Chapter 4

LEAH Lucy and Dani stayed with me for a while but left once Doctor Nadia told them visiting hours were over, but I asked if Lucy could stay since I didn’t want to be alone. Doctor Nadia didn’t take much convincing and let her. She slept in the chair next to my bed while I stayed awake. I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt overwhelmed but also scared. When Lucy woke up the next morning, I told her I had slept all night when I didn't. There was no sign of my mum for the rest of the day, which I was thankful for. Dani came back in the morning, and they both stayed all day, leaving when visiting hours were over. I was getting exhausted, but I knew I couldn't sleep. Doctor Nadia stayed with me and made sure I was settled before she left to go home. I pretended to be asleep till she left and even when the nurses came in I did the same, but as soon as they left, my eyes were on whatever was in front of me. I would wake up as I couldn't sleep, and every time I closed my eyes, I could see my father looking at me. Tears came at the mere thought of him. I wanted my dad back. Dani mentioned a funeral for my dad, and she would help me. I was grateful, so I asked her to do whatever she thought was right and to organize everything. My Dad was a good man and had a few friends. I knew the funeral would be a small gathering, but Doctor Nadia told me I wouldn't be leaving the hospital for another few days. The thought of leaving the hospital had my stomach turning into knots, so I was grateful to be staying there for now. I had no idea what I was going to do now. I didn't know where I was going to stay, but I knew for sure I wouldn't go anywhere with my mum. I didn't even know the woman. I hadn't seen her since Dani kicked her out the day I woke up. The hospital was quiet, which was nice. I needed to clear my head of everything and sleep, but nothing seemed to work. I heard movement and looked toward the door; there was a shadow, it was clear someone was looking in on me. Someone was outside my door, but I couldn't make out who it was. I leaned further back into the bed as time dragged on, not knowing who it was. I turned over to face the wall, away from the door and pretended to sleep. I knew sleep wasn't coming any time soon. Insomnia seemed to be my friend, but I knew Doctor Nadia wouldn't let me leave until she ensured I was alright. I guess she knew I was lying every time I told her I was okay. I clearly wasn't. Between not sleeping, my head was hurting. I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard the door creak open, and I instantly shut my eyes, not wanting anyone to know I was awake. I heard two sets of footsteps coming in, which meant people had walked into the room. I heard a few movements, but no one said anything. "How is she?" a male voice came, which I didn't know in a whisper. "Doctor Nadia said she is getting better," said a woman's voice, who I instantly knew straight away—mum. Why the hell was she here? I felt anger fill my veins. She knew I didn't want her here. I turned around and sat up to two shocked faces staring back. "What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, glaring at them. My mum looked at me, but the man beside her c****d his head to the side. "I wanted to..." he started to say, but I shook my head and looked back at my mum. "I told you yesterday to leave me alone and to get out." "Leah," she said, but I shook my head. I looked at her; my headache came back with vengeance. My hand went to my head, which made my hands fly up to my head. I could hear movement, which made me look up at my mum, her hand outstretched to comfort me. I glared back at the woman. "Get the f**k away from me," I yelled, moving away from her. I quickly glanced at the man who was looking at me, his eyes searching my face. "What are you looking at?" I sneered while my hand clutched my head again at the pain that came. The man smiled. "You act exactly like your mum did when she was a child," he said, catching me off guard. I stared at him, but getting more annoyed with him and my mum, I let my anger take over again. "I don't care," I said. I looked between both. They had similar features: blue eyes and mousy brown hair. The man took a step closer and placed a piece of paper on the table. I stared at it, but I couldn't make out what it was as the room was dark. "What's that?" I asked, glancing back at him with a frown. The man smiled. "Well, sweetheart," he said, glancing toward my mum and then back at me. "That there is a document stating you will finish school with your friends over the next month, and then you will be moving in with your mum." "What!" I yelled. "No, I won't." Mum looked hurt, but I didn't care. What did she expect? I wasn't the little girl she left behind anymore, the same little girl who would sit on the bottom of the stairs waiting for her mum to come home. I was a freaking seventeen-year-old who could cope without her. "Leah, I'm sorry," she said, pulling me out of my thoughts. My mum took a step closer. "You are still a minor; you must live with a relative." "Well, that's not you," I sneered back, moving away from her. My mum tensed. The man cleared his throat. "Enough," he said, sounding angry. "You don't get to speak to your mum like that. You will be moving with her at the end of the month, and that's it." I turned to the man and glared. "Like hell I am," I yelled. "That’s not happening." I stared at them. "You think you can control my life now that you are back? You got another thing coming," I gritted, while staring at my mum. "I will make your life a living hell." "You don't mean that?" she said quietly. I let out a laugh. "You're joking, right? I'm seventeen; I have one more year till I am an adult. Why don't you let me stay with my friend and her mum and leave me alone like you did for eight years." My mum stayed quiet, but I knew I had hurt her. The man spoke. "You need to be..." he said, but I cut him off by shaking my head at him. "I need to be what? Huh!" I said, glaring at him. "You want me to live with the woman who abandoned me and my father, the one who never got in touch to see how I was doing, never watched me in any of my sports, and had nothing to do with me." I looked at them; tears were streaming down my cheeks as I turned my attention to my mum. "I used to wait at the bottom of the stairs after you left, did you know that?" My mum closed her eyes as a single tear slid down her face. "I thought it was my fault. I would stay there for days, but over time I realized that you were never coming back, and I accepted that." I looked at her. "Dad and I were better off without you. He never spoke about you. I could tell you hurt him. Dad made up for everything that you missed with me, being both parents." I wiped my eyes with the back of my head and glared at them. "Get out. And if I must go with you after the month, fine. But I don't want you around here till then. I don't want to see you till the day you pick me up. I am staying with my friend and her mum till then." Both stared, the man went to speak, but my mother stopped him by placing her hand on his arm. He looked at my mum as she shook her head. My mum looked back at me and nodded; she didn't say anything. Both turned to leave, but a thought came to me. "Oh, and I don't want you there at Dad's funeral," I said to her, making her stop. "You said your goodbyes the day you left." My mum didn't say anything but stopped for a few seconds, but carried on and walked out the door. The door closed behind her, but the man stood, looking at me with a stunned expression on his face. "You are one mean little one," he said. "I'm not so little," I said with a slight frown. "I think you better go after her, don't you?" The man stared at me but sighed. "Your mum and I will pick you up by your friend's house at the end of the month." I didn't say anything but turned my head away from him till I heard the door go but slid further down the bed. I turned back to my side and let the tears flow. I hated being a b***h, but how am I supposed to act? I lost my dad, and now I must live with a woman who abandoned me years ago. My head pounded hard, and I groaned out. I couldn't take the pain anymore and pressed the call button to the nurse, who came in like a shot. I wonder if she was the one who let my mum and the man in here. The nurse gave me strong painkillers once I told her what was wrong. I knew the tablets they gave me would send me off the sleep; I hoped the dream wasn't there when I closed my eyes. After a few moments, my eyes began to get heavy, and I fell asleep. Darkness washed over me, but the same scene came to my mind. The dream happened again. My eyes flew open as I panted and tried to catch my breath. The room was dark, but I stayed awake. My insomnia would kill me, or this headache would as I kept my hand to my head.