To Caress My Day

Araceli was jubilant with elation at seeing her only child standing on her doorstep with a plastic bag toting lunch. It was a surprise to see her back in Tewkesbury on a visit that would’ve normally been alluded to before her arrival. But hey, Araceli wasn’t gonna fuss, especially at a sensitive time like this. She didn't realize how much she needed her daughter until she was right in front of her, smiles and all. Throwing her arms out, she embraced her multi-talented child. “Oh, Tahliah! What are you doing here? You didn't tell me you were coming by for a visit!”

“I know I know. I just couldn’t stay away from you.” Twigs told her mom as she tightened her hold on the older woman that had raised her and supported her at every stage of her life. The thought of maneuvering through life without that support made tears rush to her eyes, but she triumphantly contained them back. Now was not the time for tears! It would only jeopardize her motive for being here. “How are you doing, you beautiful woman you?”

“Fine, I’m perfectly fine.” Araceli assured her, her eyes locking onto her husband who was standing behind her daughter with another two plastic bags of what smelled like the same divine take out. Shooting him a dubious look that alert him he was on her radar, she broadcasted for all to hear. “But your step-father won’t be when I get my hands on him for not telling me of your surprise visit.”

Retreating back a step in acquiescence, Luther admitted. “I’m guilty as charged, my love! There’s nothing else to do but lock me up and throw away the key!”

The women laughed before Araceli stepped aside to allow them into her charming home. The family huddled into the kitchen at the dining table, and chatted about everything that had nothing to do with cancer. Naturally, Araceli wasn’t going to bring the grim matter up first considering she was doing her best trying to conquer it everyday by not giving it too much of her energy or thought. Luther and Twigs were biding their time to touch on the topic as well, so until then the main subject was trained on Twigs and how her life was going all the way back in London. Araceli basked in the conversation, anything save her present condition was up for discussion if she could help it.

“The girls are doing fabulous in life, mother, you wouldn’t believe it! Neon Jungle is on THE Jessie J’s tour and Simone’s band, GRL, just got officially announced to the public in California! She’s legitimately known now too!” Twigs updated her mother, who’s brown eyes were shining with exhilaration for the young women who had grown to be close to her child.

“My word, I can’t express how thrilled I am for those gifted angels!” Araceli conveyed, reaching a hand out to clasp onto Luther’s. She was deeply moved by all the dreams that were coming true around her. It just went to show you that Cancer didn’t stop people from living and happy endings from manifesting. “Life is such a remarkable thing! Why, just the other day I was inspired to go outside and purchase some seeds from the grocery store to plant some flowers I never considered growing in my garden before.”

Luther listened along with Twigs as Araceli filled her daughter in on what she’s been doing as of late. Her cancer was never mentioned. It was almost like it didn’t exist anymore. Sealing his lips shut from blurting anything, the family continued to chatter over lunch. When it was done, Luther made a suggestion, his eyes remaining on his step-daughter. “Why don’t we go and relax in the living room? I can clean all this up later.”

“Wonderful idea, Luther! I can show Tahliah my new plants.” Araceli grinned with excitement as she rose to her feet to lead the way. But as soon as she was halfway across the living room, her daughter unexpectedly cut her journey short.

“Wait, mom! We need to talk.” Twigs revealed to her mom, incapable of cloaking the concern in her voice as her hand closed over her mother’s upper arm.

The tone in Twig’s voice told Araceli her daughter had something very serious to talk about. Turning around to face her child, her eyes were drawn to the hopelessness in her eyes…her own eyes. “Tahliah, what is it? What’s wrong?”

“Araceli, why don’t you have a seat first?” Luther asked his wife softly, taking a seat on the couch himself and extending a hand of support to her. He can tell by the look on his wife’s face that she may not know what was going on right now, but she didn’t like it either way. Without a word, she nodded to him and took a seat beside him, allowing him to enclose her hand between the both of his. Twigs was right behind her, and took the empty spot beside her. Both of their attention was on Araceli.

“I don’t understand what is going on here.” Araceli told them, her brown eyes darting from one to the other.

“Mom, we wanted to talk to you about your cancer.” Twigs was the first to answer, her throat beginning to feel a little constricted because this was it. This was the intervention.

Braving a tranquil smile, Araceli laughed softly and declined the subject with the wave of her hand. She didn’t want to go in about the whole cancer thing again. In fact, there was never a time she wanted to discuss it except with her doctor. Her doctor was just that, her doctor who makes a career of helping people without having a close relationship with their patients. Her family were the people that were grieving for her, and praying for a miracle, and worrying themselves sick over her. It was harder to talk to them about it than a medical professional. “That old thing? Oh my love, please stop worrying yourselves about that. It’s not that serious! The doctors will take care of it, I’m sure of it.”

“Still, we want you to consider another option.” Twigs extended, biting back a growl at how easily her mom was able to live with her cancer as if it was nothing but an insignificant mole. This wasn’t a harmless mole, it was a disease with the reputation of selecting it’s next target indiscriminately and working in numerous ways to kill them.

“What other option?” Araceli asked her, arching a brow at her for meddling in her business. She was trusting her doctors to do what was right, but her husband and daughter were the complete opposite. They didn’t trust her doctor, she doubted they could trust anyone when it came to her cancer.

“Seeing a specialist on Thyroid Cancer.” Twigs recommended, once again indebted to her boyfriend and his many connections in areas she didn't know he’d have. He was an accomplished animator and writer in Hollywood. How did this man have a network in the medical field, lord only knows?

“A specialist?” Araceli repeated before laughing at the two of them. She didn’t laugh because their suggestion was ridiculous to her or at all funny. Nor did she want to hurt their feelings. It was just…this was her husband and daughter she was conversing with here! They didn’t know any specialists in the medical field. “And what specialist do you two know that I don’t?”

“Well, we don’t exactly KNOW the specialist.” Luther hated to admit, but before his wife could cut him off, he promptly told her who did. “But Seth knows of one. Perhaps even dozens of them!”

“Seth?” Araceli whispered, her eyes now locking onto her daughters with surprise. “Seth knows about my cancer?”

“I never took the time to tell him. I didn’t really know how to when I was still reeling from the news myself. Simone told him.” Twigs confessed to her mother, not wanting her to shun her for her personal business being spread about. “She heard it through the grapevine by Kathy McDuffy.”

At the mention of one of her neighbor’s names, Araceli had to roll her eyes and then sighed heavily to herself. She never wanted the matter of her condition to have gotten out all over town. But now that Kathy knew about it then certainly the very Queen of England knew it too! Veering away from her gossiping nosy neighbor, Araceli looked at her daughter. The look of shimmering desperation in her child’s eyes had her inquiring. “Seth knows a specialist?”

Praying that this meant her mother was considering this offer of expert help, Twigs nodded. “Yes, mom, he does. He’s literally waiting by his phone right now for me to let him know you’ll agree to it.”

A specialist.

That sounded like a whole lot of money to afford. Araceli wasn’t exactly a part of the royal family, so there was no way in hell she could pay this specialist to extract her cancer. And she wasn’t certain he’d accept a donation of an old kidney to pay for the procedure either, or if her kidney would even amount to the price tag anyway.

But both Araceli’s husband and daughter were looking to her for mercy like she was their savior and they were vulnerable beings in need of a miracle. She knew what they wanted from her. They wanted her to accept this opportunity blindly without questions. They needed her to live. They needed certainty.