The Dandelion In The Hospital Gown

Chapter 11

Crystal-

"It's not been confirmed yet, but I think that the chances of Dandelion having a brain tumor is 83% high." The doctor said.

Dandy's mother was shell-shocked.

"We need to do a couple more scans and tests to confirm it though. Don't lose hope just yet." The doctor said, trying to make us feel better.

Dandy's mom nodded vigorously, hope lighting up in her eyes. I could tell how much Mrs. Johnson wanted all of this to be a dream. She kept pinching herself, wincing every time it hurt.

Me? I felt unshed tears fill up my eyes. I was clinging on onto the thread of hope that this scan wasn't accurate. Lucas just looked shocked and worried.

Her mom stayed by Dandelion's side, while Lucas took me home.

Please, whoever is listening up there, Dandelion doesn't deserve this...

Nate-

I was pissed that I couldn't find her.

Damn, was the girl a fast runner.

I was currently on my motorbike, on the way home. School was over and I was still wondering where Lucas went to. He missed the classes after lunch.

Mason told me that the last time everybody saw him was when he told Mason that he was looking for me.

Lucas didn't answer his phone either. That was weird... Lucas always answers his phone.

Once I was home, I threw my 2 new detention slips with the pile of old ones on my table. I never went to any one of the detentions.

My new fling this week was a girl called Rosanna. And just as I lay down on my comfy bed, my phone rang again. I groaned. Why does this always happen? I didn't bother looking at the caller ID and put the phone against my ear.

"Rosie, if you're asking to be my girlfriend, I do not want to see your ugly face again." I snapped.

"Um... Nate, this is Lucas..." Lucas said, unsure.

"Oh". Was my brilliant answer.

Then I remembered.

"Hey why didn't you tell me you were skipping the second half of classes?" I demanded. Whenever we skipped classes, we always told each other.

"Oh, uh...I had to send someone to the hospital. She was passed out in the middle of the hallway."

Whoa, since when was Lucas such a gentleman?

"Really?" I asked, not bothering to mask my surprise. Lucas sighed.

'"Look, I think I like this girl." He said.

"Whoa! What happened to my other half of a player?" I asked, joking. Lucas sighed again.

"I'll talk to you later, Nate. I'm busy right now." Lucas breathed out.

"Okay. See you tomorrow, man." I said.

Lucas grunted before hanging up. What was wrong with him? He wasn't the cheerful guy I was used to anymore.

I bet it was because of the girl he likes. I swore to myself that I would find out who she was, and make her stay away from Lucas...

I don't care how. I needed my old best bud back.

Dandelion-

I woke up to find myself in a room which reminded me of how a hospital room looked like. I looked to my left to see mom asleep in the uncomfortable-looking chair. Where was I?

I shifted. Mom woke up, rubbing her tired eyes.

Her amber eyes, which looked so much like mine, widened when she saw me awake.

"Dandy..." mom breathed. She looked sad, yet relieved at the same time.

Tears filled mom's eyes.

"Mom? What's happening?" I asked, concerned. "And where are we?"

Mom shook her head, disappointed.

"You don't remember, do you?"

Then it came rushing back to me. Crystal in the closet, me having a headache, and passing out. My eyes widened.

"Crystal... where is she?" I asked.

Mom sighed, exasperated. "After being diagnosed with brain cancer, all you care about is where Crystal w-" mom slapped her hand over her mouth, shocked and regretful.

I gasped. "W-what brain c-cancer?" I stuttered, shocked and scared. Mom just stood up, and left the room. What... huh?

I sat up and put my head between my knees, clutching my head. What was going on?!

More importantly... Why did mom just leave?

Did she not care about me anymore?

I stood up and decided to go look for mom. She can't just leave me like that! Not when I needed her most!

Just as I stepped out of the room, I overheard mom talking on the phone.

"....don't know how to explain it to her, George! I can't- I can't do this! The doctor already diagnosed her with brain cancer, George! How do I tell her that? I can't just sit here and watch her suffer..." George was my dad's name.

A pause. I think dad was speaking.

"I know I need to be there for our daughter, but I can't take this stress! I can't stand to watch one of my babies die!" Mom sobbed.

"I- I'm leaving. I don't want to be here. I don't want to feel the pain of losing one of my kids."

Another pause.

"It's not that I'm losing hope...I just-" mom turned around and saw me.

Mom paled. "H-how long were you standing there?" she stuttered.

I could feel tears rolling down my face.

"Long enough." I replied monotonously and walked, zombie-like back to my ward.

"Dandy, wait! I can explain!" I heard mom call out from behind me.

I turned back around slowly.

"Mom, it's okay. Go. You don't have to care for me anymore, nor feel the pain. You don't even have to attend my funeral if you don't want to." I muttered emotionlessly.

Mom dropped her phone.

"I- I just need time to adjust, Dandy. It's not that I don't love you because I do! You will always be my baby-"

"Why are you talking like I'll be dead by tomorrow?" I cut mom's rambling off.

Mom shut her mouth and looked deep in thought. I sighed. She thought that I wasn't going to fight. She'd rather me be dead than for her to go through any grief.

So much for motherly love.

I walked back into my ward and shut the door, leaving mom outside to think.

I cried myself to sleep, feeling the tiny bit of hope I had, being crushed into tiny pieces. Mom had no faith in me.

All I needed was some support. Mom was the last person I ever thought of that would run away from me...

Don't leave me, mom...