Chapter 99—I Can't Deal!

"Why would Irene not tell me that our mom was hospitalized?" Lena rasped, tears were rolling down her cheeks as she spoke. Henderson was driving the car, they were headed to the hospital Lena's mom was rushed to. Henderson skillfully parked the car before turning off the ignition. He unbuckled his seat belt and then turned to Lena, he reached for her hand and then took them in his. "Irene said she couldn't tell because she knew you would be very worried and she is right. Calm down babe, your mom will be fine." Henderson assured cupping her face. "I hope so. And I know you would take Irene's side and give excuses for her giving reasons why she did what she did. Did she tell you what happened to my mom? Why she was rushed to the hospital?" Lena asked. A sigh left Henderson's lips and he nodded after pausing for a while. "Yes, Irene said she attempted suicide. Irene had gone over to the house and found her unconscious." Colour drained out of Lena's face and her eyes bulged out as she heard Henderson's words. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and a pang of sorrow struck her heart, she wondered why her mom did something like that just when she thought that things were finally falling in pleasant places. She was reading for a new beginning of a great relationship between her and her mother and then this happened. Fear grazed her heart she didn't want to lose her mother, she was the only parent she had left. She was yet to get over the pain of losing her dad, she couldn't afford to lose her mom too. When Lena and Henderson arrived at the hospital, they met the others there but they couldn't see Lena's mom that minute because the doctors were still attending to her trying to resuscitate her. "Mom," Lena's eyes brightened, and her lips widened in a smile as she sauntered into the hospital room her mom was in with Irene and Henderson trailing behind her. Her joy knew no bounds as she saw her mother lying on the bed, her head resting on a pillow. Her mom had finally regained consciousness after several hours and the doctor said they could now see her. "Lena, I'm sorry." Her mom apologised sobbing as Lena's hands encircled her in a warm hug. Lena broke into tears as she pulled away from the hug. Lena sat on the bed beside her mom and Irene hugged their mom next before sitting on the couch which was beside the bed. "How do you feel ma'am? I'm glad you are awake now," Henderson smiled. "Thank you, son. Honestly, I feel horrible." Mrs Cohen winced as she tried to sit up by herself. Henderson scooted to her side and helped her sit up before positioning the pillow behind her back comfortably. "Why did you do it, Mom? Why did you try to take your life?" Irene questioned bringing an end to the disturbing silence that had crept into the room. Lena nodded, her lips set in a hard line and she sniffled. "Yes, mom. Why did you do it? Is there a problem? Or did something happen?" Lena mumbled gazing at her mother whose head was downcast, guilt washed through her that she couldn't even summon the guts to look her daughters in the eyes. "Uhmmm, I'll leave you all to talk. Babe, I'll be outside." Henderson informed, he planted a kiss on Lena's cheeks and was about to walk away when Mrs Cohen's words made him stop in his tracks. "You can stay, you are family. You don't have to leave." Madam Cohen stated. Henderson turned to face them. "I just thought that it would be best if..." "You are going nowhere brother in law just have a sit," Irene interjected with a small smile on her face. "Yes babe, just sit." Lena smiled. Henderson nodded and took a sit on the empty space beside Irene. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't bring myself to face you two after all I've done. Going back home yesterday, I reminisced every single horrible and cruel thing I did and I can't even call myself your mother after it. I was worse than just a bad mother, I'm unfit to be called your mom. I've hurt you both so much that I feel just apologising can never make the hurt go away. I thought it would be best if I die maybe then...." Lena sprang up to her feet, she was boiling with rage. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled to calm herself down but it only yielded a little effort, her breath was faster than usual as a result of the fury in her. "I can't believe you just said all those words, Mom. How could you even think that killing yourself was going to change anything? Yes, I know an apology cannot change or rewrite anything that has happened in the past but you thought your death would? It would not, I remember calling you selfish and I regretted but right now I don't Mom. Once again you did the same thing you promised not to do again. If you had died Mom I would never have..." "Babe, please calm down..." Henderson rose up to his feet and came to stand in front of Lena. He put his arms around her. "Henderson let her speak, don't try to stop her. You just got married and I ruined your honeymoon so I deserve it." Mrs Cohen mumbled sadly, the corner of her eyes crinkled with tears. Lena let out a laugh, "I'm glad you want to hear what I have to say. It's a good thing that you didn't die because I have the chance to tell you what's on my mind. You wanted to die and neglect us once again like before right, make us orphans. You know what I can't deal with this anymore, I'm done, Mom." After one more fleeting glance from Lena to her mom, she stormed out of the room.