The Fate Of Broken Hearts

Chapter 12

Saturday morning, I began cleaning the apartment for my mother's arrival. By now she was probably halfway through the long drive, meaning that I only had two hours to vacuum and wipe down the counters.

I pull the curtains to the side of the windows and hook them open so more natural light can be let inside, brightening the apartment from the old dust. Next, I plug in the vacuum to a power outlet and spend the next our getting rid of all the dirt in the places that hadn't been cleaned in a while.

I wiped down the counters, the table and made my bed the same way I had been doing it for years. I reorganised my bookshelf even though I didn't need to and even with spare time left, I did some laundry and ironing.

I looked at the watch on my wrist, a gift from Mark when I was sixteen, and notice that the two hours still hadn't given up yet.

I enter my room once more, the smell of cleanness and soap in the air making me inhale an extra breath for my own pleasure. I hop on my bed and open my laptop to watch a few of my favourite TED Talks.

It was a hobby of mine when I felt like watching something other than Netflix, which was often. There was one on the parts of the brain, personal growth, adapting to situations and even one on history that I clicked on my accident and ended up enjoying it in the end.

I was halfway through another one of my episodes when my mother began calling me. She sounded so excited on the phone, which was something that didn't happen very often.

I pick up and put the phone to my ear after pausing my video and shutting the laptop.

"I'm parked down the street, come and meet me! I have a surprise!"

Instantly I am brought smiles upon my face, my own happiness caused by her mere tone.

"Okay I'm on my way down now."

I walk across the apartment with haste, the whole way down the building wondering what she could surprise me with. She never did surprises, so my curiosity was jumped over the walls as to what it could be.

When I reached outside I look down the road where she had told me to go and spot her a few cars behind mine. She spotted me almost instantly as I came towards her caramel coloured eyes.

"Hi!" She squealed, pulling me into one of her tight hugs. "I missed you!" She mumbles into my hair.

"I've missed you too." I laugh, hugging her body back with just as much intensity. "How are you? How was the drive?"

"All great! I can't believe I'm hugging you again!" She squeezes me tighter as if it had been months since we last saw each other.

"Mom, it's only been two weeks." I giggle, pulling away enough so I could see the mascara on her face beginning to run alongside the tears.

"Two weeks too long!" She ran her hands up and down both my arms creating quiet warmth.

"Mom..." I take her hands in mine with an appreciative smile. "I'm in college now... I won't be seeing you for long periods of time, and you can't be driving five hours just to see me all the time. It's not good for you." She swats me away with her hand and rolls her eyes dramatically.

"Stop worrying about me! I'm fine!" She grins, a little of her pink lipstick smudged on her front teeth. "Now, come see!" She pulls me by the sleeve over to the backseat of her car and opens the door.

For a moment I am confused as to what I am staring at but then she picks it up and holds it against her body, revealing to me what exactly she was gifting me.

"It's a poncho!" She laughs with gleaming smile. "Do you like it?" She pushes the big fabric to me. "I made it, some girls at the rehab taught me how to do it a few years ago and I thought I forgot how to do them, but look at me go! Isn't it wonderful!" I smile at her and nod proudly.