Chapter 14
"You must be Kyrah, I've heard alot about you, you seem like a very good young lady," she says smiling at me and I smile back genuinely and move to hug her warmly, "And you are..." she looks at Scott keenly.
"Scott... Scott Stone," and I hear a gasp from somewhere in the room and that leaves a question mark in my mind. Why are people reacting that way towards Scott?
"Oh, wow! You're a Stone alright, I see my daughter is well taken care of. Never let them get into trouble okay?" Scotts gives her a firm handshake.
"Yes ma'am," he nods while Roxy and I exchange confused looks.
"So honey, I only have ten minutes here. I missed you, how is your brother?"
"He's fine mom. We really miss you. How are you doing? Is everything okay?"
Alicia pauses and coughs thrice before speaking. Her hands are shaking and she hides them under the table.
"Honey... I'm sick..." she doesn't get to finish speaking and Roxy jumps up from her chair as if it got hot randomly.
"What? What's wrong? Don't they treat you here?" Roxy questions. She's worried.
"The medical services here are nothing compared to what I am suffering from," Alicia responds.
"Then tell me what you are suffering from," Roxy slams her fist on the table and my heart jumps. I can see the tears falling down her cheeks but her face looks more angry than sad.
"Lung cancer..." Alicia says and immediately Roxy falls to her knees and I rush to help her up with help from Scott. We help her sit down and say nothing.
"H... H... How? But how? I don't understand mom? Y... You can't have lung cancer? Who said you did? Are you sure about it?" she mumbles, her hands shaking as if she's being electrocuted.
Alicia stretches her hands across the table and holds her daughter's hands.
"The doctor from here confirmed it," she says.
"When? You don't even smoke mom! Who the hell is that doctor? I want to see him right now!" and again she is up on her feet and yelling.
"Calm down sweetheart, people are staring and you know I don't like people staring at me," Alicia complains.
Roxy huffs and sits down, rubbing her temple with her fingers. She looks agitated.
Wiping off her tears roughly she looks at her mother dead in the eye.
"Tell me everything and don't leave out a single thing. I'm all ears," she says.
"I was diagnosed with the disease four years ago..."
"Mom..." a sob escapes from Roxy and my tears start pooling and I lean in to Scott who is apparently very quiet, but watching.
"Allow me to finish speaking honey. I started a bad habit two years after I got here, smoking seemed to help relieve my stress in a way, little did I know what I was getting myself into. Six cigarettes every day,"
Our eyes narrow in disbelief. How is that even possible? Six cigarettes in a single day is quite dangerous. What about in a month? Oh my goodness! That's some shit load of cigarettes to smoke!
"I also... got involved in drugs sometimes back when some of us were taken to a farm to do community work. The farmer was a drug dealer and people did whatever they had to in order to get the drugs. In that process... I got infected..."
"No! no, no, no! NO!" Roxy screams in pain as she holds on to her mother's hands tightly.
"Yes, I also have AIDS," Alicia looks down and coughs severely and right on cue we hear a guard speak.
"Time's up Trent, it's time for you to go back to your cell," the female guard announces.
"No! We haven't even finished our conversation, please, ten more minutes. I haven't seen her in years, please don't take her away from me," Roxy begs in tears and I hide my face on Scott's chest crying silently, he holds me close. I feel heartbroken and sorry for Roxy and her mom.
"If you get ten more minutes, every other inmate will want that too. Now let's go," the guard helps Alicia up and directs her towards a door away from us. She turns to look back at Roxy.
"I love you Roxy, tell your brother I love him too and that he should come see me. I adore both of you so much, don't you ever forget that," her voice is weak.
"Don't you give me your goodbyes mom, I'll come see you soon, okay?" Roxy's hand is stretched out to her mom, but she can't seem to move from her position and her arm falls down to her side weakly.
Alicia turns to Scott and I, "Both of you, please take care of my daughter for me,"
"We will ma'am," Scott responds and I swallow dryly. I can't find my words, only tears are falling and my chest is in pain.
The door is closed and Roxy falls onto her knees again and lies down on the floor, arms wide open, tears falling from her face uncontrollably to the floor. No words, not even a sniff. She just lies there stiff, staring above her.
"I'm sorry mom," she whispers.
Scott carries her out of the room and I follow them quietly avoiding eye contact with anyone on our way out.
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