CHAPTER 3 — The Collapse

Ariana woke up late the next morning. Her head felt heavy. Her heart felt tight. She replayed her words from yesterday in her mind. She knew she hurt her mother again. But she kept telling herself she would say sorry later. She got ready fast and shouted from her room, “Mom, where is my shirt?” There was no answer. Ariana felt annoyed. She shouted louder, “Mom, are you listening?” Still no reply. She walked out with angry steps. But each step slowed when she saw her mother sitting on a chair with her hand on her head.

Linda looked still. Too still. Her eyes were half open. Her body looked weak. Ariana came closer and said, “Mom? Are you okay?” There was no movement. Ariana touched her mother’s shoulder. It was cold. She felt fear run through her body. She shook her mom’s arm gently and said, “Mom, please look at me.” Linda did not move. Ariana’s voice broke. She whispered, “Mom… please.” Her heart started to race. Her hands shook. She knelt down beside her mother and cried, “Mom, wake up. Please wake up.”

Ariana ran out and called neighbors. Her voice shook. She said, “Please help. My mom is not waking up.” Two neighbors rushed in. One checked Linda’s pulse. His face changed. He said, “She is very weak. Call the hospital.” Ariana held her mother’s cold hand and cried, “I am here, Mom. Please stay with me.” Tears fell from her eyes, but she wiped nothing. She only held her mother tighter as they carried her out. Ariana followed them, crying softly, “Mom, I am sorry. Please do not leave me.”

At the hospital, Ariana stood outside the room. Her legs felt weak. Her breath was shaking. She whispered to herself, “Please, God, save her. Please.” A nurse came out and said, “She collapsed from weakness.” Ariana felt her chest break. She asked, “Why? What happened?” The nurse said, “She has not been eating enough. She is stressed. Her body is tired. Very tired.” Ariana covered her mouth. She whispered, “She never told me.” The nurse said, “Mothers hide pain. They hide everything.”

Ariana sat down slowly. She felt like the world was moving away from her. She whispered, “It is my fault. All this time, it was my fault.” She remembered every rude word she said. Every moment she ignored her mother’s tired voice. Every time she walked away. The pain inside her felt sharp. She said to herself, “I hurt the person who loved me the most.” She cried silently, “I should have seen her pain. I should have helped her. I should have loved her.”

After some time, the doctor came out. He said, “She is stable now. But she is weak. Very weak. She needs rest and care.” Ariana nodded with tears falling again. She whispered, “I will take care of her. I promise. I will change.” Her voice broke. She said again, “I will not hurt her again. Never.” The doctor placed a hand on her shoulder and said, “She needs you now.”

Ariana walked into the room. Linda was lying on the bed. Her face looked pale. Her lips were dry. But when she saw Ariana, she tried to smile. Ariana felt her heart break into pieces. She walked closer and held her mother’s hand. She said in a shaking voice, “Mom… I am here.” Linda whispered, “Do not cry, my child. I am okay.” Ariana cried more. She said, “No, Mom. You are not okay. You have been hiding everything. You have been hurting alone.” Linda tried to raise her hand to touch Ariana’s face. She whispered, “I did not want to worry you.” Ariana sobbed, “I hurt you so much. I said so many bad things. I am sorry, Mom. I am so sorry.”

Linda’s eyes filled with soft tears. She whispered, “You are my daughter. I know your heart. You did not mean to hurt me.” Ariana shook her head and cried, “But I did. I did hurt you.” Linda whispered, “Come close.” Ariana leaned down. Linda placed her hand on her daughter’s cheek. She said, “You still have time. You can love me now.” Ariana closed her eyes and held her mother’s hand tight. She whispered, “I will never leave you alone again.”

Ariana sat beside the bed for hours. She held her mother’s hand the whole time. She whispered softly, “Mom, please get better. I need you. I cannot live without you.” Linda kept her eyes half closed. She whispered, “I will try, sweetheart. I will try for you.” Ariana wiped her mother’s forehead gently. She said, “I will take care of everything. I will work. I will cook. I will help you. Just get better.” Linda whispered, “I trust you.”

For the first time in years, Ariana felt real love for her mother rise inside her. It was painful, but it was pure. She knew this moment changed her life forever. She knew she could never be the same again.