Bab 18: Chapter 18
Francheska brought her mother to this facility because she can trust the nurses and doctors here. It is because Leon is the owner of this mental facility. Leon is also the one who personally chooses the staff working in this facility so they can make sure the safety and security of their patients are in good hands. With this, Francheska will also be at ease to entrust her mother in their care while she was working as an actress in aboard.
Her nanny Miranda urged her to come inside the building. A middle-aged nurse welcomed Francheska and Miranda with a smile on her face and brought them to a spacious room inside. The nurse knew them personally because she is the one who is assigned to take good care of Francheska's mother. The nurse left the two women for a while to fetch Francheska's mother from her ward.
After a few minutes of waiting, the nurse came back with a petite woman slowly walking on her side. Francheska quickly stands up as she helped the nurse in assisting her mother. Francheska's mother, Sarah, was not showing them any kind of reaction. She was only walking slowly as she followed the nurse and her daughter like a robotic doll.
The nurse helped Sarah to sit on a sofa. After making sure that everything is okay, the nurse informed Francheska and Miranda that she will step out for a while to give the two women some personal time to spend with Sarah. Francheska carefully sat beside her mother so she will not scare or surprise her. As usual, Sarah is not making any movements or expressions even though her daughter is already here.
"Mom, I am back. How are you?" Francheska said in a soothing voice. "You have no idea how much I miss you."
Sarah did not answer her, but it does not bother Francheska. Maybe after a few years of seeing her mother like this, Francheska eventually got used to it. Instead, she grabbed her mother's hand and put it on her cheek.
"Mom, you know what? I am now a famous international star. I can now sing and act in front of the crowd without being shy and awkward anymore." Francheska informed her mother. "Mom, did you secretly consulted a fortune teller before? Because you really guessed that I will become a famous celebrity."
There is still no response from her mother. Sarah is only looking on the plain wall without blinking her eyes.
"Do you remember, mom? When I was in kindergarten, our section chose to do a stage play for Valentine's day. I got the role of a flower at that time. During our play, I accidentally tripped on the center stage so the attention of those people who watched the play is on me. I was about to cry that time when all of a sudden, you stand up from your seat and clapped your hands in the air. I also remembered that you yelled so loud saying I am the prettiest flower on the stage."
Francheska caressed her mother's hair with her free hand before she continued.
"You ignored the ridiculing looks from the other parents who were present at that time. All that matters to you was for me not to cry and continue our stage play with a smile on my face. Fortunately, my mother's cheers are so powerful that I finished our play without crying. After that, you brought me to a restaurant where you ordered a huge bowl of ice cream for me as a reward."
Miranda blinked her eyes rapidly to stop the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She can never understand why does her mistress Sarah needed to be like this. Miranda can still remember those days when her kind mistress was still smiling and full of life. But after two years, Sarah suddenly became violent and hostile that they were left no other choice but to brought her to a mental health facility.
All of a sudden, Sarah tilted her head as she slowly blinked her eyes.
"Cheska..." Sarah murmured.
"Mom, I am here."
"Cheska is a really good child. She is a well-behaved girl. Cheska is my baby girl."
Even though she keeps on calling Francheska's name, Sarah never turned her head to look at her daughter who was sitting beside her.
"I remember that Cheska really loves to sing and act. Someday, I know that my Cheska will become a great star."
Miranda cannot stop her tears anymore. Ever since she was diagnosed with mild schizophrenia, Sarah cannot recognize her or even Francheska anymore. But still, not a single day will pass without her talking about her precious daughter. According to the doctors, Sarah can only remember the image of Francheska when she was still a child.
"You know, I really love my daughter. I will give my everything just to make her happy." Sarah mutters in a low voice with her eyes still staring on the wall.
"I know, mom. I know. I love you so much, mom." Francheska said in a broken voice.
She used her free hand to cover her eyes so Sarah or Miranda cannot see her eyes swimming in her own tears. She did her best to toughened her heart, but she will always be a soft child in front of her mother. Francheska does not want these two special people to see her crying again. If possible, she only wants them to see her smiling face from now on.
-- Hadiah diterima