007 - Live Changes

"Take care of him," said Mr. Hawthorne, who had told Preston to come to the hospital that night right before he left.

"Here is your new car key. For the time being, you will be his personal assistant."

"Yes, sir." Preston received the key to a new sedan.

"I'll go first," said Mr. Hawthorne before getting into his car and driving away from the hospital.

Meanwhile, I was still sitting limply, holding a cold water bottle in both hands. I felt uneasy, and I was determined to wait until my mother's treatment was finished. One hour and two hours passed very quickly. My back started to hurt, and my head felt heavy. I leaned my head and body against the existing wall and unknowingly fell asleep.

"Mr. Theo," said the doctor who tried to wake me up.

I flinched before trying to force my eyes open. My consciousness still had to process long enough before I finally saw the doctor standing in front of me, waiting. I also tried to stand up and stretch my body a little.

"Sorry doctor, I..." My words were cut off, and I was immediately asked to get to the point. "What about my mother's surgery?"

"I want to apologize," the doctor said, starting his sentence while lowering his head.

"What happened, doctor?" Instantly, my eyes widened and opened widely enough to look like a meerkat.

"We didn't manage to save your mother, Mr. Theo." The doctor looked very apologetic.

"What do you mean, doctor?" Unknowingly, I grabbed the doctor's collar and pulled him up. "Say THAT IS NOT TRUE!" My emotions were rising just in time.

The doctor raised his hands, as if giving up. "I'm sorry, Mr. Theo. My team and I have done our best, but God said otherwise."

"NO, NO WAY!" I still denied that fact and pushed the doctor away from me. "DOCTOR, COME BACK INSIDE, HEAL MY MOM!" I pushed and ordered him quite roughly.

Several hospital workers came and separated us. However, I didn't care; my mind was already filled with bad news. "SAVE MY MOTHER DOCTOR! PLEASE!!" I pulled back his clothes roughly.

"Sir, please don't make a fuss here." A security guard dragged my body and took me away from the doctor.

"NO! MY MOM COULD HEAL! THE DOCTOR SAID IT HIMSELF!" I kept showing up and screaming hysterically.

"Mr. Theo, calm down." Suddenly Preston's figure came toward me; I didn’t know he had been here all this time. "Mr. Theo, we have to let it go." Preston kept everyone away from me.

All those eyes looked at me with pity and made me a spectacle for them. Preston led me out of the crowd. Preston led me into the car in the front parking lot of the hospital.

"Mr. Theo, please wait here. I will make up everything inside." Preston said this without asking for my approval.

I just nodded weakly with a blank stare. My head was twitching, not only from lack of sleep but also from the bad news about my mom. I still can't believe it; now I am alone in this world. I no longer have a place to go home or a purpose in life.

"Mother," I mumbled with sobs.

Preston had left me; I don't know what he was doing in there.

"Mr. Theo, I've taken care of everything, and tomorrow there will be a funeral for Mrs. Olivia." Preston explained as soon as he came back from inside.

My eyes kept shedding tears while my mind was completely blank. I didn't respond to Preston at all. I don't have the energy to do anything. I am a child who failed to take care of my parents; my mother had just died.

"I will take Mr. Theo over to where you're staying for the time being." Preston kept talking.

Preston drove the car, speeding through the very quiet night streets. Preston walked me to a hotel on the corner of town that looked very posh. Preston parked his car in the basement, and he helped me out of the car.

"Let me accompany you, Mr.," said Preston, grabbing me and guarding me from behind.

We entered and immediately took the elevator to the 10th floor of this building. The elevator's ding sound rang before the elevator doors opened. We went down and headed for room number 1054, which was on the right side of the elevator. Preston opened the door and was ushered in.

"Please, Mr. Theo. If anything is needed, you can call me from the room telephone by pressing the number one button." Preston explained briefly.

"Thank you," I said, trying hard to process it.

"Then have a good rest, Mr. Theo. Tomorrow, I will pick you up again for your mother's funeral. Good night." Preston walked out of my room and closed the door.

I sat on the edge of the bed and cast my gaze around the corner of the room. The room contains dark brown, gray, and white tones. There was a bedroom in the middle; in front of it, there was a sofa to relax on, a bathroom, kitchen, and dining area behind the bedroom, and an outdoor room. This hotel looked so luxurious that maybe the price per night could reach millions of dollars.

"What should I do after this?" I muttered and stood towards the mirror that revealed the outdoor room.

The sparkling city lights looked so charming from up here. A city that would be busy again as soon as the sun started to show itself. The city that incised many memories of me and my mother's struggle to survive

While I was still digesting and lost in my thoughts, my cell phone rang. I turned and immediately put it on the bed. "Mr. Hawthorne." I read the inscription on the screen of my cell phone.

I pressed the green button and said, "Hello, Mr. Hawthorne?"

"Theo, are you okay?" Such an unreasonable question; of course, I'm not okay at the moment.

"No." I answered briefly and clearly.

"I'm sorry for your loss. Tomorrow, I will come to the funeral with you." Mr. Hawthorne made a promise.

"No need, sir." I took one breath. "I have Preston accompanying me tomorrow; Mr. Hawthorne didn't need to be bothered. Theo has been causing a lot of trouble," I explained.

"No, not at all." Mr. Hawthorne refused. "Tomorrow I will come. Now rest; if you are sick, your mother will definitely be sad to see her child like that tomorrow at her funeral."

I can't say any more after hearing all the words of Mr. Hawthorne. He closed it without saying goodbye after giving a long lecture.

07:00 AM.

"Mr. Theo, wake up. We have to go to Mrs. Olivia's funeral now." Preston woke me up.

"What time is it?" I asked while trying to open my eyes.

"7 oclock, Mr. Theo."

I woke up and realized that I fell asleep on the couch last night. "Mr. Theo, there are your clothes and breakfast; everything is ready. I will wait up front."

Preston stepped toward the exit. "Preston!" I called.

"Yes, Mr. Theo? There is something missing?"

"Oh no. Thanks," I said when I noticed Preston was trying to provide for me.

Preston smiled, looked down, and replied, "As you should, Mr. Theo."

Preston exited and left me to get ready. I still can't believe all this. "Why is he doing all this?"