Just Breathe Again - Mia Villano Page 0,16

rubbed her back. “I would be relieved if we checked you out to be safe. Steven is here and he can watch Michael while I take you up there. It shouldn’t take long.”

“Mom, you can’t afford another hospital bill, and we have no insurance,” she said.

Jeannie walked over and turned on the lights to get her daughter moving. “Let’s go. I’m not listening to this. When you or your brother are sick, nothing else matters. We add it to the other bills.”

Hearing her daughter say that sent a shot of pain in her stomach. A sixteen year old should not worry about her mom’s bills, or whether she could go to the doctor or not.

Steven walked in with Michael and they both jumped on Lydia’s bed. Steven hugged her half sleeping form, still covered up with her blankets.

“Steven is funny, Lydia. He wore mom’s apron,” said Michael, laughing and chewing gum.

“I’m sure he did, Buddy. Give him a dress and he will put it on too,” she said. Lydia kept her eyes shut and her voice was different.

Michael laughed and ran out of the room yelling “Steven wears a dress.” At least Steven was there to keep him entertained.

“Steven, please tell Lydia I should take her to the ER. Could you stay with Michael while we’re gone?” asked Jeannie.

Steven rubbed Lydia’s back, rolling his eyes. “God, in this hovel, I suppose, if you hurry. But seriously Lydia, let your mom take you. This is getting out of control, and I hate seeing you feeling this bad. I have nothing I would rather do than hang out with Michael tonight.” There was a hesitation and Jeannie knew she had to take matters into her own hands if Lydia refused.

“Okay, I’ll go. If we have to wait too long, we leave.”

Jeannie blew Steven a kiss and helped Lydia up and in the car. They kept her wrapped in a blanket and put her in the back seat. She was too weak to walk by herself and unable to sit up straight. Each bump Jeannie drove over, caused Lydia to moan and beg her mom to slow down.

“Just hang on, Lydia. I want to get you there.” Thankfully, they lived five miles from the hospital. A feeling of utter horror and sadness hit her as she approached the parking lot. The Emergency sign reminded her of the time she rushed to the hospital to see Vince, the day of his accident. As they pulled in to the hospital parking lot, Lydia began throwing up again. This time Lydia’s health was terrifying Jeannie. Even when Lydia became sick last year, it wasn’t this bad.

Jeannie said a silent prayer to her patron saint, St. Jude on a whim he might be listening. “We’re here and I will help you get in the hospital. You’re going to be okay.” As they pulled in, Lydia threw up again.

Chapter 3

There was vomit all over her daughter, and the car.

Jeannie parked out front and turned to look at her daughter. Lydia looked up at her mom with tears in her eyes. “Mom, I need help. I’m too weak to walk.”

Jeannie turned off the car, as the engine chugged to silence. “It’s okay, baby. I will help you.”

Stepping out of the car and putting her purse strap around her shoulder and neck, she reached in the car and picked up her daughter. It shocked her how light Lydia was as she lifted her out. Why was this the first time she noticed how much weight she had lost? Was she this detached from life?

Jeannie swallowed back the tears so that Lydia wouldn’t hear how upset she was. “I love you, Lydia. You’re going to be okay.” She tried to convince herself the same thing. Until walking into the hospital, she had not realized how sick her daughter might be. It had been a rough year, everything but survival took a back seat. Without her husband, she checked out of everything, including her daughter’s well-being. What had she done? She was a horrible mother to let this go on and not even realize it.

When they walked in, the hospital was filled with sick or injured people. Children ran around unattended and there were no chairs to sit. She had not been to a hospital since Vince passed away, and hated to be there. The sights, sounds, and smells reminded her of the last terrible time she stood in one and unless she was at deaths door, she wanted to stay away.