Just as I thought my life could not get any worse, it did. Nigel texted me saying that we needed some time away from each other so that he could sort things out. We did not have our usual lunch dates or chats. The only thing we talked about was work. Even at the workplace, Nigel was so engrossed in his work that we hardly ever saw each other.

The story with Rita was no different. Both of them were giving me the silent treatment and refused to associate themselves with me. I wondered what I had to do to repair those broken relationships. Alcohol was the only way I thought of to forget about my problems – even if it was just for a little while.

Every day after work, I opened my cabinet and took out a bottle. Today was one of such days. After the tenth glass, I heard my phone ringing. I fumbled through my bag before triumphantly holding my phone in the air. I looked through the text messages on my phone. I was very surprised to see a text message from none other than Claire. It read:

Please come down to Snaresbrook. Mum is very ill.

Snaresbrook was in the next town, about thirty minutes' drive from where I lived. If it was that urgent, why didn't Claire just call? I spent the next few minutes packing and preparing to leave for Snaresbrook. I called the office and explained the situation to them.

When I was finally done with everything, I hopped into my car and drove off. I arrived at Snaresbrook very late in the night. I stopped at a bed and breakfast and stayed there for the night.

My eyelids fluttered open as bright sunlight streamed into the room. After doing my morning things and having my breakfast, I drove as fast as I could to the hospital where my mum was admitted. I saw Claire fast asleep at my mum's bedside. Claire was so not supposed to be here. She was a working mother and had two children to take care of.

"Claire!" I said, shaking her.

Claire jumped up, suddenly waking up.

"What! Kayla?" Claire asked.

"Yeah, it's me", I said.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question. You're supposed to be at home or at work."

"So are you."

"I'm just here because of mum, okay? I received your text and came down as soon as possible."

"So you're here just because of mum. You never come to visit. You didn't even want to come to my wedding anniversary."

"I have my reasons."

"And what reasons are those?"

I kept quiet. I couldn't tell her. She wouldn't understand.

"You don't have any reasons? I thought so. You're just so selfish and heartless and – Ugh She's all yours now", Claire said and left.

Those words weren't supposed to hurt, but they did. I moved to my mum's bedside and touched her cheeks. Even though I wasn't on very good terms with my mum, I hoped she could and would fight this. She had to survive. There and then, I went on my knees and started to pray, something I hadn't done in a long time.