Forever Missing You

Hurricane Pain

Jade's Point of View

Ringing, that's all I remember the day my life changed forever.

Mom had been sick but it wasn't anything to worry about. She had had a few doctors appointments and each time the doctor told her there wasn't anything to worry about. Her blood sugar was high but that was correctable. She just needed to slow down and take it easy, stop working so hard and get herself back into a healthy place. 

The Saturday before Christmas, I  got a call from my dad, he had just called an ambulance for mom. She was feeling worse and was going to the hospital. "Don't worry, stay at work, she will be okay." He said sounding defeated. No matter what they could do, they couldn't get her blood sugar to a place where it was considered normal. Something else was going on but none of the doctors were listening. 

I didn't rush home, I didn't think there was a point. I had just seen her the week before, she said she felt much better, I couldn't see her anyway - Covid - the rules had changed. I will forever feel guilty because I didn't rush home. 

I called my dad that night, all was fine - she was texting, felt so much better - she would be home for Christmas and was getting all excited. She had given him a list of things to do before then. Get a tree, move the furniture, go shopping. Little did we know, that was never going to happen. 

The next morning, I  got up as usual and started getting ready for work. It was busy season at the bakery and the next couple of days were going to be long. I got in my car, drove to the local coffee place and picked up coffee for myself and my work best friend - All totally normal acts. My stomach curled with anxiety when my music stopped and I looked down to see my dad was calling. It was early, maybe mom was getting released.

"Hey dad, its early, all okay?" I remember saying happily as I pulled out of the parking lot. 

"Come home, I need you to come home." He sounded like he had been crying.

"What's going on!?" I asked as my stomach dropped. I was unprepared for what I heard next. 

"She's not going to make it, I need you to come home." 

"What!" I was screeching at this point. 

"Get home, Jade, I need you here." 

"I'm coming dad - I'm coming." I screamed between tears. 

I fumbled with my phone at the stop sign, hanging up and dialing my bosses number. It was early but after two rings, his wife picked up the phone. I could hear the seconds ringing in my ears. 

"Hey Jade, everything okay?" She questioned. Unaware. Happy. 

"I need to talk to Stew." I balled onto the phone. She could hear my urgency but I don't think she understood my words. 

"Okay, I'm going, i'm going - Give me a second, I will get him." She said as I listened to her hand the phone over and whisper that I was upset something had happened. 

"Hey What's going on!?" He said into the phone. 

"My mom" I cried, I wasn't even sure I was breathing. "She's not going to make it, I can't go to work, I gotta go home." I bawled. I was driving recklessly, trying to get back to my apartment for Shawn. 

"Oh my god." I heard Stew's Wife say. 

4 days until Christmas Eve and I was calling about that. I think we were all in shock. 

"Of course, call me when you know what's going on. Tell me Shawn is going with you - Your not driving right." Stew said. 

"I'm almost at the apartment to get him now."