Page 114 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Reason To Sing

“We love you too, Mommy,” Vian whispers. We blow
her kisses as we leave her and Mike to say their good-nights.
We always do that. We understand they need their grownup
privacy.
It is a beautiful August night and the sun is just beginning
to set. Living so far north, we get long summer nights. The sky
is painted with beautiful shades of lavender, pink and blue. It
is breathtaking.
“I wish Mommy could see the sunset,” Vian gushes. “I can
see some lavender, her favourite colour.”
“I know, it’s beautiful. You’re right. She would just love it.”
I am feeling wistful this evening and it’s difficult for me
to match Vian’s enthusiasm for the sky. I sense my mother
slipping away. She is a wisp, like the soft clouds we watch
floating into the sunset. Maybe she is floating away too?
Morning comes and I am awakened by the loud clanging
of the phone. I hear Mike talking to someone at the hospital.
They tell him we need to come right now. In a silent flash we
are out the door and on our way. I feel like I am in somebody
else’s movie. Foggy, like I don’t want to be here in the world
right now. I want to escape, run away, to hide from whatever is
coming. I don’t want to feel. I just want to be numb.
As we enter the hospital I am accosted by the ugly grey
walls and the overwhelming smell of sickness. Oh, how I hate
it. My heart is beating faster and faster as we get closer to
her room. What will we find? I don’t even want to guess. My
stomach is flipped sideways, my head is burning up and my
nerves feel like they’re on fire.
We are greeted at the nurse’s station by my mother’s
doctor. We know him well by now. He is frowning and deadly
serious. “I’m sorry but she’s gone into a coma.” He continues
speaking to Mike, whose face is expressionless. “We’ve made

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