The Fight Club by P.A. Jones Page A

up putting her here, in this cancer care facility. It was the best I could afford, but I didn't care for the money because I loved my mom more than anything in the world.
    I wondered now if her illness drove me to propose Eddie earlier than I should have.
    "I'm fine, Julie. I couldn’t be better. Yesterday a young man came to meet me and asked me if I needed anything. I said to him that I wanted to meet the Almighty.” She pointed her finger up.
    "Why would you say such a thing, Mom? We will find a cure for you. Medical research has done a miraculous job in the past few years. It's just a matter of time. Someone will find the cure to cancer." A hole was forming inside of me. But I knew I couldn't cry in front of her, or else she would cry, too, and her health would take a toll.
    "That man also said something like that. But my time is overdue, my little angel. I'm living only because you want me to. Otherwise, I would have happily died months ago." A lone teardrop came out of her eyes.
    I wiped it with my hand and hugged her. "Don't worry, Mom. We will get through this together. I'm not letting you go anywhere. I'll work extra hard to make sure you get everything you want."
    "And that's what I don't want to see, my little angel. You giving up your life for me."
    "Mom, I want you to see your grandchildren and play with them. I won't let you go before that." It was getting hard to be strong. I wanted to enclose myself in a cube and cry until the world ended.
    "Are you planning to marry Eddie?" Her eyes widened with hope.
    "No. I'm not getting married. It’s too soon, Mom. It’ll have to wait." Bitter memories of my failed relationship passed through my mind. I wished I could’ve given better news to my mom.
    "Where is that boy anyway? He hasn’t come to see me for a long time. Why?" she asked.
    She didn't know about me and Eddie. And she didn't know about me moving to L.A. as well. I didn't want to shock her by telling her all my issues. I just wanted to see her happy, and nothing else.
    "Mom, why don't we talk about the man you met yesterday? Was he a doctor? Was he hot?" I winked at her.
    "He was definitely hot. Hotter than Eddie, I would say. But he wasn't a doctor. He didn't ask me anything about medicines or any symptoms. He sat here, looked out of the window, talked to me for a bit, and then walked out. He seemed like a nice guy. If you didn’t have a boyfriend, I would have happily introduced you to him." She smiled, but I could see some pain there, too.
    "Wow. If he’s that hot, I might think about dumping Eddie." I giggled.
    She laughed too, but then she coughed. The cancer was eating the organs in her body, and it was taking a toll on everything.
    "I’m gonna go, Mom. I'm here for a couple of days, so I’ll see you tomorrow." I just wanted to get out of there and cry my eyes out.
    "Take care sweetheart, and come early tomorrow. You might just see that guy."
    I left. As soon I was away from my Mom's room, I started weeping.
    "Hey, are you all right?" A hand touched my shoulder. I turned around, and saw it was a nurse.
    "I'm fine. Just walked out of my Mom's room."
    "I know it must be hard for you. But we are doing the best we can, and trust me, your mother is in good hands." She smiled at me.
    I was about to say something back to her, but then I saw Noah walking out of another room.
    "What is he doing here?" I couldn't believe my eyes.
    "Are you talking about Noah Rich?" the nurse asked.
    "Yes."
    "He bought this care center last week. He’s visiting and asking about the welfare of every patient. I've never seen an owner do that before. He’s quite generous." She seemed highly impressed.
    "Did he visit my Mom’s room yesterday? Mrs. McCord's room?"
    "Yes, he did."
    "Thanks for telling me,” I said, a little phased. Noah surprised me. Was he planning something weird? Or was he genuinely interested in welfare of these people? I figured I ought to find out, and ask my mother what he talked to her