A Quiet World

The sun glared in the streets of Sanvile. The first day of the summer holidays. Kids cycled in the streets as groups. No elders complained. They watched them with a cup of coffee sitting relaxed in their attics checking the newspaper.

Mila walked around her small attic with her empty coffee cup, but she was not aware of that and put the cup again in the mouth, realized it is empty. She, again and again, put the cup to her mouth. Mila thought she was stupid. She was not stupid. She was tensed. Her stomach was burning. A loud rock song was playing in Ella's apartment, as always. Mila tried to concentrate on the song, but she couldn't. This is an important day for her.

She heard her mother closing her window. She hated the music and the neighbors. In fact, she hated everything which had colors or music in it. Mila's mother was suffering from Leukemia. The third stage. She had only a little hair on her head. And she had no blood on her face. Still, it oozed sometimes from her nose or she vomited it or spit it. Mila doesn't know-how. The only bright color she saw in her mother's room was the color of blood, bright red. Otherwise, her bedspreads, pillow covers, dresses, everything was white, gray, or black. Mila saw Ella opening her windows. She has just got up. She gestured 'Is he there yet?' and Mila gestured 'No'. Ella gestured 'Everything will be fine' and Mila gestured 'I hope so'. Mila is familiar with sign language now. It is better to talk like this. Mila was thankful for the music. Otherwise, Ella would have shouted it aloud so that the entire street could hear her.

Mila found Luke crossing the street. Mila ran towards the gate. Everything should be perfect. Luke was walking towards Mila. He looked better than ever. He put on his best clothes and his hair was not flying like it used to be. It doesn't matter. For her mother, who hates colors and music, a boy's look is the last thing to get worried about. Luke looked tensed. He still smiled at anyone who passed him. Ella has seen him and shouted 'all the best' aloud. The stereo was off and the entire street heard her. Luke rushed inside Mila's home and she closed the gate.

"So, how's everything? Can I talk to her now?" Luke's voice was shaking. Mila tried to remain calm. If she is tensed, Luke gets more tensed, and they will postpone it to another day and it will go like that. He will never talk to her mother.

"Mom is not well. We must take her back to the hospital." Mila started.

"Okay, I will bring the car." Luke turned back.

"No, you must talk to her first". Mila pulled him back to the house.

"This is not the right time."

"This is it".

Luke accompanied Mila to her mother's room. The familiar smell of medicines, wet clothes, and blood. Camila, Mila's mom. Luke rarely saw her face, even though he visited her room twice every day. He dropped her hospital always. He helped Mila with her medicines, cleaning the room, washing her clothes, but he was afraid to look at her face and she never liked him, she liked no one.

When Luke entered the room, Camila was in her armchair. She was in her white gown. The gown spread all over the chair. Camila was thin, thin as the thinnest being on the Earth. She looked like a ghost. More than her face, her expressions were that of a ghost. Those ghosts in the old movies. Cold and sad. Her eyes fixed on the street and were watching the kids. Luke hesitated to go inside. Mila talked first.

"Mom, Luke has something to tell you". Mila dragged him inside. Camila looked at them. Her pale face was always sad. None other than Mila saw her talking. She just nodded most of the time. That's what makes her different from Mila.

Luke began. He forgot everything for a moment and tried to repeat everything he was practicing for weeks. He closed his eyes and imagined he is standing in front of his bedroom mirror, or in a room with Mila sitting in front of him, making him repeat the words. Luke imagined Camila is not there. And he talked to Camila.

"Camila, we know you are not feeling good. But this is very important. Mila, she likes to stay here. She likes it here. This street, her friends, school, everything. And I like her. You know that. She says she doesn't want to leave her home. I talked with dad yesterday and he said he will sponsor her as long as she wants and we all are with her and Mila can look after herself now. Then why you want her to leave this house. Let her stay and we will be there for her. I promise you. She won't be alone, ever".

Luke created the last sentence at that moment, and he felt proud of himself. Mila made a brief smile for him, but Camila was not responding. She stood there like she has gone deaf. As the silence prolonged, Mila brought Luke back to the hall.

"You talked with her yesterday?" Luke asked.

"Yes, but I don't think she will let me stay".

"It does not convince her. So let's go to Plan B. What do you say?"

"I don't know. I can't". Camila's weak voice interrupted her.

"I will get the car". Luke ran outside. Mila felt bad for Luke.

Her mom was always like that. She never talked to her friends or neighbors. Mila grew by taking care of her mother. She couldn't do it alone. It was the people from the street who helped her always, and Luke, he was always there for her.

Camila never thanked him, not even smiled at him. Mila was the exact opposite of her mom. She smiled and made friends with everyone she met. The entire street loved her. Camila tried to stop her always.

"Why you invite your friends here? I am sick and I need privacy and don't talk with them. This street is dangerous and you must leave here, once." She said. 'You must leave here once.' The sentence was like a full stop to Camila. She said it whenever she ends a conversation. "Mila, that boy is a thief. He is stealing things. You must leave here once I am dead."

"Mila, our neighbor is very noisy, you must leave here once I am dead." "Mila, they always crowd the street. You must leave here once I am dead".

When Mila entered the bedroom, her mom was sewing. The machine in front of her was making creaking noises.

"Mom, get ready. I will finish it". She helped her raise slowly, and she leaned towards the bed. Camila was like a feather, she was very soft. Mila was afraid she will break her bone if she gripped her.

"Mila, are you angry with me?" Her voice was more wind than actual noise.

"No". Mila said without looking at her face and started arranging her hospital reports.

"You must go away from here. I told you before".

"We will talk later".

"No, this is important. Promise me you will do what I said". Camila gazed at Mila's eyes, hopefully expecting a feeble yes as always. But Mila was silent that time.

Luke's car horned from outside and Mila slowly helped her mom to the car. Then she closed the door and joined them.

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Mila sat in her attic watching the sunset. The street looks more beautiful at this time of day. Everyone will be at home. The adults, kids, pets, birds, everyone. The entire family under a roof. Mila imagined being inside a happy home like that. She and Luke, their kids. A light appeared in Ella's window. Mila looked above. Ella waved at her and gestured to come out. Mila walked towards the gate and Ella left her room.

"Luke told me what happened. Don't worry. I will talk to your mom or my mom will. We can convince her". The person who has the greatest hate score on her mother's hate scale is Ella, and the second one will be her mom. They had the least chance to convince her, and it surprised Mila that Ella still thinks that she can convince her mom. People who are too good at heart never notice people who hate them.

"No, it is not possible. Nobody can convince her, Ella".

"So, what's next?"

"Luke says, I must talk to dad".

"What? You have a dad. I am sorry. We never saw him".

"I don't know who he is. But I heard mom secretly calling him when we need money. She prohibited me from talking about him or even say his name. And I heard it two days before. She called him and told him not to send money because I turned seventeen." Mila replied to Ella.

"Why?"

"I don't know".

"How are you going to find him?"

"Luke has some plans. I think." Mila shrugged.

Mila didn't know she had a dad till she is sixteen and once she heard her mother say to the doctor that she and her husband are not together and he lives away from them. Then she found her mom talking to someone secretly through the phone and said sorry that his wife knew about them. There was not a photo or a dress or anything that belonged to her dad there. When she asked about him, Camila avoided her. Later, Mila understood her mom married no one. And calculating from her current age, she was 17 when she had her. But her mom looked very much older than that. Don't know whether her sickness or grief made her this much older. Mila wondered whether her mom was always like this. She loved to see her seventeen-year-old mom. But there were no photos or certificates or anything that described her childhood.

Mila never tried to find her dad. She doesn't want her life to be like those stupid dramas where the daughter desperately follows her dad for love. Mila was not a dramatic person, and she hated every drama in her life. The only drama she enjoyed was those silly moments with Luke, and Luke was the most dramatic person she ever saw.

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Mila finished preparing breakfast. The only thing her mom could eat and they could afford was a simple porridge. Mila put it in a flask and slouched out. Camila was sleeping. She was walking towards the park, her favorite spot in the street where all her friends met during the holidays. Other than Luke and Ella, her other friends are Sophie, Mabel, Louie, Finn, and Alex.

Discussion was 'how to convince a strict and sick mother to leave her daughter alone after her death'. Everyone had an opinion, and at last they selected Luke's suggestion as the best.

"So everyone agrees with me. Then I will show you something". Luke took a note from his pocket and hand it over to Mila.

"This is your dad's number and his details."

"How did you get this?" Everyone exclaimed.

"He is a military man. Now settled on Beagle street".

"They are rich. I know that place. The apartments are really nice. My cousin tried to get a home there, but she couldn't

afford it." Sophie took the address from her.

"What do you say?" Luke was looking at Mila curiously.

Mila read the note carefully. The name of her dad was William Jerald. It was like finding the answer to a riddle. So many things crossed Mila's mind, The first person who asked her dad's name to the last time she faked it. "No, I don't think this is a good idea", were the words that came out.

Everyone turned and looked at Mila.

"I don't know. My mom even concealed his name from me and I don't think I am supposed to meet him".

"And how you know that this is her dad?" Ella asked Luke.

"I asked Mr. Roy. He used to be the guard. He searched some registers and found the person who took this house for rent. It was actually his friend's home, and they gave the house to your mom because he told them you are his daughter and your mom was his girlfriend".

"What if he was lying? For a friend or someone like that?" Alex was obviously the brilliant person in the group.

"No, I know his number. It is the only number my mom dialed from our phone and the only one she talked to, other than me. So he is right." Mila supported Luke.

"Mila, think about it. We have no other way. Your mom never listens to us. Your dad can help you. He is the only person who can take decisions in your life and I hope, your mom will listen to him. I am not telling you to meet him. Just call him and tell him you won't disturb him, but you just need to stay in the city and you don't even want his money, share or anything. Just help you stay here, that's all. It is a simple request." Luke was serious and Mila felt helpless.

"Why you need all these? Your mom says you have to leave the city when she is dead. You just stay here. How she knows?" Finn said it again.

"We talked about it before. I can't lie to mom. And she repeatedly made me promise this from my childhood". Mila was not sure about that. She can lie to her mom whenever she wants, but she doesn't want to be the evil daughter if she has a choice.

"So, what is your decision?" Luke asked.

"I will call him".

On their way back, Mila expressed every doubt she had in mind to Luke. She was sure that he cannot address even a single thing, but she felts relieved when she talks to him.

"Luke, I am afraid. What happens if he refuses me?" Mila leaned to his shoulders when she asked that.

"We will find some other way. I will think about it today".

"And what happens if none of these work out?"

"I will come to your village and stay there forever. What do you say?"

Mila smiled. "Why you are not telling me to stay back?"

"Your mom wants you there".

"Why you are so nice to her? She never liked you".

Luke smiled at her. "Did she say so?"

"She always says so. You know that".

"She gave something good to me".

"What? She never did".

"Yes, something good and gorgeous, before 17 years".