Death Of Momma

It was February, 17th to be precise, a rainy day too, though it hadn't rained already but it threatened to, the gloomy sky frowning as well, followed by the loud thunderous eruption from the dark clouds. 

The siren never ceased its whining sound and the lights never stopped to bring a cascade of blue and red colors. 

She hadn't wanted to stand by the window and watch the Ambulance crew roll the body of her deceased mother into the Van but she couldn't help it. She cried painfully in her heart as she watched still, she'd miss her Mom so much.  

Mrs. Mateo suffered from a serious heart Failure which claimed her life just last night, died on the way to a Hospital. 

Mareili Mateo had stayed all night looking after her Mom, shocked by the sudden attack yet hoped that her Mom would survive since she looked strong and jested with her before her sudden death. Even in the sick bed, encouraged and assured Mareili that she was fine. 

Unfortunately she asked for a drink and Mareili left to fetch it only to return to see her Mom's cold body. She had cried her eyes out, but what will be will be. 

The Van drove off leaving particles of dust in the air and Mareili wiped the last tear that slipped down her cheek and checked her hand watch, turning away from the window. 

It was almost 10am and her dad was yet to come pick her all the way from Switzerland. She lived with her separated Mom in Germany where Mrs. Mateo operated her progressing book company.  

Her Brother, Joachim, The Arrogant 22years old Traveled on scholarship to Oxford where he studied at Oxford university while she stayed back and worked at a bakery while assisting her Mom with her books... Though it wasn't her thing to write or read Novels but she had to do it, to ease her mom the work load. 

The 19years old strolled to her bathroom and decided to have a shower before starting her day properly, she'd call her Boyfriend and brother too, though she didn't know if her careless dad had done so. 

~

Oxford, stroke noon and the 12 O'clock oxford bells chimed loudly waking the napping dogs and sleeping babies, companies going into break and the superstores filled with buyers. 

Joachim Mateo, clad in a brown raincoat in the Drizzling afternoon walked into a book store which was opposite a south African student club building, He pulled down his hood, stared around the store before catching a sight of The keeper stretched on the floor in a corner of the room, his head below a wooden desk and a hand under the blue plastic drawer which stood beside the desk. 

He didn't notice Joachim's entrance but the latter coughed causing the book keeper to sit up frightened and hitting his head on the table. He winced. 

"Oh, I'm so sorry Sir" Joachim apologized, bending low to pick a Biro which fell to his leg, he handed it to the book keeper. 

"It's alright dearie me, Jus tying t' retrieve this Bic under the Drawer" The book keeper spoke in an English accent. "What can I do for ye young man?"

"I need this Fantasy book 'Legend of a Dark Morth' by VIC NOVELLA, I wanted to find out if it has been published"

"Errr, I uhm.... Need to check my collection" The old book keeper, Dressed in a tick rain coat with Fluffy edges stood on his feet and slipped behind the desk to sit. 

Riffling through the long dark book and peeking at it through his spectacles. 

"I think the first published set has been exhausted and out of the market for the meantime, but I think I have few left over copies here" he uttered wetting the tip of his index finger with saliva. 

Just then Joachim's cell phone rang from his pocket and he retrieved it, groaned and picked the call. 

"What is it!!?" He blurted coldly on the phone. 

"..."

He seemed to have heard a shocking news as his face suddenly expressed shock, he brought down the phone slowly from his ear and leaned on the wall behind him, trying his best not to cry as he placed his palm on his face. 

"Are ye okay young man?" The book keeper asked looked at the boy concerned. "Anything gone wrong?" He asked again but the boy sniffed and rubbed his eyes, blinking rapidly. 

"Actually I just lost someone, can I get one copy from the copies you said you have?"

"Oh sure" The book keep selected a book from the shelf behind him and dropped it on the desk, Joachim paid him and turned to leave. 

"My condolence" he had heard before finally stepping out. 

Outside, two little kids strolled by him, waving at him with cheering smiles, they seemed to had seen him before even though he didn't recognize them but he waved back at them anyway and they passed. 

He walked all the way back to his apartment, his roomie had left the house earlier so there was no one in the apartment when he arrived, he thought of calling his mom... Yes he'd do that just to confirm the truth. 

Someone picked up the call and he awaited the voice just to realize it was his sister. 

•"Why calling Mom's phone brother?"• She asked on the phone and Joachim scratched his brows. 

•"I just wanted to confirm if what you told me earlier was the truth, to know if you're pranking me or not"•

•"I'm serious, she's really dead"• he heard his sister, Mareili, break down in tears. He's not a great fan of consolation so... 

•"Shit! Shut the fuck up and get a hold of yourself"• he reprimanded and immediately the crying voice died down. •"So what's the next option now, have you called Dad?"•

•"I have done so, he said he'd come pick me but he's yet to arrive"•

•"And the company?•" He asked getting up to the window. 

•"The Co--manager said she'd take care of every single thing until the funeral then we find a replacement for Mom's position"• Mareili sniffed. 

An old white haired lady who was on a walk with her cute puppy passed by the alley, Joachim remained silent watching as the puppy waved its tail excitedly, probably in the joy of being walked. 

•"You know what?"• He began. •"It's weekend over here, so I'd make sure I'm back by next week, if Dad doesn't come pick you just wait for me till then okay?"•

And then he hung up, he threw his phone angrily to the bed and held the iron bars if the widow, tightening his fists around them. 

This school year of his had really suffered a lot. First it was his parents separation earlier this year due to his dad's cheating problem and careless attitudes, Now it's his mom's death. 

This year would really be the most Awkward in his life... 

~

A knock on the main entrance got Mareili hurrying out from the room, eyes red and puffed, she rubbed them slightly then proceeded to open the door. 

She never expected who she saw! It was Leon, her boyfriend. A tall, slender, blue eyed German young man who probably was in his late 20s. 

He smiled charmingly and hugged her tight, yes he had traveled for an important issue which he didn't tell Mareili about and that was why she was shocked to see him. She didn't even call him. 

Surprisingly Leon felt her shuddering, he pulled away from the hug and caught her shedding tears, he felt his heart sink as he thought he was the reason she cried.

"What's wrong?" He asked concerned but Mareili wanted to weep the cover, she freed herself from his grasp and covered her two eyes with her palms, she hated to say this and she didn't want to but she had to. 

Leon held her hands and pulled her closer to himself. "Tell me Mareili what's wrong, how's Mummy?"

Then Mareili bursted in tears, shaking her head "She's not fine, she can't be fine and she can never be!"

Leon was taken aback by her scream, he didn't know what warranted all this but he had to find out. 

He hurried into the house calling out the name he normally called Mrs. Domerio ‘Moda’, she didn't reply and he proceeded to knock on her room but there was no response. Then he turned and found Mareili standing behind him. 

"Where is she?"

"She's gone!!" Mareili said in a whisper. 

"What do you mean she's gone?"

"She... She passed on late yesterday so..."

"What the fuck!" interrupted Leon, he moved closer to Mareili and held her by the shoulder. "Why didn't you call me, why didn't you even send a text?" He asked all at once as Mareili tried maintaining her composure. 

She whispered painfully "I couldn't call you because..., because I knew there was nothing to be done, Mom was quickly going down the drain and there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop anything, to stop the freaking disease or even stop her death" once again she sank in tears, she fell wearily on Leon's body as the latter hugged her tightly to himself, patting her hair. 

He didn't know the best way to console her, he too was unconsolable when his parents had died in an Automobile accident just when he was about entering college, he had lot of things in his mind then, who to sponsor him, who to feed from, who he could call whenever he needed anyone and who to care for him and he knew this questions ran in Mareili's mind at the moment. 

He knew her dad wasn't something to write home about, neither was her brother a dependent person. She had only her Mom... Her Mom alone, yet she couldn't save her...