"Mom Mom"
My voice shook as I leaned over the bed, my hands trembling as I held my mother's shoulders. Maria Bennett lay there, her eyes closed, her breathing weak and uneven. For a moment I thought she was only sleeping, but something inside me knew it was more than that.
"Mom, wake up," I whispered, shaking her gently.
She did not respond.
Panic rushed through my chest like a storm. My heart started beating so loudly that it felt like it might burst out of my chest.
"Daniel"
My scream filled the small room.
My younger brother rushed in immediately. His small feet slapped against the floor as he ran toward me, his eyes wide with fear.
"What happened?" he asked, looking between me and our mother.
"She is not breathing well," I said, my voice breaking. "Bring water. Quickly."
Daniel did not waste a second. He ran to the small table in the corner and grabbed a cup, filling it from the container we kept beside the sink. His hands were shaking as he brought it to me.
"Here," he said.
I took the cup from him and lifted my mother's head carefully. Her skin felt cold against my fingers.
"Mom," I whispered softly. "Please drink."
I tried to pour a little water into her mouth, but her lips barely moved. Her mouth would not open properly, and the water spilled onto the pillow beneath her head.
Fear gripped my entire body.
"Mom," I cried, shaking her again.
Still nothing.
My chest tightened as panic took over completely.
"Help!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the house. "Someone help!"
But no one answered.
Without thinking any further, I rushed outside.
I ran into the street, my heart pounding wildly.
"Help" I shouted again, waving my arms.
People walked past, some turning to look at me, but no one came close enough to understand what was happening.
Then I saw a motorcycle approaching from the corner of the street.
I ran straight into the road and waved desperately.
"Please stop"
The rider slowed down and stopped in front of me, looking confused.
"What is wrong?"
"My mother," I said breathlessly. "She is very sick. I need to take her to the hospital. Please help me, please"
The man looked at my frightened face and nodded
"Bring her."
Relief rushed through me.
I ran back into the house as fast as I could.
Daniel was still standing beside our mother, his small hands gripping the edge of the bed.
"Is Mom okay?" he asked in a trembling voice.
"We are taking her to the hospital," I said quickly.
Together we lifted her carefully. She felt lighter than I remembered, which only made the fear in my chest grow stronger.
Outside, the motorcycle was waiting.
The rider helped us carefully position her so that I could hold her while sitting behind him. Daniel climbed on behind me and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist.
The motorcycle started moving immediately.
The ride felt endless.
The wind rushed past us, but all I could focus on was the weak rise and fall of my mother's chest.
"Please stay with me," I whispered quietly.
Every second felt like an eternity.
When we finally arrived at the hospital, I jumped off the motorcycle and rushed inside with Daniel following close behind.
"Nurse!" I called desperately. "Please help my mother."
Two nurses quickly came toward us with a stretcher.
They carefully took my mother from my arms and rushed her through double doors into the emergency room.
And just like that, she was gone from my sight.
I stood there frozen, my hands shaking uncontrollably.
Daniel grabbed my hand.
"Is Mom going to die?" he asked quietly.
The question hit me like a knife.
I kneel down in front of him.
"She is not going to die," I said softly, even though fear was screaming inside my chest.
"We brought her to the hospital. The doctors will help her."
He nodded slowly, but his eyes were still filled with worry.
We sat in the waiting area for what felt like forever.
Doctors and nurses walked past us quickly, but none of them stopped.
Every time I saw a nurse, I rushed forward.
"Please," I begged. "Can you tell me how my mother is?"
But they simply nodded politely and continued walking.
The silence was unbearable.
My mind kept replaying the moment I found her struggling to breathe.
What if we had arrived too late?
What if the doctors could not save her?
I squeezed Daniel's hand tighter.
He leaned against me quietly.
Hours passed.
Finally, a nurse approached us.
"Are you the daughter of Maria Bennett?"
I jumped to my feet immediately.
"Yes," I said quickly, tears already forming in my eyes.
"Follow me," she said.
I grabbed Daniel's hand and hurried after her.
The nurse led us into a quiet room.
And there she was.
My mother lay on a hospital bed, her face pale and her body weak, but she was breathing.
A doctor stood beside her.
Relief flooded through me.
I rushed to the bed and gently touched her forehead.
"Mom," I whispered.
She did not wake up, but her breathing was steady.
I looked at the doctor.
"Is she okay?"
"She is stable now," he said.
"But she will need a lot of medical attention for a while," he continued.
My heart tightened again.
"What happened to her?" I asked.
The doctor looked at his chart.
"Your mother has severe asthma complications," he explained. "Her lungs are very weak, and she suffered a serious breathing attack."
I frowned slightly.
"So what happens now?" I asked quietly.
"She will need medication to control the condition," the doctor said. "Without it, another attack could happen."
"You mean she has to take drugs all the time to stay alive?"
"For now," he replied gently. "But with proper treatment and time, she can improve."
The words echoed in my mind.