Bellatrix

Crying for Sunsets

CHAPTER ONE
MAIA

As a kid, Maia always looked up to her mother. Literally. She was named after a star in her favorite constellation; Orion. Her mother's name was Bellatrix. She was beautiful and funny and amazing. Perfect in Maia's eyes. No one else saw that though. Everyone would make fun of how she acted and looked, because of some stupid tumor she had. Bellatrix was perfect to the people who got to know her. Maia was especially one of those people.
Maia prayed to God for the people to stop. If they could understand, they wouldn't ever think of a harsh thing to say, never. God didn't answer though. Maia went to the pastor one day after church on a snowy Sunday. He told her "God made everyone the exact same. God would have made everyone with the same personalities, looks, and disabilities if he wanted to. He let them be mentally different though. God knew His children would love each other more if they had a physical aspect different from their mental aspect. He loves us all the same. He doesn't have a favorite child. Just a favorite time. Our time. He loves us, and your mother is a wonderful woman, He just wants to hide it, so everyone doesn't want to take all of the special traits from her."
I understood none of that because I was seven at he time. I only knew that God loved her as much as anyone else. That's all that mattered about that.

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

Maia read her mother stories instead of her reading to Maia. She couldn't focus long enough, she had ADHD and meningitis. Maia didn't understand that until middle school. Her father had just divorced her mother. All because he thought Maia and Bellatrix were "too tiring". Maia didn't care though, her father never did much to help around the house.
Bellatrix had therapy and checkups with doctors every week. Her mother couldn't drive either, so Maia had to call the doctor after her father left and Dr. Marion would drive to help her family.
"Hi Ms. Rouen, where is your mother today?" he always asked. Maia always answer. Dr. Marion was very kind and very helpful. He always made sure she was happy with his job before he left. Maia appreciated that, but never thought of him as the kindest man.
The kindest man was Mr. Kenneth. He took care of Maia and Bellatrix while no one was home. Bellatrix could only sit up from a couch, so Kenny- which was what Maia and he had sealed out to call him- would help her from place to place. Dr. Marion was help Bellatrix so much. She had gotten better in eight months, where most patients don't show results until years. She was going to get better, and Kenny was going to help her with that too.
Maia has struggled though. Bellatrix would try to walk sometimes, while having too much courage in herself. Recently she stood up until she collapsed on to the couch again. Kenny had been in the kitchen cooking for Maia then, but he felt the bang of Bellatrix's head just a slight moment before Maia did. They looked at each other, then ran into the small room where Bellatrix lay on the couch. Very, very still.
          Kenny called Dr. Marion, and he wasn't their house much sooner than when Maia called him. Maia was scared and confused though, her mother wasn't in her room anymore. Dr. Marion took her away, but Kenny stayed with her. He fed her, and never left anymore. He didn't let Maia into her mother's room either. Maia was in tears every night, until one night. Maia had turned eighteen finally, Kenny had bought a for for her, and she had a job. May 17th was her birthday. That was today. She was nearly a week from school. Maia wanted to celebrate with her mother, like she did every year. She would go to the hospital, tell her about the month she'd spent away, and they would eat something sweet and acceptable by Dr. Marion for dessert. Maia was so exited. The school bell finally rang, and she ran to her car, leaving her backpack behind, because for once, she didn't have homework for the weekend.
          Maia ran to her car, started it, and nearly lost control getting out of the school parking lot. Today was the day Kenny would give her a nice gift, she could spend time with Bellatrix, and sleep peacefully without a tear of sadness down her cheek before she closed her eyes for the night.
          Maia pulled up finally, ready to hug her mother for the eightieth time this year. She stopped by every month now. Bellatrix was never allowed to go home, and she refused to ask the doctors why, while she was afraid of the answer, but she had theories. She walked right to the front desk, and the room nurse, Jamy, led her right to the room after being led down a maze that never ended. Maia knew the way though, but Jamy had to walk her, safety protocol or something like that. Maia didn't care though. She was ready, and happy.
          Bellatrix was sleeping when she came in. She called it her food coma. She would sleep for hours after lunch, and right now was one of those times. Maia didn't mingled though, she sat by the window and watched videos and made plans with friends.
          Maia was never bullied or made fun of. She was a good friend to everyone. Bellatrix was never made fun of anymore either, not after what had happened five years ago. Even Maia didn't know, she didn't want to.
          Maia took a breath though. Sure the suspicion, curious you, suspense and constant states were intimidation, but she was okay now. 
          Maia heated Bellatrix sigh loudly for attention. Maia laughed. Her mother was awake and bored. She looked at her, as Maia looked back.
          "Good morning lovey," Bellatrix said.
          "Good afternoon Ms. Sleepy," Maia laughed.
          "Oh goodness, are you serious?" She seemed panicked.
          "Well, yeah, I came from school, so unless it was a twelve hour drive, it's around four o'clock. " Maia mumbled.
          "Oh, well alright. Happy birthday lovey!"
          Maia blushed. She didn't think she would remember. She never did. Ever. Dr. Marion must have done something different in medications. "How did...Bellatrix. How did you know that?"
          "Or deary, Dr. Marion helped me, I have a much better memory and I can speak bigger words now," she laughed.
"I'm so excited for tonight, we can play board games and everything. Oh lovey, it'll be so fun!"
         Maia jaw was still touching the floor. "Um... Yes!" she responded finally. "We can start now!" and with that, Maia and Bellatrix had a wonderful time.

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

          It was seven thirty now. Bellatrix looked tired now and Maia didn't want her to waste a good sleep from her. She could come back tomorrow maybe.
          "Bellatrix, I'll let you sleep, I'll comeback sometime this week again and finish our game. You're tired and you need to rest. I love you." Maia kissed her mother's cheek.
          " It's mother...."
          "What?" Maia questioned.
          " My name is mother to you, not Bellatrix," she smiled at Maia.
          "Ha ha ha, alright mom," Maia said. The words sounded wrong in her mouth. She hadn't called her mom or mother or anything along those lines since fourth grade. "Goodnight."
          "Night lovey," Bellatrix whispered. Then closed her eyes as her breathing slowed. Maia watched as she fell asleep and walked out of the room, to her car, drive home, and arranged a time to come back to see her mother.

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

          Maia woke up to her alarm for seven o'clock. Bellatrix alway woke at four because of a strange pattern with her brain, but Maia could work around it. She drive to the hospital, let Jamy walk her down the endless halls to Bellatrix's room, then welcomed her mother again. Maia and Bellatrix talked for hours before getting the board game out again. They finished their desserts from the night before as well. When Bellatrix had epically destroyed Maia in their game, Maia decided to go home again. They said goodbye longer than usual. Maia didn't think much of it though. Bellatrix hugged her tighter and tighter until Maia couldn't get up to leave.
          "She's coming deary. She wants to take me. Maia I love you. But run, and don't come to save me." Bellatrix screamed in a whisper.
          " Bellatrix stop," Maia snapped. She did. "Calm down. You'll be fine. I promise." Maia said reassuring her mother.
          " I'm sure you're right," Belltrix said. "I'll be alright. " With that Maia blew a kiss and left the room.
         As she walked down the hall, an intercom call ran through the building. "Room 347E needs Dr. Marion and his three room nurses. A patient has refused to take a medication and had hurt a room nurse. Orange code. Again. Dr. Marion and his three room nurses to room 347E immediately. " the man said. I saw Dr. Marion run down the hall past me with his nurses. Maia watched them run into the room she had just left. She turned and ran behind them. Her mother had just injured a nurse? No! She doesn't have that energy or capability in her. She can't even eat her own food. Maia has to move board game pieces for her. She can't harm anyone or anything!
          Maia ran into the room. A nurse tried to push her out. Then when that failed, she tried to close the curtain around Bellatrix's bed. There was no point though. Maia had already seen that there was only a nurse in the bed. Bellatrix wasn't in the bed. What was there though, were scratches around the bed leading to the door, where they stopped. Bellatrix was right. Someone was after her. Evidently they didn't want anyone to know about who took her though. Maia said some very wrong words in her mind as she panicked.
          "Bellatrix!" she yelled. "Mom?!l" she screeched. Then the nurse was finally able to close the door on the room before Maia could walk in any closer.
          Maia stood there. Shocked. Her mother was gone. No traces of a break in but scratches. She stood staring at the door for a while.
          The words felt wrong in her mouth but it was a reaction to a flash back of fourth grade. Maia remembered yelling it when her mother wasn't breathing while her father had taken Bellatrix to the hospital. Maia screamed the same words. "Mom, stop it. Don't go, not now, not while I still need you! Please mommy! Please!"