Technology.
The word popped up in Maya's head and made tears spring from her eyes.
It's crazy how simple devices could bring so much relief. The feeling she was most grateful for wasn't the one she got when she wanted to play video games or watch her favourite movie.
It wasn't the one she got when a celebrity quoted her tweet or shared her post. It wasn't an endorphin rush.
Instead, it was relief. She was most grateful for the relief it brought.
She paced the room and threw occasional glances at the phone on her bed, waiting for it to connect.
On the other side of the door, she heard her Aunt pacing.
"Aunt Anna, it's going to be okay." She muttered. The words comforted her and helped her let go of the anger she had held against her Aunt for years.
"Maya? Maya?" Her Aunt called. She cringed and shook her head.
Not now Auntie.
"Maya? I know you're there, answer me." Maya sighed and said, "Yes. I'm here."
"You have the worst timings, Auntie." She heard her snort and could imagine her shrugging like she didn't care.
"I don't care." Maya snorted.
"I just wanted to explain the whole situation to you again before you talk to your mum so you'll understand everything."
Rage clouded Maya's heart, her smile disappeared and it felt like they were back to the argument they had the night before.
"Not now Auntie." She said through gritted teeth.
"We need to finish this conversation." Her Aunt powered on.
"Argument. It was an argument. Not a conversation." She spat.
Her Aunt didn't say a word. A few minutes passed and the tension between them thickened. Then her Aunt said in the softest voice, "She was my sister too."
"What?"
"You heard me. In your mind, you're only thinking about how she's your mum and how I'm the bad guy for barring you from contacting her all these years, but she's my sister too."
"Oh." The storm in Maya calmed and she sighed. "So why did you do that to her?"
"Because I loved her. I still do."
"What kind of love is-"
"The kind that sacrifices comfort. You're not the only one that lost her, Maya. I lost my big sister. She's been the only one on my side since childhood and even when I was messing up, doing drugs and moving with bad company, she didn't hesitate to drag me by the ears and dump the drugs where I wouldn't find them." Her voice shook.
"When I found out everything, I was scared. I was scared out of my mind. I mean who am I?" She chuckled.
"I'm her irresponsible younger sister, the one everyone has given up on and she asked me to raise her daughter till she gets well enough to reach out. Do you know what she told me the last time she saw you?"
"No." Maya sniffed. "What did she say?"
"She asked me to raise you the way she treated me. With love, communication and a strict hand. That's why I never leave conversations unfinished with you, we must talk it out. That's how your mum wanted you to be raised."
"I didn't know," Maya said in a small voice.
"That's because I didn't tell you." Her Aunt said in a calm tone. "I missed my sister so much it hurt to even talk to her. I know you think I call the recovery centre to talk to her but I don't. I haven't heard her voice, I don't know how she looks or if she's eating fine." She sniffed.
Maya unlocked her door and jumped into her Aunt's hands.
"I miss her, Auntie."
"Me too, Maya."
The alarm rang, causing them to jump apart. Cold sweat broke out on Maya's forehead and her hands shook. She felt a warm hand slide in hers and she relaxed.
"It's just your mother."
"It's mum." She walked to pick up her phone. As she held it in her hand, she thought of everything her mother went through. From the fraud accusation to the drug addiction, car accident and losing custody of her daughter because of the drugs. She survived it all. She lived.
"Mum lived."
Her phone buzzed as the call came in. She cleared her throat and glanced at her Aunt. Her Aunt nodded and answered it.
The screen brightened to reveal a thin face, a copy of hers. Tears filled her eyes, and beside her, she heard her Aunty sob.
She's so soft. She thought to herself and smiled.
She stared at her mother's face, without saying a word. She just stood there, staring and smiling.
Her mother smiled. "Won't you say hi to your mum?"
"I miss you." She blurted and burst into tears.
Here's my entry to the inkwell Fiction prompt week #135