2 years after Shane left Carmen at the altar…

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Miss Shane McCutcheon’s house?”

“Yes.”

“Can I talk to her please?”

“She’s speaking.”

“Oh, Miss McCutcheon I’m calling from Austin’s General Hospital; I was requested to inform you that your mother is here.  She needs to talk to you. She’s in intensive care, room 5.

*silence*

“…Miss?  Are you still there?”

“Um…yeah, yeah…um…Are you su-….which room did you? …. I…” Shane could barely think or speak.  She was shocked.

“Room 5, intensive care.”

“And what does she…is she…?”

“I’m sorry Miss McCutcheon I can’t give you that kind of information right now, but you’ll be filled in with all the details you need as soon as you come to the hospital.”

“Okay …um…Thank you.”  After the nurse hung up, Shane remained standing still with the phone in her hand not really understanding what just happened.

Later that day…

“Hey there you are!  You better…” Alice pops her head in Shane’s room only to find her packing with Jenny rubbing her back.

“Everything is gonna be ok, honey” are Jenny’s reassuring words, concern in her own eyes.

“What’s going on? … Shane, where are you going?”  Alice asks puzzled, looking first to Shane and then her bag.

“Austin.  My mom is in the hospital; I have to see her.” Shane states coldly without stopping her actions.

“What?!  Your mother?!” Alice is stunned, “but Shane this is huge, I mean you don’t need…”

“I gotta go” with that, bag in hand Shane storms out of the room.

“CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU GET THERE.  BE SAFE!”  Jenny screams.

“I WILL.” 

Alice, open mouthed, stares out into the empty hallway.  “What did just…?”

“Come here, Alice” Jenny hugs her. 

—————————

All the way to Austin was unreal to Shane.  Once she arrived there, grudge and anger had taken her over.  Her mind was full of scenes where she was reproaching her mother.  Asking her why?  Why she left her, why she never came back, why she didn’t look for her all these years, why… she didn’t love her.

Sleep was the last thing on Shane’s mind, but she still decided to stay in a hotel room close to the hospital for the night.  She couldn’t rush into something as important as this.  She thought it was better to be calm.  Tomorrow was enough stress.

————————–

The next day had arrived, and Shane is anxious.  As expected, she didn’t really sleep at all the night before. 

While walking to the hospital, her mind is a mess.  She is a robot, none of her thoughts making any sense at the moment.

Shane walks slowly towards her mom’s room.  When she finally reaches it, the freshly painted “5” on the door greets Shane.  She is sweating, nervous, angry; she is a whole combination of emotions.  She stares at the number, and for a moment the thought of leaving tempts Shane.  After shaking her head, she takes a deep breath gathering enough courage to finally turn the knob and step inside.

“Shane,” the woman in bed says in a low voice as soon as she saw the slender figure.   Tears start filling her eyes.

“M- mom?”  It’s all Shane manages to say.  The scene is shocking.  All the anger disappears as she contemplates the woman before her.  She feels a lump in her throat.

“I’m sorry,” answers her mother with a cracked voice.

Shane couldn’t take the tears or the emotions that were overwhelming her, so she runs towards the bed and knelt next to her mother.  She hugs her, and both women crying now.