Chapter 15
The plane landed and Auntie Mei and her hurried off the plane. Grabbing their luggage they got on a taxi and went straight to the Dunedin Hospital. Sitting in the taxi, Alena looked out the window. The sky was just getting dark as evening set in. There were no stars but a lone moon, no longer seeming to smile. She felt so lonely, so out of place without the lads cheerful faces, but mostly, without Kian’s engaging laughter. His hair flopping over her eyes so one longed to raise their arm and brush it back to look into his deep blue eyes. What did this mean?, she asked herself, was she in love with him? Is it possible that she could love again? She sighed... She was so tired, just so wearied with life and it’s obstacles. She didn’t feel like she could go on.
The main city of Dunedin came into view. It was still the same after half a year. Nothing had changed. As calm as ever. It was a Friday so that shops were open later than usual. Lots of people were out and about walking along the main street. Then they were there at the hospital. They got out and paid the taxi driver and lugged their bags to the information desk. Alena waved a nurse over.
“Excuse me. Can you please tell us which floor and what room Ming Wah Chiu is in?” asked Alena.
“Ming Wah Chiu...She’s in the 9th floor in room 26A” answered the nurse looking at the screen of her a computer.
“Thanks.” turning back to her aunt she translated what the nurse had just said back to her. “Let’s go”
They went up the life. Fear gripped Alena’s heart like a vice. How would she react to seeing her mother again? What would she be like? This time no tears fell. It seemed that all her tears had dried up. The lift seemed to inch slowly up to the 9th floor and an eternity later they reached the floor that her mother was on. They dragged their bags along trying to find the room. They found it. Her mother lay inside Alena went in taking every detail of the situation. The top half of her mother’s body was wrapped up in plasters. Drips and tubes surrounded her. Machines beeped. Alena’s heart ripped apart as every detail of her mother’s condition was viewed through her eyes. Auntie Mei walked over to her sister.
“Ah Wah” she said in chinese. “Can you hear me? I’m Ah Mei. I’m here to see you.” Her voice choked as she saw her sister like that. “Yanyan come over and talk to your mother.” said Auntie Mei using Alena’s chinese name. Alena walked over.
“Ma ma. I’m Yanyan. I’m back...” she broke down and sobbed uncontrollably. “I’m sorry about everything. I..I’m s..so..sorry..” She shook, every part of her body, to the core of her being. Nothing could compare to the pain that seared her soul. Knowing that she would never see her mother again even though she had done her wrong. A woman walked in.
“Alena! You’re back!” Alena looked up, it was her next door neighbor Mika. She was holding a baby in her arms. Mika looked at her with sympathy. “It’s a shock isn’t it to see her like that? She’s been waiting for you. The doctor’s have said it’s a miracle she is still alive right now. She knew you would come.”
“Mika...is that....” asked Alena in a shaky voice.
“Yes. This is Rita’s baby. It’s a boy. Do you wanna hold him?” Alena nodded uncertainly. The bundle was placed in her arms. The baby looked up at her with clear brown eyes. It was the most beautiful being she had ever seen.
“Has he got a name?” whispered Alena, shocked at the resemblance of Rita and Luke he bore. Same lips, full and soft as Luke’e and eyes like Rita’s.
“His name’s Alan” answered Mika with tears in her eyes. “Rita name him after you before she died.”
“Hey Alan Tan. I’m your Auntie Alena.” The baby gave a gurgle and then laughed. He seemed to like her.
“Yanyan! Quick come over here now! Your mother seems to be saying something” cried out Auntie Mei. Alena put the bundle back into Mika’s arms and rushed over to her mother.
“Ma. I’m here. I’m Alena. Ma!” cried Alena.
“Yan...yan..s..so...sorry. So sorry....” murmured her mother and the heart monitor went beeeep....She was gone.
“Ma!! Ma!! You can’t leave!! You can’t leave me by myself!!” shouted Alena. She sobbed.
“Sh..Alena.. Your mother’s dead.. she’s gone” said Mika giving Alena a hug as tears poured down her face.
“NO!!” Alena shook her mother. “Please ma, come back! Wake up! I’m so sorry!! COME BACK!!” She was hysterical. Auntie Mei was sitting in the chair weeping incessantly.
“Ah Wah...” she moaned. Doctors rushed into the room trying to revive Alena’s mother, but it was no use. It was too late. They left and a nurse pulled the sheet up and over her face. Alena fainted. All this was too much for her. Her mother was dead. Dead.
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