Just Breathe Again - Mia Villano Page 0,19
for. She was more than blessed until it all fell apart.
Seeing her daughter sleeping with her hair spilling over her face, reminded her how young and innocent she still was. She turned sixteen last month, and Jeannie was unable to give her the birthday party they had planned since she was ten years old. Vince had always promised he would buy a car for her and they would go out driving the day she turned sixteen. The only thing they did, was go out to dinner with coupons at the local restaurant. Not much of a Sweet Sixteen for her daughter that was her world. Lydia didn’t care or complain. She accepted their plight, and even thanked Jeannie for the dinner and the small gift card to her favorite clothing store. Lydia didn’t complain about anything. She accepted the fact that their life of privilege and happiness was now poverty and sadness. That didn’t turn her into a different child like a change would have done with most girls her age. She took the blow of moving out of her beautiful home, and said God had a plan for them. When Jeannie suffered from depression, and barely made it out of bed, Lydia was there to help her. Lydia pulled her out of the depths of despair and reminded her a better life was coming. Her dear, sweet Lydia was more concerned for her mother than anything else at the time. When her friends would be spending the weekends at football games or sleepovers, Lydia spent the time with her mom. Lydia was her world.
Jeannie stepped out of the room and bought a cup of coffee from the vending machine when they took her daughter down for a CT scan. They wouldn’t let her go with them, even though she begged. They would be right back they told her. She took the time to call and check on Michael.
“Hey, how’s my girl doing?” Steven asked.
“We don’t know anything yet. They took her down for a CT scan, but I’m sure they’ll confirm its migraines. How’s Michael?” asked Jeannie.
“He’s fine. We did his homework, and he’s watching television. What time is he to be in bed?” asked Steven.
“By nine, and no later. I’m sure I will be home before then. Thank you so much, Steven. If we are here too much longer, I’ll call someone to come and get Michael. I’m sure you have school work to do,” said Jeannie.
“Its fine, Jeannie. I’m fitting in here. A guy with a wife beater asked if I wanted a beer when I took out the garbage. Not my type, though he’s cute in a white, trashy way,” he said. She couldn’t help but laugh a little. Steven lightened up any situation. He must have met Ralph, the guy living in the trailer next to hers. What a character. He and his wife didn’t work, fought all day long, and drank until they passed out. They didn’t cause a ruckus or bother anyone, and he would give you the wife beater off his back if you needed it.
“I’ll be home as soon as I can. I want you to know how much I appreciate this, Steven.” Jeannie started to cry again.
“Stop it now, Jeannie. Take care of our girl and give her a kiss from me.”
Jeannie rushed back to the room to find Lydia asleep. As she sat and waited for results, she prayed to whoever would listen to her for a miracle, one more time. She tried to keep her mind off everything by reading signs and checking the messages on her phone.
The doctor came in quicker than she expected. Jeannie thought she was in for a long night of waiting and worrying. She noticed by his voice, something was wrong, and Jeannie’s stomach rose to her throat.
“Mrs. Franklin, we are seeing something on the CT scan that has us concerned. We saw a mass in the left side of Lydia’s brain. We don’t know for sure what type or what it is. This mass concerns us enough, we are going to admit her and get more tests done. I want to send her to Children’s for a pediatric neurosurgeon to take a look at her CT scan,” said Dr. Thompson.
Everything faded to black.
Chapter 4
Jeannie woke up to a nurse in her face saying her name.
“Mrs. Franklin? Mrs. Franklin, can you hear me?” Jeannie found herself in someone’s arms and half sitting on a chair. The room was coming back into focus.
Jeanie came