"How have you been Aunty?"
"I'm doing good Kate. Tell me what you'll drink or eat?"
"Nothing Aunty, I'm good. You don't to be worried about it, I'm very much comfortable like this" said Kate. Susie's mom nodded. Kate said that she was comfortable, but inside, her head was in a turmoil. She was thinking of ways to get into Susie's room. She didn't want Susie's mom to re-open her wounds because of her.
"How come you visited today?"
"I just came to visit you Aunty. It's been a long time. I missed talking to you."
"I miss Susie" Kate mumbled, suddenly becoming sad.
"I do too" said Susie's mom.
Kate immediately became silent. She didn't know what to say. She was feeling guilty. She thought she didn't trust Susie and that was the reason why she was not with them today. Probably Susie's mom understood this.
"Kate"
"Yes, Aunty?"
"Don't blame yourself."
"S-sorry Aunty?"
"I know what happened that night. She was my daughter. Do you seriously think that I didn't know what happened that night? She shouted at you didn't she?" Kate immediately diverted her gaze and started looking at the ground instead. Then she nodded a bit.
"It's not your fault Kate. Don't blame it on yourself. She knew where she was going. She did this for you more than herself. She loved you Kate."
"W-wh-what?"
Kate was shocked. What was Susie's mom speaking? Susie loved her? What was going on?
"Yes Kate. My daughter was in love with you....since a very long time. She just kept it to herself, not to make you uncomfortable. But I'm a mother, even if she didn't tell me, I could understand it. So don't blame yourself. If she was here, she wouldn't have liked it. She wanted you to be happy and safe. Same goes for me. That's why I'm trying to change, for Susie. She wouldn't want any of us to stay sad or depressed. Though sometimes it's still very hard to control, but I'm getting much better at it now. I have come to the realization that she won't come back now." She then immediately turned silent.
Kate's head was still down. She never realized Susie loved her. Was she even eligible to be called as her best friend? She didn't even know about her. But Susie's mother' words immediately helped her, it worked as a medicine for all the wounds that were there in her heart. The feeling of guiltiness was still there, but it was not as much as before. Finally Kate mustered all her courage and spoke -
"Aunty, would be possible for me to go to Susie's room?"
She stared at her for a while, she slightly nodded.
"Go ahead"
"I'm going out, take care of the house for a while."
"Yes Aunty!"
She understood her need of fresh air. She was suffocating inside as well. But what needs to be done, had to be done.