“Resa!” Mary, Theressa’s mother, squealed in delight, leaping off her bed to embrace her daughter. Theressa melted into the warm hug, her smile bittersweet as she greeted her mom.
“You’re okay?” Mary questioned, her motherly instincts detecting the underlying sadness in her daughter’s demeanor.
“No, Mama, just missed you,” Theressa replied, tears tracing their way down her cheeks. She felt deeply disappointed in herself. She had promised to provide for her mother’s every need, but here she was, still wearing the same worn-out clothes from the previous year.
Mary, understanding the turmoil in her daughter’s heart, tenderly wiped away Theressa’s tears. She held Theressa’s cheeks in her palms, offering comfort in the gentlest of ways.
“Theressa,” a doctor approached them, smiling warmly at the mother and daughter. Both turned their attention to the female doctor.
“Mrs. Taylor, how are you feeling today?” the doctor inquired with a smile, her hands tucked inside her scrubs.
“Fine, Doctor. Look, Theressa came to visit today,” Mary proudly introduced Theressa, who mustered a half-smile.
The doctor nodded in acknowledgment. “I can see that. Would you excuse me? I’d like to speak withTheressa,” she requested, and Mary granted her approval with a nod. The older woman returned to her bed and began to playfully kick her feet in the air. Theressa watched her mother’s childlike joy, and her heart swelled with a mix of emotions. At least, she thought, her mother was happy..
“I’m sorry I haven’t made any payment, Doctor Lauritta,” Theressa apologized as soon as she took her seat in front of the physician. It was a meeting she had anticipated, the result of her failure to meet the financial obligations for her mother’s healthcare services over the past three months.
Doctor Lauritta let out a heavy sigh, her head shaking in a manner that didn’t align with Theressa’s expectations. This reaction piqued Theressa’s curiosity. If her unpaid bills weren’t the reason for this summons, what else could it be? The uncertainty left her bewildered.
With growing curiosity, she observed as Doctor Lauritta bit her lip, seemingly pondering whether she should share what she had to say. Eventually, she decided to speak. “You see, right here is your mom’s brain,” Doctor Lauritta explained, turning her computer screen to face Theressa. She squinted at the screen, trying to comprehend the medical images displayed. “And there, you can see a mass in the lower part of her brain.”
Theressa’s heart sank, and a wave of fear gripped her. She wasn’t prepared to lose her mother. She had already been through so much, caring for her mother’s schizophrenia, and another medical issue felt like an unbearable burden.
“Is it a problem?” Theressa asked, her voice shaking. She desperately hoped the answer would be different.
“Yes, Theressa. Your mother has a brain tumor, and she will need surgery as soon as-” Doctor Lauritta’s words hung in the air, left unfinished, and Theressa was left grappling with the overwhelming news that had just been revealed.
The news had hit Theressa like a sledgehammer. She sat in the doctor’s office, but it felt like the world had frozen around her. Her ears buzzed with the shock, and her chest constricted as if it were trying to contain the overwhelming emotions within. She couldn’t hear the words Doctor Lauritta was saying. Her face was a blank canvas of pain and disbelief, a reflection of the turmoil inside.
Theressa couldn’t bring herself to return to her mother’s bedside just yet. Instead, she lingered in the doorway of the ward, watching as her mother smiled and spoke to someone who wasn’t there. Her heart ached as she realized that her mother found solace and happiness in her own world, even though it was one only she could see.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Theressa left the hospital. As she walked away, her mind was a maelstrom of emotions. She was exhausted from the endless tears, weary of the constant battle in her mind. She needed a respite from her reality, even if only for a few moments. She yearned for something to temporarily numb the pain, to provide an escape from the harshness of her current world.
And there it was a place that could have what she needed. With her heel shoes in her hand, she crossed over to where the club was, it was a treckable distance from the hospital so all she did was walk inside the club barefooted. It was packed and everyone seemed to be busy with something or someone. Meanwhile Theressa headed straight to the bar. “I need something strong, anything just enough to make me want more” Theressa ordered. The bartender nodded in response as he dashed off to get her order.
“No shoes?” A man took a seat close to Theressa, his attempt at striking up a conversation clearly falling flat. She rolled her eyes, feeling a mixture of irritation and exasperation. She hadn’t even been at this place for ten minutes, and already someone was already coming on to her.
“Thanks,” Theressa replied curtly, not bothering to give him more than a moment’s attention. She took a sip from the colorless liquid in front of her. It was bitter, but it had an intriguing kick to it that compelled her to continue drinking, even though it sent a harsh burn down her throat.
“You know I can make you feel real good,” the stranger continued, revealing his intentions quite plainly.
Theressa had encountered individuals like him before. Rather than engaging with him, she simply turned her face away, opting to observe the people dancing under the dim lights instead. She let out a sigh, watching couples engaging in intimate moments on the dance floor. It was a stark reminder of the world she didn’t quite fit into. With her attention diverted, she chose to focus on her drink, thankful that the stranger had found someone else to annoy for the moment.
Theressa had predicted this man, she knew where he was going with what he was saying, so instead of answering, she turned to the side and watched other people dance under the dim light. She sighed as she watched a pair take a love shot before going back to grind on each other. Then another, mouth to mouth, exchanging their drink from mouth to mouth. Gross.
Theressa turned back to her drink, relieved that the stranger was already engrossed in conversation with another woman, mundane humans. It suited her just fine, as she had no desire to unleash her pent-up anger on anyone, as she’d regretfully done before.
As time passed, Theressa began to feel less sober, yet oddly, she wasn’t getting drunk. Her body grew warm, and the world around her began to blur. An insatiable craving gnawed at her from the inside. Struggling to maintain her balance, Theressa rose from her seat and embarked on the unsteady journey to the restroom. Her steps were far from stable, but she carried herself forward until she reached her the crowded toilet. She stood before the sink, splashing water onto her face, as though hoping the cold liquid could wash away the turmoil within her. This was not the escape from reality she had in mind.
She didn’t want anyone’s hands on her. So why was her body behaving so strangely when the man who had sat with her earlier walked her out of the club, and why was she clutching to him and imploring him to do something? Theressa couldn’t stand up straight since her body was drenched in sweat. While the two were outside, her toes curled as she attempted to remove her dress. It seemed like the guy was waiting to get picked up by someone. And just then-
“Let her go” A farmiliar rough but calm voice spoke up.
Though Theressa was far from sober, she remembered that domineering voice, the one that made her knees buckle. The voice that made her body feel even hotter than it had previously. And now she wants this man’s hand all over her, feeling every part of her that cried to be pleasured.