Chapter 18- Hero

            When the storm had cleared up, Carmen drove Alex to the hospital. That was yesterday, now Alex lay on the couch, watching old love movies. Sydney had gone home. She hadn’t talked to Jess in a month now. She was stuck there, pitying herself. The doctor had sent her home with instructions to stay off her feet for a few days, and of course Madre followed those very strictly. Carmen came into the living room and handed Alex her soup, while kissing her head and walking back into the kitchen.

            Carmen looked outside at Shane. She was sitting on the deck, looking blankly at the sky. Ever since the emergency surgery, she has been completely distant. Well, at least from everyone but Alex. She didn’t sleep with Carmen last night; she had crawled into bed with Alex. Now, she was off in her own world. Carmen walked out and sat next to her.

Carmen: Hey.

Shane just looked away.

Carmen: Babe, you have to open up to me sooner or later. We need to talk about this.

Carmen rubbed Shane’s arm. Shane shot up and looked down at Carmen. She looked so cold.

Shane: Can’t you just give me my fucking space?

She ran into the house and slammed the door shut as Carmen put her face in her hands. Shane walked into the bathroom and shut the door, locking it behind her. Alex took a deep breath and looked over at her Madre sitting on the deck then at the empty hallway. Alex walked down the hallway to the bathroom door and knocked.

Shane: Carmen I told you to go away!

Alex: Mom, It’s me.

No response.

Alex: Let me in or I’ll break down the door.

Shane unlocked the door and Alex walked in. She looked down at her mother on the bathroom floor. Her face was tear-stained, her hair a mess and eyes showed a broken spirit. Alex got onto her knees next to her, slightly wincing at the pain in her side.

Shane: You should be resting.

Alex just pulled her into a hug and Shane cried into her daughter. She held her tightly, afraid she might lose her if she didn’t. She smoothed the teens hair on the back of her neck, as she whimpered into her. Shane only slightly pulled away.

Shane: All my life, I’ve tried not to need anyone, that way I’d never be…let down.

She gurgled through the tears as she looked into her daughter’s eyes.

Shane: But you, you give me hope because you are the one person I need the most in this world and you know what?

Alex shook her head as Shane rubbed her arm.

Shane: You are the one person who’s never let me down. Honey, I look at you everyday and most say that they see me through your eyes. But that’s wrong because you are everything I’m not and wanted to be.

Alex smiled and hugged her mother.

Alex: It’s because of you that I’m like this. Mom, after I met you my life literally turned upside down. I don’t even recognize who I am now, and that’s a good thing because the person I was, she was a monster. You are amazing, no matter what mistakes you made in the past that you may regret, they are erased by who you are now, and right now, you’re my hero.

Shane smiled. She hugged her daughter close.

Shane: You’re going to do great things; and I’ll always be there for you.

Alex: I know you will, and so will I.

A/N: Just a short important chapter.