Wait, what's your name?'
'Khushi,' I murmured, 'Khushi Thorn.' Before he could ask further questions I fled the scene.
Veer Hanuman
Anupamaa
35