I wanted to say something else when Mommy hung up on me.
As the storm raged on outside, I patted myself to try to calm myself down.
'How could I be so immature? How could I ask Mommy to come over to be with me in such a huge storm? It's fine. Ivan, you can do it.'
In the end, I could not hold on any longer. The illness consumed me and I closed my eyes forever.
It turned out that Mommy knew everything. She just did not like me.
Why?
…
When I was younger, Daddy and Mommy dumped me with Grandma.
Back then, Grandma told me, "Ivan, you're a great kid, but your Mommy just doesn't like you."
I did not believe her. I retorted in a huff, "You're wrong! Mommy likes me the best!"
I angrily hit Grandma with my tiny fists before shoving her aside.
She replied, "If your Mommy likes you, why did she give you to me? Your Mommy doesn't like you! She doesn't want you anymore!"
I froze on the spot because of Grandma's yelling. My face flushed red as I stammered, "N-No. S-She's just too busy."
Grandma would tell me daily how Mommy did not like me and how she no longer wanted me.
At first, I denied it with everything I had, but slowly, I started to doubt.
I looked at Grandma's wrinkly face and asked in confusion, "Why doesn't Mommy like me?"
Grandma caressed my head and explained, "When she had you, she was in pain for three days and three nights before giving birth to you. She was convinced you were born to torment her."
I believed Grandma's words.
In school, I asked my teacher, "Miss, what should I do if my Mommy doesn't like me?"
The teacher chuckled. She bent down and met my gaze, replying, "Impossible. No parents wouldn't love their children."
Later on, Mommy came and took me away.
Before leaving, I said to Grandma smugly, "You were wrong. Mommy loves me. No parents wouldn't love their children."
Only at that moment did I realize that Grandma was right. Mommy did not love me at all.
It was only two days later when Mommy received another call from the hospital. She was accompanying Sean in getting some sunlight.
When the hospital called her, she frowned and hung up.
However, that time, the hospital kept calling. Mommy finally lost her patience.
She went to the side and answered the call.
A person asked, "Hello, are you a family member of Ivan Child?"
She got infuriated when she heard my name once more.
She yelled angrily, "Can you stop being so annoying? If I'm not answering, stop calling! What, now even the hospital is helping a kid put on a pity act? I was a child once too. I know exactly what he's thinking!
"Tell Ivan that I've already spent good money treating him. His brother just recovered, so I don't have time to deal with him. If he wants treatment, then he has to cooperate. If not, he can just come back here."
Hovering next to her, I heard her words loud and clear. I finally realized how differently she treated Sean and I.
'Mommy, I'm dead. I can no longer call you.'
The next three days, the hospital called her countless times, but she refused to pick up.
So, that was how much I was worth in her heart. I could never compare to Sean, but why?
I could not understand. I was her child too.
Since the hospital could not reach her, Sean's primary doctor, Dr. Daniel Lyle, sent Mommy a message.
[Mrs. Child, I'm sorry, but your son, Ivan Child, has passed away. Please come and collect his body.]
When Mommy received the message, she rolled her eyes and cursed before sending a response.
[Dr. Lyle, are you helping Ivan to lie to me?]
Dr. Lyle was our primary doctor. Even if Mommy was mad at him, she had no choice but to be polite to him since Sean still needed future checkups.
Dr. Lyle did not argue. He merely sent her a photo and another text.