Music Piece 3: A Sacrifice

"Mummy? "She whispered her voice hoarse.

Takara was so horrified that her voice failed. She could only manage a whisper. Hearing her daughter's voice, Yumi's eyelids fluttered and opened slowly. Takara took her hand in both hers and squeezed it tightly. Yumi fixed her with a glassy stare, which spoke volumes. A lone tear travelled down Yumi's bandaged cheek silently. The sterilized white cloth quickly absorbed it. Takara knew that her mother was grieving. She knew that she was now a widow. Raising another weak and trembling hand, Yumi touched her daughter's cheek.

" Daddy's gone, mummy… "

That was when Takara's own tears fell, dripping all over the side of the bed sheet, making it damp. Yumi nodded as if to say, " I know. "

Her hand fell back onto the bed lifelessly like a doll's. Yumi's eyes closed in exhaustion as she allowed sleep to claim her. Still weeping, Takara laid her mother's hand back onto the bed again carefully and gently.

" Rest well, mummy. "

Quietly, she pressed her lips onto Yumi's also bandaged forehead in a soft kiss.

" Miss Takara? Could I have a word with you? There's something I want to tell you about your mother. "

She turned to face Yumi's specially assigned doctor who had a grave expression on her face.

" Your mother's spinal cord is permanently damaged after the crash. So in this case, she's paralyzed from the waist-down. She will not be able to walk again. She has developed lung cancer and it's in the advanced stage. I'm afraid to tell you this but she has only a few months left to live. At most, your mother has five months… " She replied.

Suddenly, Takara felt dizzy.

Lung cancer? Does it mean that she will also leave me like Daddy did to me? And I'll be left, uncared for just like an orphan? Does this mean that Mummy will die?

" D-Does sh-she know about th-this? " The fifteen-year-old asked, her voice weak and trembling although she managed a calm outward appearance.

The doctor sighed and shook her head.

" It would be best if she hears it from you, her own child rather than some stranger. "

NNN

It was all she could take not to burst into tears once again.

My dream of being the world's famous young harpist will never be achieved! Maybe I should just forget about being a musician and never touch another harp ever! I should just leave the music college and go back to Japan, my birthplace. I could get enrolled in a normal high school and live a normal life. But what about the effort that I put in for taking the first step towards achieving my music career?

Takara stared at her mother's serene sleeping face. She quickly looked away.

But, my mother matters the most. She had taken care and brought me up to become who I am now. I owe her a whole lot. I'm in her debt. Now, would be the time to repay her in a single duration of five months. A sacrifice. All for the sake of a mother's love.

" Takara? "

Almost immediately, Takara turned to her mother. She had not realized that her mother had awoke after being too caught up in her own thoughts.

" Takara, can we go back to Japan and live there together just like the last time? " Yumi's voice was soft like a toddler just learning how to speak for the first time.

There was a sharp intake of breath and wordlessly, her daughter could only nod her head. Yumi knew that Takara was undergoing through a lot of stress but she wanted her daughter. She wanted to see Takara there, always beside her before the five months were up. Yumi knew that she was going to die. She had overheard the conversation earlier between Takara and the doctor. She knew that she was being selfish but she could not help it.

" Takara, I know what's going to happen to me. I know because I overheard you talking to that doctor. It's okay, honey, I know. "

Yumi tried to sit up and Takara instantly leapt up to help her.

" Mummy, why must you also leave me, huh? " She demanded, bursting into tears.

" Don't you see, Takara? Mummy's not leaving you; mummy is just going back to God. From up there, mummy and daddy will watch you grow up into a beautiful young lady and guide you through your life. "

Yumi stroked her daughter's soft raven tresses as they both shared a mother-daughter hug. Her daughter grew quiet although there were sniffles.

" I'll always be there for you, Takara, forever… "