All That I Need

Episode 26

Lily’s POV

I got home from school, finding mum asleep on our mattress again. She was a totally different person now, and it was depressing to be around her, as much as I loved her. I knew that she would be gone very soon.

I sat myself down beside her sleeping body, and she opened her eyes slowly.

“How was your day, Lily?” She asked tiredly. She wasn’t tired from lack of sleep anymore. She was tired because she was ready to go.

She looked so old and so weak and every time I looked at her, I just wanted to cry. I couldn’t change anything that was happening, and that’s what hurt the most.

“It was okay,” I said.

“I hope school’s been helping you. Are you getting better at work?” She asked.

“I can read and write better now,” I said.

“Remember that note I gave you?” I asked softly.

“Oh yeah. That note. I forgot about that. You were getting much, much better. You’d be a genius by now,” She said, smiling.

“Almost, but not quite,” I said. She laughed, but it was a sad laugh. Everything she did lately seemed to express sadness, even though she was trying her best not to show it.

“I’m glad,” she said, patting me on my shoulder. I smiled.

“But school has done much more for me than just taught me how to read and write. It introduced me to heaps of nice people,” I said. My heart beat fast when I thought of Klarissa, and my mind ran to the memory of her lips against mine.

I wasn’t actually sure what it meant, because nothing else had been said since, but the memory blocked my mind, and I had relived that moment over and over in my mind so many times.

“That’s great! How many friends do you have now?” She asked. She seemed genuinely happy for me.

“A few. But my best friend’s name is Klarissa.” I smiled.

Mum smiled too. “I’m glad you have good company at school. Tell me about Klarissa,”

“I met her in the school toilets while I was brushing my teeth. And then we began to hang out. She’s so nice mum, and she cares about me, and I care about her,” I blushed, not sure how else to explain her crazy beauty inside and out.

“She sounds lovely, Lily.” Mum said, smiling.

“Hey Mum,” I said quickly. She nodded.

“Had you ever been in love… before me?” I questioned.

She was quiet, thinking.

“I’ve never experienced proper, true love, Lily. I was too scared. Only the occasional fling with random boys at school when I was a teenager, before that happened… Why do you ask?” She asked, looking into my eyes.

“I think I might be in love with someone.” I said, feeling my face heat up.

“But I’m not sure what that’s meant to feel like,”

Mum’s face lit up; “Do you get butterflies in your stomach whenever you’re around them? Do you want to spend every last minute of your life with them? Do you want to kiss them and hold them, or for them to kiss and hold you?”

I nodded; “I do,”

“Then I think you are in love. Who is it?” Mum asked, smiling.

“It’s Klarissa,” I said, blushing.

“That’s beautiful,” mum said, smiling.

“I hope you experience true love with her, like I never got to with a man,”

I was shocked that she hadn’t even commented on the fact that I was in love with a girl.

“Is it bad that I like a girl?” I asked.

“Oh darling, love has nothing to do with the gender of a person. Anyone who thinks otherwise has some serious issues,” 5

I smiled.

“Anyway, do you think she likes you too?” Mum asked, looking into my eyes.

“I think she might. She kissed me,” I said.

“That’s a sign of love, Lily. I think it’s really sweet. You should invite her over before it’s too late. I want to meet this girl!”

I nodded. I still wasn’t sure about showing her the most vulnerable part of my life- our wrecked house and my sick mother.

“While we’re talking about this, and I know you don’t want to think about this, but I found the perfect couple to foster you,” She said, smiling.

My heart dropped. I would have to move on with life with somebody else.

“A beautiful couple living in this area. Their names are Jarred and Dan. I’ve met them personally, and they are so gorgeous. You’ll love them,”

I nodded.

“As soon as they heard about your situation, they offered their love and home straight away. You’re going to have a proper house, and a proper life. And you’re going to have two father figures, when you’ve never even had one,” she smiled, a proper smile.

“It sounds good,” I said, even thought I wasn’t ready to move on from mum so quickly.

“I’m so glad you’re going to finally have a proper life, Lily. I’m so, so glad,” mum smiled, and hugged me. I hugged her back.

I didn’t want to lose her, but I also couldn’t help being a little bit excited about the future.