Audrey just got back from the hospital after the whole mushroom situation at the hospital and just sat on her couch when her phone rings. She recognizes the caller ID as she smiles when she answers.
"Hi! You're up late?"; answers Audrey.
No reply just sniffles, like someone is crying, Audrey sits up right and wears a concern look on her face.
"Baby what's wrong?"; Audrey continue to try and get a reply.
"Mommy."; in a soft broken voice reply the caller.
"I'm on my way. Don't hang up okay?"; says Audrey rushing out of the door.
An hour and half later she arrives at what looks like a hostel school, and parks in front of the entrance and running inside. A few minutes later she walks out pushing a suit case followed by a young girl carrying a backpack. The drive back was a quiet one and by the time they arrive, the girl was asleep in the passenger sit. Audrey took the suit case inside and came back to carry the girl in, placing her on the couch.
"I'm sorry."; whisper the girl.
"For what. I'll cross oceans to get to you whenever you need me to."; responds Audrey as she sits back on the couch hugging her daughter.
"Audrey?"; says the girl.
"huh"; answers Audrey.
"You stink."; says the girl.
Audrey pulls back and face the girl; "Thanks."
The next day they are having breakfast, Audrey is trying to find a way to ask about what happened.
"Where's Mateo?'; asks the girl.
"Uhm sorry. We broke up. I broke up with him."; answers Audrey as she almost choke on her toast.
"You didn't say anything, how come?"; says the girl biting into her toast.
"Last I checked you didn't like him."; says Audrey giving her daughter a side eye.
"Do you blame me, you guys moved way too fast."; says the girl rolling her eyes.
"You never liked anyone I dated besides your dad."; says Audrey while looking down on her plate.
"Cause I was afraid you guys would break up. And I was right."; she says giving her mother a stink eye.
"Finish your food. Your headmaster called and wants to see me Thursday. Do you wanna tell me what happened?"; says Audrey looking at her daughter.
The girl gets up to leave grabbing her plate, without saying a word and her expression has changed. Audrey doesn't push her but follows her too and they both leave. They arrived at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.
"You got demoted, kicked out of your new office. Then got fired. Got rehired into your old old position, moved into your old old office. And then got promoted again to your old new position but remain in the old old office. "; ask the girl with a confused face.
"Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Let it go."; says Audrey with annoyance in her tone.
"Hey. You won't let me leave this office which is torture as it's glass. I'm like a chimpanzee at an Amusement park. Plus you took my phone. I'm bored! Audrey."; cries Myrah as she slumps onto Audrey's desk pushing the stuff on the table.
"Here go buy something in the cafeteria."; says Audrey handing her daughter money.
The girl rolls her eyes and bolts. She screens the cafeteria but doesn't seem to find what she is looking for so she walks to a chair near the window and sits there, staring at the money note in her hand like she is checking for authenticity. Then she gets an idea and ran out of the hospital, a few minutes later she is standing in a queue of a book store. She sees a woman on the opposite line for Pre-loved books and while scanning the books the woman is holding, one of the books grabs her attention. Myrah walks over to the woman.
"Did you enjoy this book or find it helpful?"; says the girl pointing on the book as the woman places it on the counter for the store clerk to scan it and check it's condition.
"I think so. I got it for myself to help guide me with my teens."; answers the woman.
"I see."; says the girl.
"I don't think you'll need this book for a while."; says the woman with a smirk.
"Are your teens, cranky, moody, risking their lives, dumping or ignoring their responsibilities and sexually active?"; asks Myrah.
"uh yeah?"; answers the woman with shock on her face.
"I have one of those. I'll take it."; says Myrah placing the money she was holding in her hand.
She walks into the hospital buried in the book and unknowingly bumps into someone.
"You need to be careful."; says Dr. Marcus.
"Sorry"; answers Myrah.
"Myrah? Hi. I didn't know you were back. Are schools closed?"; says Dr. Marcus.
"No. I'm home early."; answers the girl.
"Okay. What are you reading there that seems to have all your attention?"; asks Dr. Marcus.
"I'm conflicted. From the information I got, social norms says I am supposed to dislike you."; says Myrah covering her book cover and walking away.
"We talked things out. Your mom and I are fine!"; scream Dr. Marcus to the girl turning around the corner.
Myrah is seen sitting by the cafeteria, with her apple slices reading her book. Dr. Glassman walks up to her and sit opposite. Myrah didn't notice.
"The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (And your children will be glad that you did)? You into Psychology now?"; read Dr. Glassman at the cover.
"Research purposes."; answers the girl closing the book.
They talk for a while and Myrah spend the whole day walking around the hospital and reading her book. Around 9pm, Audrey had just finished a surgery and went to her office. She finds her daughter sleeping on the couch and the book laying on the floor. She is surprised by it and covers her with a blanket kissing her fore head. The next morning she walks towards the couch and nudge Myrah awake.
"Let's go home. You stink."; chuckles Audrey.
"Very funny. Huh huh."; answers the girl sarcastic.
As they are driving home in the car, Audrey bring up the book.
"That's an odd choice of book. Also where did you get it? Cafeteria doesn't sell books."; says Audrey.
"The bookshop near the hospital."; answers Myrah without eye contact.
"You Left The Hospital? ALONE!"; says Audrey angry.
"Kids tend to be independent when their parents dumps at a hostel school far from home."; answers Myrah.
"Excuse?"; says Audrey.
"Since dad died I don't know you anymore, you keep pushing me away and you are acting like a teenager. Or is it menopause?"; yells Myrah.
"Don't!"; says Audrey as she pulls over and park the car.
"Don't what. Are you going to send me to another school, let me guess. This time outside the State. Sell this house like you did to dad's house. Or get into another motorcycle accident, I saw your bike. Or find another guy to sleep with-"; yells Myrah.
"Enough! That's uncalled for. You don't talk to me like that. I am still your mother."; answers Audrey as she lowers her voice turning to her daughter.
"You are not my mother. You just got stuck with me. Last one to call herself 'my mother' dumped me with dad and disappeared. Then dad died, leaving me too. And then you dumped me too at that school and just left. Like all them."; responds Myrah in anger.
"Sweetheart, I didn't leave you nor did your dad. I thought you wanted to go there since you and dad always talked about the school, I assumed it's what he would have wanted for you."; says Audrey with a broken voice.
"You didn't ask me what I wanted?"; says the girl with tears.
"I am so sorry. I thought I was protecting you."; answers Audrey.
Audrey pulls her in for a hug and they just both break into tears, after a while still hugging Myrah breaks the silence.
"I miss him so much."; says Myrah.
"I miss him too. Every day."; responds Audrey.
They pull back from the hug and she starts the car. Audrey is heartbroken by Myrah saying she is not her mother but tries to hide it and curious about whether what happened at school is related to all of this.