A Long Day

The sharp ringing of Amara phone shattered the silence of the early morning.

Her phone was ringing tone was ringing out very loud.

She jerked awake, her heart pounding.

Her heart was beating very fast.

For a second, she stared at the cracked ceiling above her bed, confused.

She was staring at the ceiling looking very confused.

Who would be calling this early?

Who would be calling me early in the morning

The screen glowed in the darkness.

She quickly pick up her phone from the table she was placing it to check the caller ID.

Unknown Number.

A knot formed in her stomach.

Slowly, she answered.

"Hello?"

"Good morning. Am I speaking with Amara Collins?"

The voice was calm and professional.

"Yes."

"This is Mercy Hospital. We are calling regarding your mother."

We are calling you concerning her health.

The moment those words left the woman mouth, Amara sat upright.

She sat down properly on the edge of her bed.

Fear rushed through her veins.

She was very afraid.

"What happened?" she asked quickly.

There was a brief pause.

"Your mother test results came back. The doctor would like to discuss them with you as soon as possible."

Amara fingers tightened around the phone.

She was holding the phone tightly.

"Is she okay?"

"I am sorry, dear. The doctor will explain everything when you come in."

The call ended.

Amara stared at the phone long after the screen went dark.

She keep staring at the phone for a very long time.

Her chest felt tight.

Her mother was still asleep in the next room.

What if the results were bad?

What if the illness was worse than they thought?

What if

"No."

She shook her head.

She couldn't think like that.

Not now.

Not when her mother needed her.

Taking a deep breath, Amara climbed out of bed and headed into the small living room.

The sight of her mother instantly made her heart ache.

Her heart beat very faster.

Mrs. Collins sat on the couch wrapped in a thin blanket.

Her face looked pale.

Tired.

Fragile.

But she still smiled when she saw her daughter.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

Amara forced a smile.

"Morning, Mom."

"You look worried."

You look so worried.

"I am fine."

Mrs. Collins raised an eyebrow.

"You have never been able to lie to me."

Amara laughed softly despite herself.

"Maybe I am just tired."

"Then come here."

Amara sat beside her.

Her mother gently touched her cheek.

"You carry too much on your shoulders."

The words nearly broke her.

If only her mother knew about the hospital call.

If only she knew how terrified Amara was.

But Amara couldn't tell her.

Not yet.

Instead, she smiled.

"We will be okay, Mom."

Everything will be okay.

Mrs. Collins squeezed her hand.

"Of course we will."

Yet something in her eyes suggested she wasn't completely convinced.

The school day felt endless before it even began.

Amara spent the entire bus ride staring out the window.

She keep staring at the window looking at the sky through the window.

But her mind is elsewhere.

The hospital words replayed inside her head.

The words keep replaying inside her head over and over again.

"The doctor would like to discuss the results."

Why wouldn't they just tell her?

Why did she have such a bad feeling?

The closer the bus got to school, the heavier her chest became.

The more her heart beat faster.

By the time she walked through the gates, she felt like she was carrying a mountain.

Students laughed around her.

Groups chatted.

Music blasted from someone speaker.

Life continued normally.

Meanwhile, Amara felt like her world was falling apart.

"Hey, Amara!"

She looked up.

It was Sofia.

Her only real friend.

Sofia frowned immediately.

"What is wrong?"

What is going wrong

What is wrong with you

Amara hesitated.

Then she sighed.

"The hospital called."

Sofia expression changed instantly.

"What happened?"

"They got my mom test results."

"And?"

"They didn't tell me."

Sofia winced.

"Oh."

"Exactly."

For a moment neither girl spoke.

Then Sofia wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Don't panic until you know the truth."

Don't be afraid.

Amara gave a weak smile.

"I will try."

But panic was exactly what she was feeling.

The first lesson started.

Amara couldn't focus.

The teacher voice sounded distant.

Words filled the board.

Students copied notes.

Yet none of it registered.

Her mind was not there.

Her mind remained trapped at the hospital.

Suddenly

"Amara?"

She blinked.

The classroom was staring at her.

The teacher crossed his arms.

"Would you like to answer the question?"

Heat rushed to her face.

Her hands start shaking.

She start sweating.

She hadn't even heard the question.

A few students laughed.

Embarrassment burned inside her.

"I am sorry, sir."

The teacher sighed.

"Pay attention."

"Yes, sir."

The lesson continued.

Amara stared at her notebook.

Her eyes stung.

She felt overwhelmed.

Exhausted.

Scared.

And completely alone.

Lunch break finally arrived.

Amara escaped to a quiet corner beneath a tree.

She wasn't hungry.

The sandwich she had packed remained untouched.

Her phone vibrated.

Her heart nearly stopped.

Hospital.

Her hands trembled as she answered.

Her hands were shaking.

All her body was shaking.

"Hello?"

"Amara, this is Dr. Benson."

Her pulse raced.

"Yes?"

"I wanted to discuss your mother condition."

The world seemed to freeze.

Every sound around her faded away.

The doctor voice became the only thing she could hear.

"The illness has progressed faster than we expected."

Amara breath caught.

"No..."

"We will need additional treatment."

Tears filled her eyes.

"Will she be okay?"

The doctor paused.

And that pause terrified her more than anything.

"We are going to do everything we can."

We are going to try our possible best.

Amara closed her eyes.

Everything we can.

Not yes.

Not definitely.

Not guaranteed.

Her heart shattered.

The call ended moments later.

She sat frozen beneath the tree.

The sky above suddenly seemed darker.

The laughter of nearby students felt distant.

Everything felt distant.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Then another.

Then another.

For the first time in months, Amara allowed herself to cry.

She couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

"Amara?"

A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

Quickly, she wiped her eyes.

Too late.

Someone had already seen.

She looked up.

And froze.

Denzel Alexander stood before her.

The school golden boy.

Girls practically worshipped him.

Boys wanted to be him.

And somehow..

He was standing here.

Looking concerned.

"Are you crying?" he asked softly.

Amara immediately stood.

"I am fine."

"You don't look fine."

You are not fine.

"I am okay."

"You know," Denzel said,

"people usually say they are okay when they are definitely not okay."

Despite everything, she almost laughed.

Almost.

Denzel studied her face.

For once, he wasn't smiling.

Wasn't flirting.

Wasn't showing off.

He looked genuinely worried.

Very worried.

"What happened?"

Amara looked away.

"It doesn't matter."

"It matters if it's making you cry."

Her chest tightened.

Nobody ever noticed her.

Nobody ever cared enough to ask.

Yet somehow Denzel did.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then the bell rang.

Students began rushing back toward class.

The spell broke instantly.

Amara grabbed her bag.

"I have to go."

I have to go now.

Before Denzel could respond, she hurried away.

But she could feel his eyes following her.

Watching.

Wondering.

Remembering.

And for reasons she couldn't explain, that thought stayed with her for the rest of the day.

That evening, Amara stood outside Mercy Hospital.

The building loomed before her.

Cold.

Silent.

Intimidating.

Inside waited answers she wasn't sure she wanted to hear.

She looked down at her mother medical file clutched tightly in her hands.

Fear twisted inside her stomach.

Her stomach tightened.

Then her phone vibrated.

It was a message notification.

A message.

Her eyes widened when she saw the sender.

Denzel Alexander.

I don't know what is wrong, but whatever it is don't face it alone.

Amara stared at the screen.

She keep staring at the screen for a very long time.

How had he gotten her number?

And why did he care?

Before she could think further, another message appeared.

Some people are stronger than they realize.

For the first time all day, a tiny smile appeared on her face.

But it disappeared the moment the hospital doors slide open.

She open the door slowly.

A nurse stepped outside.

"Amara Collins?"

Amara swallowed hard.

"Yes."

"The doctor is waiting for you."

Her heart pounded.

The nurse expression was serious.

Far too serious.

Amara took a shaky breath and followed her inside.

She had no idea that the news waiting behind that office door would change her life forever.