Nolen's mother rushed towards the door when she heard the doorbell, as Nolen was awfully late. She was baffled to see her husband at the door with her son. Later she came to her senses and invited him in only after he reassured her of his intentions. "Diana, this is gonna take some time, why don't you take a seat first ?", said Nolen's father as he clenched his hand tight, knowing how hard it was gonna be for her when she finds out that she once again she lost someone she loved to drugs. He continued, "I know I have no right to be involved but I just couldn't ignore Nolen....he is doing drugs. I know, I know, it's all my fault.." his voice trembling, his eyes darting away with guilt "I'm to blame. I couldn't afford to be a good husband nor a good father and altogether a good human being-" but before he could speak further, Diana collapsed to the floor. Nolen and his father rushed towards her and called an ambulance. On their way to the hospital, Nolen blamed himself, his body trembling at the sight of his mother's motion less body. Nolen's father gave soft pats on his back to calm his irregular breathing. After diagnosis, the doctor called Nolen's father and informed him that Diana was diagnosed with stage four cancer, he sat there silently, the doctor's voice slowly becoming inaudible, he stepped out of the room with a heavy heart, conflicting over how he was gonna tell this to Nolen, knowing how he would blame himself but as he slowly walked towards Nolen, he blurred it out with pain.It shattered Nolen's heart. He collapsed to the ground on his knees, crying his eyes out. "I took away her saving for her meds, I didn't know know, I didn't know, believe me.. I", trembled Nolen as his father tried his best to comfort him while hugging, who himself was trembling with grief and unspokable sorrow in his voice.
The following days Nolen started going to college and started living with his father as per Disna's entreat. He visited her in the hospital every evening by the end of his college. He would pick wild flowers on his way for her and sometimes her favourite Lilies. He shared bits of his everyday life, how he had to work harder to keep up with the missing classes, how way behind he was from everyone else but how he slowly picked up a knack for it, how clumsy his life with his father is or how his father completely burnt the eggs the other day. She giggled everytime she heard these stories and how relived she felt when she saw how her son's eyes slowly filled with life. " Mom, I taking rehab.. I promise you I will do better so please get better.. I'm sorry I-", Diana cut him off "shh.. I told you no negative self talking. Just looking at you live for yourself makes me happy. Now off you go, the visiting time is over. Take care of yourself for me okay love." As soon as he shut the door, she closed her eyes from exhaustion, she hardly held herself together infront of her son Nolen to appear strong. She closed her eyes with a sense of abundant peace that washed over her on how he slowly began to change and truly live to find his own happiness.