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Stairway To Heaven
December 18, 2019
“Sometimes the strongest among us are the ones who smile through silent pain, cry behind closed doors, and fight battles nobody knows about.”
“Everyone, out. Except for Mia. Darling you need to stay,” Charmaine said softly. Mia sat there in silence as Adriano, Tempest and her brother all left the room. Mia took a deep breathe once the door locked behind the three of them. “Come have a seat baby girl,” the older woman told her daughter. Taking a seat by her mother’s bedside, Mia grabbed onto her mother’s hand. This can’t be it. She was hoping it wasn’t this wouldn’t be the last conversation she would ever have with Charmaine. Cancer was indeed a bitch. A year’s battle and she was losing it.
“Ma, don’t…” Mia began saying. “Shh. I need to talk to you baby girl. Don’t say another word until I’m done,” Charmaine whispered. Placing her hand on her daughter’s cheek, she smiled. “I have to say, you’re not as good as you think you are when it comes to hiding things from me. I noticed a change in you immediately. I need to know the truth, now. My sweet baby, I know something happened to you when you were just a teenager. I’m not going to ask you, but I’m telling you, I need to know.”
Sighing, Mia leaned back into her seat. Shaking her head, she stared at her mother. “Mama. I can’t…” she began. The look on her mother’s face was priceless. Leaning forward again, Mia squeezed her mother’s hand tightly. She didn’t want to imagine that this would be the last thing she told her mother. She didn’t want to fight with the older woman. Taking in a few deep breaths, she thought of every possible way to break the news to Charmaine. “Alright mama, here goes.”
“Jason and I went out, as usual. It was a perfectly normal evening. Before he dropped me off home, he said he wanted to show me something. But instead, he…” Her eyes were becoming watery. The pain of reliving that night was unbearable. Charmaine wiped the tears from her cheek. “He raped me, ma,” Mia said whispered. Silence. Charmaine placed her free hand on her chest. Tears were falling down on both of their cheeks. “Oh, my sweet baby girl. I am so sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. What happened after?” Charmaine asked softly. “Ma, it wasn’t your fault,” Mia began. Clearing her throat, she squeezed her mother’s hand once more. “I killed him. Dad and Bitchface took care of the body and everything else,” Mia whispered to her mother. Charmaine nodded. “Good, he deserved it. I would have loved to do it myself,” the older woman admitted. “Before the others come back, I also wanted to talk to you about something else.”
“This past year has been hard on us. I lost my sweet baby, Sienna. And this disease has taken at toll on me. I need you to do me favor baby girl. Mia, when I’m gone, watch out for your brother. Watch out for your father. Remember, you’re the strongest person I know. You may be stubborn, but I know I raised you well. I got to see my daughter graduate from medical school. I couldn’t be happier. You can do anything you set your mind to. I love you so much baby girl.”
Over the next few hours, the five of them talked. They sang. They joked. They laughed. This was everything Charmaine could ever ask for. Surrounded by her family. Seeing the smiled on their faces brought nothing but joy to her heart. Charmaine felt like she could be at peace knowing that they all had each other, even if it meant she wasn’t here any longer. Taking a deep breath, Charmaine closed her eyes. “Ma…” Mia whispered. “Oh baby, I love you all, so much,” Charmaine spoke.
Suddenly, the machines began going off. “MA!” Mia screamed. The nurses immediately walked in. Once there was a flatline, the nurses began unplugging the machines. “No! You have to save her!” Mia screamed. As the short female tried to lunge at one of the nurses, Adriano picked her up and brought her outside the room. Once on her feet, Mia turned around and punched him. Pulling his daughter into his arms, the pair began crying. It was in that moment, Mia suddenly lost the will to live.
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