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“Mum!”
“Mum!”
A voice continuously echoed in the distance. Sarah was suddenly brought back to reality by her 15 year old daughter looking at her with worry in her eyes.
Sarah put out a crazed smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She had been acting weird, weirder than she normally acts and it puts Rosabel her daughter on edge. Rosabel sees her mother needs help. Sarah had become more socially withdrawn, always confused on what to pick when she goes to the grocery store and Rosabel also noticed that her mother had issues paying attention.
Just last week, Sarah almost burnt down the kitchen because she zoned out as usual. Smoke filled the little kitchen and extended to the sitting room. What troubled Rosabel was the fact that her mother was comfortable in the smoke, only staring so intently on the kitchen counter.
“ Mum, are you fine?”
“Of course I am…what makes you think I'm not?” Sarah looked at her daughter quizzically.
“Nothing. I'm off to school, we're having a road trip today.”
For a moment, Sarah looked lost like she did not understand what Rosabel was saying.
“ The road trip? Supposed to happen Friday? You signed the consent form last week Tuesday?”
Rosabel continued, trying to juggle her mum's memory.
“Ohh! The road trip. Of course I did not forget. Have a nice time my angel!”
“Yea mum, bye”
Rosabel answered and went off to school. She was not sure if leaving her mum at home alone was the safest but since she said she was fine, she wants to trust that she'll be fine indeed.
Sarah remained the spot she was in before Rosabel left when suddenly her phone rang. She picked up the call and in that instance, her once emotionless face turned to one of panic and almost immediately, she picked up her phone and called her sister who lived on the Island which was only two hours away.
“Hey Sarah, What's up?”
Sarah's sister, Josephine spoke through the phone.
Immediately Sarah broke down on the phone crying and speaking incoherent words to her sister.
“Hey, hey, slow down. What's wrong? Where are you?”
“I'm at home. I've been trying to reach Rosabel and her line has not been going through. A strange man just called saying he's holding her hostage and if we don't get the ransom he's requesting for he might end her life”
Sarah explained to her sister, letting out heavy sobs.
“I'm on my way, calm down I'll get there soon”
Josephine ended the call and rushed down to her sister's place. She could understand the pain her sister would be feeling. She loved Rosabel so much and would not want anything to happen to her. It'll break her, the whole family in fact and their fragile mother in the hospital would not be so excited to hear that her first granddaughter is being held against her will.
It was strange to Josephine why her sister has been closed off lately. She completely withdrew herself and refused to attend any family function even when Josephine made several attempts to convince her sister.
On getting to her sister's place, Josephine saw her sister staring emotionless at the wall and she rushed to her and questioned her if she was fine and Sarah immediately burst into tears again going on and on about how the man had called.
“ He called using Rosabel’s phone. I have tried reaching him but the line is no longer going through. He said he'll contact me when he needs to”
She explained to her sister crying
“ I don't want anything to happen to my princess. She's all I've got since her father left. I can't stand that heartbreak”
She wailed and her sister held onto her comforting her.
“Just calm down, we'll find a way around all these. We'll settle the ransom and get her out okay?”
Josephine tried to reassure her but she was not having it. She kept on crying. After several reassurances, Josephine left her sister to rush down to the police station to report the case. She tried calling Rosabel's phone just in case the strange man picks and gives any other information that's not so sketchy.
Shockingly, after two rings Rosabel picks the call.
“ Hi aunty”
She replied cheerfully. Not how someone would sound if they are being held hostage. Josephine was so confused.
She explained the entire situation to Rosabel and Rosabel started crying.
“I knew something was wrong with mum. I had called her to let her know that I got to school safely. That only. I knew I should have not left her alone”
The pieces suddenly fell into place and Josephine understood that her sister was not okay. She rushed back to her sister's house and helped her to the car. Sarah was still crying and she drove her to the hospital.
She was admitted and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Finally the strange attitude and delusions have been explained. It was so sad for Rosabel to watch her mother go but she knew it was for the best. Her mum needs help and she won't get that at home with her. She had to move in with her aunt.
Her dad was not in the picture and it's sad this had to happen to her mum but she's happy that her mother is at least getting the help she needs.
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STOPThis story was very touching. When Sarah almost burnt the kitchen because she zoned out, I knew something was wrong. I felt Rosabel’s worry, and the fake hostage call made the truth about her schizophrenia even more sad.
Thank you!