Chapter 9 The Promise

"No, please stop this already" Pamela chided, wiping the tears off Leah's eyes. How can she suddenly change in mood, wasn't she smiling a few minutes ago? Leah smiled through the teary eyes and said "Thank you". She held Pamela's hands again and gave it a soft squeeze. "Louis is my son. He's the only child Ellis and I have got. You have no idea how pathetic our condition has become since that terrible accident that left him in a coma. Especially when the doctor said he might not come out of it and if he by chance did, he probably might end up a vegetable for the rest of his life. This is the hardest part of an experience any parents could have. I feel like I am dying every single day when I wake up and remember that my son might never come back to me. That he would never walk through that door and called out to me mum. The thoughts of it haunts me every single day…"Leah sniffled and looked away. Her eyes had reddened and she was trying to hold back the tears from coming down. She had cried a lot but she still finds herself crying anytime the thoughts of Louis' pathetic condition crosses her mind. How much longer does she have to keep sobbing? That's the question she couldn't answer herself. She wished all these would end one day but then, the idea of taking the life support away from Louis is totally out of it. She'd rather see him on that bed and have the hope that one day, he would become alright then releasing him and freeing him to die peacefully. Pamela saw how emotional Leah Hayden was. She felt the part of her was activated. It's part of motherhood in every woman. She's not a mother yet, but she felt a heavy burden of emotions on her heart. Was this how Leah was feeling? Is this the pain of motherhood she was going through? "When Louis was born, I couldn't have another child. The doctors said my uterus was weak and couldn't carry another foetus. This was a bruise on my ego as a woman. But then, I refused to listen to the doctors and wanted to have more kids. But Ellis wouldn't agree to it. He loves me a lot and would never risk my life for anything in the world. Hence we didn't have any more kids. We raised Louis with great love and saw him grow into a man that he was until the accident. Now tell me, if Louis eventually dies, will I be able to live the rest of my life in peace? What about Ellis, he would have no child or any hope of having a grandchild. Who will be his heir, who would take on his family bloodline? Our hope was on Louis, but now, it appears our hopes have been shattered.."Leah couldn't take it any longer. She started sobbing again. She was sniffling. Her voice choked and Pamela couldn't do anything but held her in an embrace, she was cleaning her tears but trying hard not to let Leah see her tears as well. How she wished she had such a loving mother, a great family who would love her above anything in this world. She wished she could help Leah, to make Louis recover and be alive again. Her own family were so mean towards her. They would gladly be preparing for her funeral the moment they hear she was involved in an accident. She's very sure her mother wouldn't wait to hear the doctor's assertion that she's dead. She would get a casket and bring it along with her to the hospital before asking if she's alive or not. "It's ok Mrs Leah. You can't keep sobbing like this. Your health is important and Louis needs you to stay alive and strong for him. I wish I could help you to get over this phase of your life…" Pamela was consoling the older woman when Leah snapped her head up. Leah sniffled and quickly cleaned her tears, she held Pamela's again and said "yes, you can help. There's a way you can help Ellis and I and we will eternally be grateful to you" she explained quickly, nodding her head in assurance. Pamela was surprised. Can she help her? Oh gosh, she would be more than willing to help them. This couple are at the verge of losing all hope and now, Louis' mother said she can help them? "Really, how can I be of any help?"Pamela's eyes brightened with excitement. She can't wait to hear it. But Leah was holding her hand harder, giving it a little squeeze. Pamela felt the woman was lingering to answer her or better still she was afraid what her actions would be when she heard it. "Talk to me Mrs Leah, just say it and I promise to help you in any way I can" Pamela urged her. "You promise?"Leah asked and Pamela replied "Promise" An hour later, Leah walked into the garden, looking bright and beautiful. She smiled and her smile was like in the past when she was still his beautiful Leah. That smile that used to radiate Leah's face. That makes her appear younger than her age, that would easily make her pass for Louis' elder sister rather than his mother. It's been a long time since he saw her smile that way. The last time was before their son's accident. Now, seeing her with a megawatt smile, his desire to see her smile like that for the rest of her life ignited within him. He loves Leah so much. He cannot take it whenever he sees her tears or sees her emotional. Though there was little he could do to help her for these past few months, after Louis' accident. He was sad as well. Louis was their token of love. He is the symbol of their love and affection. Seeing him dying makes him feel like seeing their love gradually fading away. But now, he saw a ray of light in their dark tunnel. For Leah to be this happy and smiling, it means all hope was not lost yet. He wants her to keep smiling forever. "Honey, how did it go?" Ellis asked, walking over and cupping his wife in a warm embrace. "You should be able to guess, darling," Leah answered, circling her hands around Ellis' neck. Ellis couldn't find another word to express his excitement. He was happy. His smile was getting broader than Leah's. Now, not only Leah would be happy and smile for a long time. Even he would smile for a long time to come. This is the ray of light they were waiting to see. Finally it showed. Pamela arrived at her parents house. Courtesy demand that she pays her parents a visit. But that wasn't the reason why she came. Mrs Leah had pleaded with her to visit her parents. She shouldn't think bad of them. At least they raised her and made her such a beautiful and kind-hearted woman. As she got in, she met her parents arguing. She had indeed arrived at the nick of time. "...the wedding cannot take place. You can't even put yourself in Pamela's place, do you know how she's going to feel..?" Freddie was reprimanding his wife. "I don't bloody care about her feelings. She can go and throw herself in the lagoon for all I care. I have tried my best for your damn stupid daughter Pamela. She can go and find her parents and leave me and my daughter to live in peace. All you ever care about is Pamela. What about Emma, isn't she your real daughter? How can you bring a wild chicken and place her side by side with our dear white Phoenix and expect me to treat her like a phoenix? I am telling you officially, that Emma and Lucas are getting married in a week's time. Emma is already pregnant and you can't even think about that, rather Pamela's feeling was all that mattered…" Freya was yelling at her husband when Emma's voice interrupted her. "You both are quarrelling and didn't bother to offer your dear daughter a seat. She just got married and must have been overworked by the pleasure of her first night…"Emma mocked, walking out of her bedroom hand in hand with Lucas.