CHAPTER 5: EXHAUSTED

Jim heard the abrupt sound of something hitting the ground, and he turned his head, seeing Brewster staring into space with tears rolling down his face. "Brew... Brewster, are you okay?" He questioned, his eyes showing his concern. 

Brewster raised his head, lips trembling as he pointed to the road. "The hospital... Take me to the hospital, please." He pleaded, tears streaming down his chin. 

Jim's heart clenched. He solemnly nodded his head and started the car. He said nothing. More than anyone else, Jim knew Brewster very well, and he also knew everything about the young man's family. 

He knew about his mother, who had been living in a mental hospital for half a year already. But Brewster was crying so much... did something happen to his mother?

Jim felt troubled. He wanted to say something, he felt the urge to comfort Brewster but he knew nothing could pacify the young man at the moment... especially after everything he'd been going through these days. 

The drive to the hospital was silent aside from the low sobs coming from the back of the car. 

Brewster couldn't stop his tears, and Jim focused on the road while secretly watching Brewster every time he had the chance. 

Brewster slowly bent forward to pick up his phone, but his trembling fingers weren't listening to him. He felt dizzy and weak, his heart broke with each breath, and his mind seemed to be collapsing. 

"I feel like dying," Brewster mumbled under his breath as he closed his eyes and sobbed even more. 

He was tired. He wanted to rest. 

'I really want to close my eyes and rest.' He cried. 

"We are here." He heard Jim say, and his thoughts were cut short. 

He forced his fingers to pick up the phone on the floor and relaxed his back. "Okay." He forced out through his hoarse voice. 

He picked up a few wipes in the car safe to wipe his face. He needed to hide his tears. He needed to hide his pain from his mother. 

Brewster made sure his face no longer held a trace of tears, and only then did he open the car door to step out. "You can leave first, brother Jimmy. I will see you later at night." He tried to force a smile as he closed the door behind him. 

"I will wait here for you," Jim told him. 

Brewster's step faltered, but he quickly balanced himself, ignoring the pain in his behind. "You don't have to." His voice turned hoarser. He felt like crying again. 

Jim smiled and stepped out of the car. He walked toward Brewster and ruffled his hair fondly. "It's okay. You will meet me here when you return." He said softly. 

Brewster looked into his eyes, and his heavy heart felt a bit lighter. He pressed his lips together and nodded. "Okay." He couldn't say more. He was scared that tears might form in his eyes again...

He forced a smile and quickly turned around to wipe the single tear that streamed down his left cheek. He limped toward his mother's ward. He sucked in a deep breath. His eyes fixed on the transparent glass, and looking past it, he saw his mother sitting lazily in bed, eyes fixed above while muttering things like she was questioning the heavens. 

Brewster controlled his emotions and pushed the door open. His lungs were filled with the sterile scent of disinfectant. Every flicker of the fluorescent light felt like it was stabbing his eyes. 

He stepped into the room, and the slight sound of the door closing finally attracted his mother's attention, who lazily turned her head toward his direction. Her eyes brightened for a moment before it dimmed again. "It's my Brewster. He's back from school again... but it might be his last time..." She mumbled under her breath, but it was loud enough for Brewster, who had his breath held to hear. 

"Mother has failed you... son." Her gaze moved past Brewster into the distance. 

It felt like she was staring at the Brewster she knew... and not the one standing before her. 

Brewster felt his eyes stung, but he held back his tears. He swallowed the lump in his throat and moved toward his mother. "Mum," He called, his voice being low and crispy. 

Brewster's mother slowly looked at his face before turning her head away. She totally ignored him. 

Brewster stared at her for a long while. He let out a deep breath and turned to leave. 

He knocked on the doctor's office. 

"Come in." He heard the doctor say. 

Brewster pushed open the door and entered. "Dr Kelvin." He called with a slight smile. 

Dr. Kelvin raised his eyes from the report before him and quickly stood up. "Brewster, you're finally here." He said urgently and handed a report to Brewster. "Check this. It's your mother's recent report." His eyes dimmed significantly, and he sighed bitterly. 

Brewster's fingers shook violently. He received the report and lowered his eyes to read. With each line read, Brewster felt like his world was sharply collapsing. His chest clenched, and he staggered backward, slumping on the seat behind him. "Doctor..." He called, weak and despaired. 

"Your mother has developed brain tumor, Brewster."

 Dr. Kelvin's voice echoed in the office, but all Brewster could see was his mother's once radiant smile. 

He couldn't cry this time___ he really couldn't.