It didn't take long for the news to break about Martin's attack, and it didn't take long for the police to start sniffing around. The attack hadn't killed him which I was highly relieved about, though he had really angered and I had a reputation for fighting; I wasn't a killer.
The other subject that had been playing at the forefront of my mind was my mother, Ronnie had told me something was not right with her while I had been away; and in the few weeks I had been home I had noticed a significant difference in her, she had become slow and redrawn. The healthy glow that I always remember radiating around her was gone, while her normally rich looking chestnut coloured hair let limp and lifeless against her head and shoulders. When ever the subject was brought up I received the same speech, I am perfectly fine by darling Alexandria.
I had voiced my concerns to Francis, hoping to get some comfort but she had been a little distant herself lately. Everyone around me was going on with their lives, while I sat and wished for my sister and prayed my mother was ok. It seemed as though I was being punished for my past misgivings, when was someone, anyone notice I was drowning. As much as I put a brave face on in public, when I was alone I reverted back to the scared little girl I once was who cried herself to sleep. Only now, Lily wouldn't come seeking comfort.
Weeks past and I watched my mother slowly begin to waste away before my eyes, something was happening to her and I had no idea what it now to stop it. That was when I found a letter my mother had forgotten to put away, a doctors letter. A letter confirming she had a disease so deadly there was no way she would survive. Cancer.
June15th 1957, the night my mother slipped away quietly in her sleep. The night the last remaining threads of my sanity snapped, had I not suffered enough? Had I not lost enough? I couldn't take it, my mind was taken over by pure rage and the house around me was destroyed. By the time I had finished it looked like a war zone, I sat in the middle of the living room my eyes burning from tears and my chest heaving. Everything was gone, I had nothing left.
My blood shot eyes glanced around the room, landing on the last cup of tea my mother had drunk, and the book she had been reading she would never finish. A painful son escaped my mouth as I heard the front door open and close, I didn't even have the energy to move to see who it was.
"Alex? Mrs Lea?" Called the voice of Ronnie "I heard some smashing and shouting thought I'd make sure you..." he stopped as he stepped over smashed ornamates and broken furniture into the living room. "Alex?" He asked as he rushed forward, only then did I notice Reggie over his shoulder.
"She's gone" I whispered as I pulled my knees into my chest and rested my chin on them, my blue eyes glassy and glazed. "She's gone" I repeated "apparently Lily was enough, so they stole my mother as well" I gasped before jumping up as Ron went to place a hand on me "it's not fair!" I screamed before putting my foot though an old antique case.
I pushed past Ronnie and Reggie, smashing things as I walked towards the back of the house. Yanking the back door open I stepped out and feel to my knees, a loud pain filled scream escaped my mouth. I couldn't take this, my mother and Lily had been my world and now they were gone.
Footsteps stopped behind me and teo pairs of hands touched my shoulders as they shook, I raised my own hands and placed them over the hands gently.
"We are so sorry Alex, do you want us to arrange for her body to be taken to the hospital?" Reg asked.
I nodded silently as I was pulled to my feet by Ron, I felt myself pulled into a tight embrace as Reg disappeared to make some arrangements.
You'll stay with me for a few days" Ronnie said as he lead my towards the front door and out of the house, everything Ioved about that house gone and now I was leaving there aswel. I felt it slip away as both very left the house.