A Night Stand

Mia's POV

“How is he, Carrie?” I asked her when she stepped out of his hospital room, but she didn’t get a chance to respond to my question because mom was right behind her and mom pulled her back so she doesn’t answer me.

“What do you care?” mom snorted, eying me angrily.

“Mom…” I started but she put up her palm to stop me before I continued.

“You had only one task, Mia. Just one task, but you failed to carry it out. You failed your family and you put your dad in the hospital. I will not forgive you if anything happens to your father or to anyone of us.” She scolded in anger before walking away, leaving Carrie and I standing in front of dads hospital room, looking so confused and frustrated at the same time.

“How is he?” I managed to speak out after some seconds.

“His condition has been stabilized, for now, Mia. But the doctor warns that we should not do anything to upset him anymore or we could lose him the next time he has another heart attack.” Carrie explained calmly. You could tell from her tone that she doesn’t want to lose him. I feel exactly the same way, I can’t bear to think of a life without my father, but how on earth am I supposed to forgive Riley, how do accept him back into my life?

He would never treat me right, he would always cheat on me because he knows that I would always come back to him, he knows that I would never leave because my family cannot survive without their help. What the hell am I going to do, how do I get out of this pickle? The door was opened from within and the doctor peeked out of the room, looking at my mom's disappearing figure before turning to Carrie and I…

“Ummm,

Which of you is Mia?” he asked brusquely, looking at the both of us for answers. I indicated to him that I am Mia, smiling nervously as I looked at him.

“You can come in now, Mia. Your father is asking for you.” He told me.

“Oh, one more thing Miss,” he called out to me as I took a step towards the door. I stopped and turned to him once more, flashing him that same nervous smile that I keep giving to everyone since we arrived at this hospital.

“Don’t say anything to get him upset, hanging on a thin thread here.” He added, offering me his best platonic smile. I have no idea why he would say that to me. I’ve been standing out here just to avoid a situation like this, I don’t want to upset dad anymore, so I stood outside his hospital room like a fucking stranger while my mom and my sister went in with dad. And now I’m staring at the doctor and he is making it sound like I am the reason behind my father's current situation. I know that he doesn’t know about the issues we are facing as a family, but I can’t help but feel a little awkward when he told me not to do or say anything to upset my father. He sounded as if he knows everything already, and it made me feel so embarrassed because I know that there is no way he would know about all these things, except my mom had been running her mouth… again.

I took slow steps as I walked toward my father’s bed. He is lying on one of those electrical gynaeco hospital beds that has a Bed frame and foot made of steel tube, Pre-treated and epoxy powder coated. The mattress is made of high-density polyurethane foam and covered with washable faux leather that is also waterproof. And then there are the six functions adjusted by electric and manual. The bed has been adjusted to a sitting position and dad is sitting with his back resting on the backrest. He has a warm smile on his face as I approached him, and I feel so guilty for being the reason why he is lying on that hospital bed. He should be at home with his family, but here he is, lying on a stupid hospital bed, looking so weak.

“Come here, Mia-Mia,” he beckoned to me with his hand. He still has that warm smile on his face and I wish I can reciprocate his warm gestures, but I just don’t know where to begin.

“It is not your fault, Mia. It’s just my stupid heart disease.” He joked, eliciting a smile from me.

“I’m sorry, dad. I never meant to hurt you, I never wished for any of this to happen, I always wanted a happily ever after, and Riley won’t give it to me because he is a cheating bastard and he makes me so damn upset.” I said it in such a hurry, I did not realize that I was screaming at my father again until I heard the sound of the beeping monitors that indicated that his blood pressure was rising again. He was glaring at me in shock and I felt ashamed of myself because I never meant to say all this to him while he is lying on the hospital bed. My hand flew to my mouth in shock and I tried to stop myself from saying something that might aggravate his condition.

“Family is all about making sacrifices, Mia-Mia. Do this for your family, do this for me, my daughter.” He let out calmly. He stretched out his hand and took my palm in his, pulling me closer. He had this sad look in his eyes that made it practically impossible for me to reject Riley. He kept looking at me, his sad eyes pleading for me to accept his request. If I keep fighting this, his heart may give out once more and it would be my fault if he dies in this hospital bed. I looked deeply into his eyes, weighing my options, trying to find another way to help my family. But there was no other way, I have to accept to marry that cheating bastard. That is the only way.

“Fine. I’ll marry him.” I responded firmly and I turned around and walked towards the exit, stepping out of his room to give him time to rest. The longer I stay in here, the more furious I become. I can’t believe that they are trading my happiness for business, it’s so preposterous.

“You are doing the right thing, Mia-Mia. You will never regret your actions.” He called out to me as I left. I scoffed at his words because I know that he is just trying to make me feel better. I also wondered how his voice got louder all of a sudden, but I didn’t think too much about it, I just left him to see to the details and arrange a reconciliation meeting with the Osbornes. Besides, I know that if I stay there one more minute, I would say something to provoke him, and mom would lash out at me once more.

Mom and Carrie stumbled into the room when I opened the door. Obviously, they were eavesdropping on my conversation with dad. Good thing they regained their stamina before falling to the floor because I would have stood there and watched them fall without lending a hand. I ignored them and walked away, I need some time alone, I need to drown myself in alcohol and forget about my miserable life.

“I’m so proud of you, Mia-Mia. You have no idea what this means to all of us. I’ll go in now and discuss it with your father, we would fix a lunch date with the Osbornes tomorrow. You are such an amazing child,” mom keeps praising me, but I don’t give a damn about her praises. I kept walking away, ignoring her. I could hear her voice in the distance as she urged my sister to come after me and make sure I’m okay. I heard the clinking of her heels on the tiles as she ran after me, calling out to me. I ignore her and kept on walking, I knew she would catch up with me in a while, so there was no need to wait around for her.

“Come on, Mia, wait up”

“You don’t intend to walk home, do you?”

“Mia-Mia, wait up!” she kept on calling, but I ignored her. I sighted a bar up ahead, and that is exactly where I’m headed.

“Extra dry Martini, please,” I ordered the bartender as I sat on the bar stool.

“Better still, make it a bone dry Martini.” Carrie added, smiling seductively at the bartender