CHAPTER 3 - The Witness

As the weeks went by, her mother's condition worsened to the point where she had difficulty breathing.

Although Scylla can't stop thinking about her mother, she still can't forget what she saw that day.

Today, her auntie came to visit her mother. Scylla knows her, but they're not close, as she rarely gets the chance to meet her. She was 11 when she last saw her, almost 6 years ago.

Scylla hears their conversation while she's cooking eggs for their lunch.

"Where's your husband?" Her auntie asked.

"He's off to work, *coughs* he usually goes home at 3 in the afternoon." Her mother replied

"Have you been to a hospital?"

"Yeah, he prescribed us medicines, but we can't afford those. *coughs* I don't want to be a burden for Scarlet... But I don't know what will happen to her when I'm gone."

"That bastard wouldn't let himself get involved in this, would he?"

"Oh... Scarlet said he asked him for some money to buy me medicine, but he ignored her."

"I can't even believe there's a man like him that exists." Her auntie picked some money from her wallet and gave it to her mother.

"Here, take this. This is all I can give you. I'm also struggling with my finances lately, but I'll eventually get on with it." Auntie held her mother's hand as she gave her money.

"Thank you..."

"I'll get going now, I also have to cook for our lunch."

"Take care, Eliza."

Her aunt grabbed her things and left them. Her mother called her to prepare lunch. As Scylla set up the plates, her mother held her hand and inserted the money inside.

"Here's some money from your aunt, *coughs* you'll need it more than me." Her mother said to her.

"What? It's yours, I'll buy your medicines."

"Keep it, I'm dying anyway. I can feel my heart beating slower each day."

"No, you will be fine, I'm praying for it! It'll come true."

Her mother chuckled.

"Since when did you learn to pray?"

"I... That's not important, you have to eat. Let's eat now."

Together, they shared their first food for the day. A simple fried egg and rice. Scylla watches her mother eat, when she notices that she's moving more slowly than before. Her mother left some food on her plate. She insisted on finishing up, but her mother couldn't take it anymore.

...(A few hours later)...

Scylla lies on her bed; the boredom is killing her. She decided to message her friend whom she met online.

"Hey, what's up?" Scylla typed on her phone.

"Hi there, I'm fine. Hbu?" Her friend replied.

"I'm fine too, I just want to ask something."

"Yeah, sure, what is it?"

"Don't take this seriously, but what will be your reaction if you find out that someone you know uses drugs?"

"Like, illegal drugs?"

"Yeah, like those."

"Your question is oddly specific."

"Just answer it."

"Fine, maybe I'll stay away from them, or let my parents know. Why did you ask?"

"I was just curious. Thanks for answering."

"Asking a question like that out of nowhere?"

"I was just really curious."

"Did you perhaps experience that?"

"What?"

"Tell me, what happened?"

"Wdym?"

"What happened?"

"To what?"

"You... You saw someone you know use drugs?"

Scylla hesitated to reply for a while.

"Maybe..."

"For real? What's it like?"

"It smells weird, then it messes with your head, I felt dizzy when I sniffed some."

"What's the smell like?"

"It smells like a flower, but then it changes... It's like persuading you to sniff more."

"So... How'd you find out?"

"My father, I saw him."

"What? That's crazy. I mean, he's crazy. Did you tell your mom? Or anyone?"

"No, I don't want to stress my mom. I don't want to inform the police, I don't want anything bad to happen to me or my mom if he finds out that I told anyone."

"But does he know that you know?"

"I don't think so... I was just peeking at his door. I smelled something, so I went to check on him."

"So your father is not only a smoker, alcoholic, and abusive. He's also a drug user?"

"Yeah, he's the worst."

"The only good thing that I see here is that you don't have any siblings. I mean, they don't get to suffer like you."

"Yeah, it would be harder for me if I had siblings. Brb, my mom is calling me downstairs, I left our clothes soaked."

"Sure, go ahead."

Scylla left her phone in her room and went downstairs to help her mother with the laundry. Whatever she does, the thought of making the next decision still bothers her. Whether to let her mother or the police know, or keep her mouth shut, hoping that it will never happen again.

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