Just Maybe...

A Story by Amy

She cannot forgive herself...

Dad and I exchanged words in his office again. That was an argument that caused me a great deal and if I had a second chance, I would never repeat it. You know, it is quite funny how I just decided to visit him on that day in his office. I was going to apologise for wrongly accusing him of cheating on mother with Aunt Sophia, her best friend.

Everyone at his workplace had strange looks on their faces when I got there. Not bothering to knock on his door, i just budged in without a backward glance at his secretary who looked like she might faint when she saw me. I almost passed out at what my eyes be- held in the office. Dad was at it again! He and Aunt Sophia in the most compromising situation ever!

Without thinking, I started yelling and scattering things in the office. This infuriated father so much that, instead of feeling sorry and apologising, he rather yanked me up and gave me a dirty slap across my face.

“Mum must surely hear this!” I yelled on top of my voice. We had attracted quite a large number of company gossips by now.

“You would do not such thing.” He retorted.

“Oh yeah...” I smirked.”You just watch me.”

I turned to look at the home wrecker sitting shame facedly in a chair. “You disgust me...” I whispered to her.

I ran out before he could grab me. With feelings of anger, despair, pain and all the possible things I could feel, I ran all the way home, not even stopping for a moment to catch my breath. I just had to find mother. I had to tell her that her worst fears had come true; her speculations were for real. I met mother in the doorway looking all confused.

“Oh mother!” I cried when she opened up her arms to embrace me. She soothed down my hair as she listened to every word I blabbered. I Just went on talking without stopping a moment or two to look at her; not caring how she felt. I was so busy speaking that I did not even notice when she grabbed her chest; not even when she tried to catch her breath; not even when she fell to the ground! All I knew was, someone had to know what father was up to and there could be no other person but mother!

Mother passed away before we arrived at the hospital and I have not been able to forgive myself for what happened. I have chosen not to blame father but my foolish and selfish self who chose not to think about anyone else but myself. Maybe, just maybe, if I had kept my mouth shut, mother would not have died...