Hello, Mother

Kate POV

Neither Ana nor I have any idea what kind of information was in the paperwork that Joe was showing Rhi but whatever it was must have been pretty interesting considering the reaction she had. When she looked at us, her face gave nothing away except for a brief moment of confusion. Then, like flick of a switch, the huge smile on her face and the wicked gleam in her eyes that hinted that something big was about to happen. You could almost smell the burning rubber from her Adidas hitting the tiles of the floor as she sped out of the hospital. It reminded me of tires spinning out on the asphalt in a drag race.

Looking at Ana, I raised my eyebrows but said nothing. I didn't need to. I could tell she was thinking the exact same thing I was when we made eye contact and she nodded. We nearly knocked each other over in a rush to turn and follow Rhi. Laughing, we run out the door and skid to a stop at the scene unfolding in front of us.

We stand there watching as Rhi is being held back from attacking her mother. It's actually amusing because she's so little and there are four grown men holding her back. Not to mention the three that are blocking her mother physically. It doesn't escape me that her mother is looking down her nose at Rhi. She's done that her entire life. From my perspective, I could tell Veronica was beyond mad and I had a pretty good idea why. She absolutely hated the fact that Rhi would stand up to her. The tension was palpable, electricity snapping through the air like it was alive.

Oh boy. If this wasn't such a serious situation, and if it wasn't real life, I'd be reaching for a tub of buttered popcorn and kick back and watch the fireworks. Unfortunately, this IS real life, it IS extremely serious AND it involves one of my best friends and her dad. The dad that is like our own to me and Ana. The dad that means the world to her, so much that she won't allow anyone to harm him in any way. At least she tries her hardest to prevent that. Some things are out of her control though, like cancer. She was devastated when he was diagnosed. Things were already rough for her before that was revealed and I'm pretty sure that was the catalyst that started her downward spiral. Everything else was just fodder to keep the momentum going.

Throughout her life she was tormented by her mother if you can even call her that. She's an absolutely sad excuse of a human being and just plain evil and selfish. Ana and I tried our best to protect her and encouraged her to continue to do whatever it took to make her life better. Unfortunately, it was difficult for her to accept that encouragement all the time. I think the verbal and emotional abuse did more damage than the physical. Unfortunately, not all injuries can be fixed with a band-aid.

Here's the thing, you can only take so much before you just don't care anymore and shut down. When Veronica decided she would do whatever she could to control and hurt Rhi, she was focused on causing an immense amount of pain. What she failed to realize was that Rhi stopped caring after a certain point. Her mind went into protect mode a long time ago. She was no longer able to feel pain.

Ok, let me clarify that.

Rhi once told me that it's sort of like mind over matter. In her mind physical pain did not exist. It was merely the brain needing something to divert the focus from the origination point, thus manifesting something palpable. She tried to prove her theory to me and Ana by asking one of us to do something that would cause anyone pain, smashing her finger with a hammer for example, to which we refused.

"Absolutely not." I refused without hesitation when she even mentioned it. "That's the dumbest thing you've ever asked us to do." Shaking my head and crossing my arms across my chest.

Not one to give up so easily, she looked at me determined to convince me to change my mind.

"Kate, it's the only way I can prove my point. Everyone knows what it feels like to smash their finger in something. We can all relate and remember that feeling. It's not something easily forgotten, when that initial impact happens, the delay in realization right before the pain sucks your breath away. All I'm saying is I need you to smash my finger to trigger the reaction. The reaction being nothing. Sure it hurts but there's no reason to react to it. It's pointless and a waste of energy." She sounded like she was explaining a science experiment.

There was silence as we looked at each other, blinking. After a few moments we both crack and start laughing.

"You are the most twisted person I know. Only you would try to convince someone to physically hurt you so you could prove a point." Shaking my head laughing.

Ana just stood there watching the two of us like she was watching a tennis match between two lunatics. Finally she shook her head and walked away.

As we're laughing, we hear her voice start to fade as she gets farther away from us. "If I hear any screams of pain that doesn't exist I'm not responding to either one of you."

This caused Rhi and I to laugh harder.

So, because of all the horrible things her mother did to Rhi, she was able to minimize the physical pain rather than let it consume her. I guess it could be considered a good and a bad thing. Good because feeling pain is minimized. Bad because pain can be minimized to the point that it would seem there are no feelings. She still feels the emotional pain when someone hurts her or someone she loves, that doesn't go away. She just hides it really well, locking it up inside and brushes it off like it doesn't exist.

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. If that's true, looking into Rhi's eyes there's a sparkle that shines brightly, full of vibrance and life. However, if you look close enough you can see a spot that's dimmer than anywhere else. It's almost like a physical defect but in actuality it's the point of entry into the place where her pain is held captive. It used to be a pinprick, at the beginning of all this, but it's slowly growing and I fear the day when it begins to overshadow the light.

"Hello, Mother." She hisses, as she shrugs off the four men restraining her.

If I've said it before, I'll say it again, the look on Rhi's face truly makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I'm not sure if it's the glint in her eyes or the evil smirk on her face but it really doesn't matter. The way she was standing, with her head tilted to the side, magnified the eerie feeling and her expression as a whole sets me on edge but when I hear the words directed at her mother in an eerie voice it solidifies that feeling ten-fold. When she greets Veronica, one would think that she was welcoming her into her presence. However, the way she speaks those words, combined with the look in her eyes and that creepy smile, I'm absolutely positive they are anything but welcoming.

"Watch how you speak to me. I'm your mother and you better show some respect." Veronica tries to demand submission from Rhi.

Fat chance. There isn't a submissive bone in Rhi's body, especially when it comes to you, you fucking twat. I think to myself. I can't help but let out an audible chuckle, a bit louder than I intended.

The glare Veronica gives me when her eyes slither my way makes me laugh again but this time I hold it in with a snort.

"Watch it missy." She growls, trying to intimidate me.

I shrug my shoulders innocently as if to say, "Oops."

Ana nudges me with her elbow, rolling her eyes and whispering to me, "Fuck Kate, you're not helping."

All I can do is smile innocently. Then, turning my gaze to Rhi I watch, anticipating the barrage of words to fly between the two of them.

Rhi's voice carries across the entire courtyard of the entrance to the hospital, "You're not welcome here." You can hear the malice in her voice and it's mirrored in her eyes. "You need to leave."

Her mother laughs, "I'm pretty sure this is a free country and this is a public building. That in itself allows me access."

"What are you even here for? Dad's already here getting treatment. Treatment YOU were supposed to bring him to. Luckily, we have people who give a fuck about him and his life. They knew you wouldn't show up so they handled things instead. You're nothing to us and you're not welcome here. You need to leave." She repeats her sentiment.

After a moment Veronica responds, shifting the papers she's holding in her hands. "I don't believe I need to explain myself to you. Now move out of my way little girl before you get hurt." As she takes a step toward the door, I see Rhi tense up.

I whisper to Ana, "It's a good thing there's people here to intervene. Look at the way she's clenching her fists. I'm surprised she hasn't lunged at her yet."

Ana glances down and just nods her head.

Rhi steps forward and four arms reach out to stop her from moving. Veronica sees this as an opportune time to take a jab at Rhi's resolve.

"What are you going to do? Attack me? Go ahead. I'll file charges on you so fast you won't know what hit you and you'll spend years behind bars. I'm sure you'll make an amazing prison bitch." Veronica sneers, the words spewing out like venom from a snake.

My mouth drops open, as does Ana's. I can't believe she said that!

Rhi doesn't even flinch. She's almost too calm and there's a smug look on her face. "Your brother is already someone's prison bitch for what he's done. I hear he thinks about you when he's getting fucked in the ass. Explains a lot, doesn't it? I mean, you two are super close to each other." The tone of Rhi's voice has changed, it has an air of humor in it.

I turn to look at Ana questioningly, "Did I miss something?" I whisper. She just shrugs shaking her head.

It's so quiet you can hear a pin drop. Even the birds have stopped chirping.

Veronica's face starts to turn red and her body stiffens but she says nothing.

Well THAT's a first. Veronica speechless. I need to buy a lottery ticket. I can't help my thoughts and hold back another laugh, resulting in another jab from Ana's very pointy elbow.

"Go on, get out of here. Stay away from dad and me. I'm pretty sure you're not allowed here anyway. But if there's something you want to discuss?" Rhi asks but it sounds more like bait.

Again, Veronica is silent for a moment.

It's at this time when Joe walks out of the hospital and stops next to Rhi, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Rhi, let me handle this. Please." He says quietly to her. "I can't silence you but Oscar would like me to handle this first."

Rhi turns her eyes to Joe and nods.

That was too easy. She never concedes that quickly.