Cursed silence (MAJOR EDITING IN PROGRESS + ON HOLD)

[ 10 ] solicitous

(Another song suggestion for this chapter. Listen to 'Say Something' by A great big world and 'All of me' by John Legend while reading this)

Zach's p.o.v

"No mom. I'm staying for two days. If I don't look out for you, who will?" I reason.

"Oh, Za-ach." She smiles.

"Don't even bother, mom. I'll go home to tell father and...Will, I don't even know what to tell Will, but I'll figure it out. Don't worry about it. You take some rest, mom. Oh, I'll also tell Aunt Em that you aren't coming to work for the next two days," I assure.

Aunt Em is our neighbour and she works at the same place my mom works. We all live in the same colony, my mom and her colleagues. It's the residential area for all those who work in that company.

"Oh, honey. wh-at...would...I...do...with-thout..you?" she coughs out, with her feeble voice.

"Mom, it's actually the other way around," I say and kiss her forehead before I walk out of the hospital.

I walk to my car, get in it and start driving just below the maximum speed allowed here.

It's been a really long day. And I'm sure there's more bad to this day than good.

I'm going to mentally make a checklist of what I need to do when I reach back home. Let's see. Number one, somehow convince Will that I won't be home for two days. Number two, inform my father about why I'm leaving. Number three, let Aunt Em know that Mom will be taking leave from work for two days. I guess that's all.

All throughout the drive, I can only bring myself to think of mom. Whenever I try thinking of something else, a string of thoughts just go on ultimately leading back to her.

I switch the radio on, just so I can focus on something else other than the racket that the thoughts in my head are making. If I'm tensed, I might have an accident while driving which isn't really what we need in the midst of all that's going on right now.

I hadn't realized I'd put the radio on full volume the other day, till I switched it on now. 'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri starts playing and I'm pretty thankful about it. I'd rather listen to a soft song over those heavy metal ones that James loves listening to. This song is one of those songs that are comforting and soothing and makes you want to go to sleep. One of those special songs which you love listening to. Kind of like lullabies.

At a distance, I could see the silhouette of our house. I can't really call it home. All that's happened there, the bad memories; they aren't supposed to be in a place you call 'home'. I reach the house and before I stop the car, I grab the garage key and flip the tiny switch that opens the garage door.

The garage door opens with the usual creak, and I park my car in the garage. I get out of my car and run towards the door, I haven't got much time and I can't waste a single second.

My father was still on the sofa, watching T.V and was still in the same position as he was, before I left.

"Where's Will? Did he come down after I left?" I question him.

"He's still upstairs and no, he didn't come down when you were gone. How's Evelyn?" He asks.

I can't believe he cared to ask about mom after what he did to her. She's in this situation, because of him. I feel disgusted listening to him trying to act like he cares.

"Mom's better now. Look, I came to say that I'll be staying at the hospital for two days. Just so you know. I'm going upstairs to meet Will," I shot, with a steely tone.