“The chances of your mother surviving are very, very slim. There have been a small few who’ve survived the illness. But you can prolong the illness by getting lots of rest and preventing overly strenuous activity. Meaning you won’t be able to work.” He explains.

“I won’t be able to work..? I can’t afford to stop working. Who’ll pay the bills?” She questions.

Seiren balls his hands into fists before standing. 

“I will.” He says.

“Seiren, no. You’re still in high school, there’s no way I’m letting you work.” She says.

“Mom, think more about yourself. You’ve always put my well-being before your own. You’ve always been there for me, struggling just so that I’d have a future, is it so wrong that I want the same for you?” He says with tearful eyes.

Eliza covers her mouth with her hand and tears begin to roll down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry… With how our situation has always been, I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t stand not being able to do anything great for you. Other parents take their children places and experience fun things together with them, while we barely made it by. I hate myself for not being able to give you the world!” She exclaims while wiping her tears.

“Mom, I’ve never wanted something crazy like the world. Just seeing you work hard for our sakes was enough for me. The fact that I have such an amazing mother is worth a hell of a lot more to me. So don’t worry about the bills. I’ll handle them, I am your son after all.” He says.

His mother beckons to him and she hugs him tightly. After a few moments of tenderness, the two release one another, and Eliza turns her attention to Dr. Roberts.

“I’ll…” She begins. “I’ll stop working. To prolong the illness as much as I can.”

“I’m glad you two could come to an understanding.” Dr. Roberts says. “I’m going to get the medicine you’ll need to take to help you recover.”

“Thank you.” She says.

Hours pass by and finally, Eliza is allowed to go home, after a multitude of checkups and the retrieval of her medicine. The formerly orange sky is now a darkish purple color as the stars shine through the sky. 

“Freedom!” She shouts after getting out.

“Mom, you shouldn’t scream like that.” He says.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I was just tired of being cooped up in that room.” She says.

 The two walk over to the bus stop outside of the building and catch the next bus that stops in front. They step onto the bus, and the light flickers. The bus was full of a musky smell and Eliza simply covered her nose.

“It’s been such a long time since I’ve taken public transportation, it’s certainly a lot smellier than I remember it. I already miss my little emerald.” She says.

“It does smell pretty bad in here.” He says.

“Right?” She says as they continue their bus ride home. In a short twenty minutes, they arrived at home. Eliza looks to where her car would have been parked and sighs.