Chapter Text
The bell rang to signify the end of not only the school day, but of the school week as well. Amicia sighed in relief as she closed her chemistry book and started packing up to go home. A short walk and she would have the place to herself for a little bit before her mother came home with Hugo, then her mother would leave for her night job and Amicia would have to make dinner and get Hugo to bed. At least it was a weekend night, so maybe she would order out. Hugo was always a little out of sorts after a day at the clinic, so a treat would be a nice gesture.
As she made her way out of the school, her phone buzzed, making her sigh not in relief, but in exasperation. She pulled out her phone and almost nodded to herself for being right. It was her mother, asking her to pick up Hugo from the clinic, having been called in early to her night job. Amicia texted a quick confirmation, changing her direction from right towards home, to left towards the city. It wasn't that she hated doing it, she loved Hugo to the moon and back, it was just, she felt like she was more a mother to Hugo than their actual mother. As she flashed her bus pass to the driver and sat down, she let her mind drift to how her life came to this.
Amicia was ten when Hugo was born, and his birth had not been a simple affair. He was born a month premature and sunny side up, and had to be put in an incubator until he had put on enough weight and was strong enough to thrive on his own. Since then, it's been doctors appointments, emergency room trips, and everything in between for the first three years of Hugo’s life. Most children feared the doctor, but Hugo was there so much, he thought the hospital was his real home and the house was just a place to stay in between stays. Robert De Rune tried his hardest to keep his family together and strong. While Beatrice was busy with Hugo, he would make sure Amicia was doing alright. He would take her on outings, stay with her at home when Hugo had to spend the night at the hospital, and just make sure she was not forgotten.
At first, Amicia hated Hugo for his sudden inconvenience on the family. Robert saw this and sat her down one day.
“Your little brother is very sick and very weak. None of that is his fault. Nor is it your mother's. It is nobody's fault that this has happened, so getting angry does nothing but add to the stress already building, it just makes your brother sicker.” Robert said.
“But mom is always with him. She never talks to me anymore. And Hugo does nothing but cry.” Amicia said, folding her arms in a pout. She knew she was being immature about all this, but she was feeling all the stress from her family and had no outlet to release it. Robert smiled sadly.
“That's because he is scared. Don't you get scared when you are really sick?” Amicia thought about it and nodded.
“Well, think how he feels. Hugo doesn't know what he is feeling or why, only that he feels bad and nothing he does makes it stop. And he can’t tell us what hurts or what that hurt feels like.” Amicia unfolded her arms as she let that thought sink in. That must be scary. And it's bad for mother because she can't make it stop either.
“So, maybe you could try to distract Hugo from those scary feelings? Play with him. Teach him what you know. Be a big sister. A protector.” Robert said. That day, it clicked for Amicia and she stepped up and began helping more around the house rather than sulking about. She would get up in the middle of the night with her mother and help tend to Hugo, asking her mother to teach her what to do to help. Robert was so proud of her, and for the next year, things were not good, but a sense of normalcy for the family.
Then, several stones shattered that normalcy. Robert was killed by a drunk driver one night coming home from work. His life insurance was good, but not enough to keep the house Amicia had grown up in. They moved to a brownstone that was further from the hospital, but closer to Amicia’s school. Then, on one of Hugo’s many appointments when he was four, they discovered something wrong with his blood. Hugo had developed a rare form of terminal blood cancer. The doctors didn't know much about it, only that it was fast moving and they had yet to find a treatment to slow it down. The only good news was they caught it early enough, they could try to slow it down. The bad news was that even if they did slow it down, he would only live to see eight years old. As it was, he would be lucky to see past his sixth birthday.
Since that day, Beatrice had been working multiple jobs to cover the medical costs and everything, leaving Amicia to take care of Hugo. She got him ready for the day, put him to bed, made sure he was fed and kept track of all his medications. She talked to the doctors the most, relaying the information to her mother when she could. Amicia bore the brunt as well as any fifteen year old could, but she couldn't deny that the stress was starting to get to her. She wouldn't complain though, her mother had enough on her plate without Amicia bringing in teenage angst.
The bus stopped and Amicia walked into the clinic, texting her mother that she had made it and was now waiting for Hugo. The message was received, but no answer back, which was usual. Amicia smiled at the receptionist and took a seat in the lobby.
“Hugo is almost done with his appointment. The doctor might want to speak to you, though.” The receptionist said.
“Thanks.” Amicia said. The receptionist smiled sadly as she went back to her computer. That girl talked more to the doctors and had to keep a brave face for her brother when the news was not pleasant. The girl always looked on edge, like she was sitting on a nail, wringing her hands with a nervous energy. She hid it well from her brother, though. Not a lot of teenagers would be stepping up like this girl was.
The door opened and another woman stepped in. Amicia looked up from texting Lucas, telling him where she was, and was a little shocked at the woman who came in.
She was dressed very flamboyant, with earrings, bracelets, and a scarf tying back her dark, curly hair. Her hands were covered in black tattoos, and she walked with an easy confidence Amicia was slightly jealous of. She looked a little younger than her mother, and her brown eyes sparkled with laughter as she approached the desk.
“Hello, Sophia. Does Arnaud know you are picking him up today?” The receptionist asked with a laughing tone. The woman, Sophia, chuckled a bit.
“No, I thought I'd surprise him today.” She said as she sat down across from Amicia, who had taken to looking at the floor.
“Haven't seen you around here, before.” Amicia looked up sharply at the woman. Sophia was sitting very relaxed in the chair, and again, Amicia felt a twinge of jealousy. She wished she could move with the confidence and ease this woman had.
“I'm picking up my brother. My mother had to go to work.” Amicia said, shifting nervously. For as much as she was here, Amicia never talked to any of the other patients or family members. She didn't feel comfortable telling people about her life or anything going on with it. In school, it gave her a reputation as being standoffish and cold, and she had only one real friend.
“Ah. I'm here to pick up my husband. Lung cancer. This will be his second time with it, but the doctors are confident it's not as bad as the first time.” Sophia said. Amicia had to clench her jaw to keep it from dropping to the floor. She could never imagine herself just telling a stranger about Hugo’s condition, and so casually! Sophia must have seen her jaw tighten, because she laughed.
“I'm sorry, I'm oversharing, aren't I. Sophia.” She leaned forward and stuck out her hand. Amicia was hesitant to take it, and shook it briefly.
“It gets easier, you know. All this. I was a lot like you the first time Arnaud was diagnosed. We had just gotten engaged and everything, and I was a wreck, worse than he was. I shut myself off from the world, convinced nobody would care about me or him outside of family. But, I learned if I talked, people will sometimes listen. And that all this is easier when you have people to turn to.” She said. Amicia felt herself relax for the first time in a long time. It was true, she didn't tell anyone what was going on, her teachers had the bare minimum of knowledge about it, and Lucas knew some of what was going on, but he was busy with an internship at a pharmaceutical company.
“It also helps no one when you are worked up and stressed out.” Sophia said. Amicia let herself sink a little bit into her chair.
“My little brother, Hugo, is here with blood cancer.” She whispered, and couldn't help but flinch at the word. Even after all this time, she still had a problem with saying it outloud. She was surprised when Sophia smiled and laughed.
“Hugo is your brother? Oh my, then we have to be friends. Arnaud tells me all the time about this little boy in treatment who talks a mile a minute about everything under the sun. I think last time, he was obsessed with birds.” Amicia couldn't help but smile a little and chuckle weakly.
“That's Hugo, alright. He still loves birds, but now he wants to know all about knights and such.” Sophia laughed even more.
“Then he will love Arnaud now. Arnaud was a soldier when he was younger, he has been waiting for new people to tell his stories to.” Amicia laughed as the door burst open and Hugo ran through in all his five year old glory, tackling Amicia in a hug. He looked tired and pale, but beamed with happiness at seeing his big sister.
“Amicia! I was really good today! They gave me a shot and I didn't even say ‘ow!’, and I got a lollipop and it was my favorite flavor! And…” Sophia watched as Amicia hung on every word Hugo had to say, pausing long enough to go speak to his doctor in the other room.
“Hugo is responding well to this course of treatment.” The doctor explained as Hugo played with the colorful bead maze.
“We have seen a significant decrease in the progression of his cancer, so I'd like to keep him on this dosage and we will see how he does on his next visit.” The doctor said. Amicia nodded, taking down notes for the measurements for the medication he took at home.
“And remember, any seizures or fainting spells, do not hesitate to bring him in.” Amicia thanked the doctor as they walked back into the lobby. Sophia was at the desk with a large man with a thick beard and hair in a top knot.
“I am telling you, this woman is here to kidnap me, I have no idea who she is.” The man said. Sophia rolled her eyes.
“As if anyone would pay ransom for you.” She said.
“I would make nationwide news.” The man said.
“You wouldn't even make the ten o'clock news.” Sophia said.
“Arnuad!” Hugo shouted with joy and hugged the man around the leg. Arnaud ruffled his hair with a fond chuckle.
“Hey, Shorty. Thought you'd sneak by without saying goodbye, eh?” Hugo giggled as he let go.
“Bye, Arnaud! See you next time!” Hugo said.
“Hopefully not.” Arnuad said, and it was obvious this was a ritual between the two. Sophia walked over to Amicia and handed her a piece of paper.
“Remember: it's always better to have someone to talk to.” She said, as Amicia looked at the paper with Sophia's phone number on it. Amicia tried to give the number back, but when Sophia insisted, she smiled and pocketed the number.
Hugo waved as he walked out with Amicia, Sophia and Arnuad walking out behind them, listening to the siblings talk.
“Mommy has to work tonight, doesn't she?” Hugo asked. Amicia nodded.
“I'm afraid so. How about since you were such a good boy today, I don't cook dinner tonight?” Hugo cheered.
“Yay! Bad food!” He said, making Amicia chuckle.
“Yes, bad food. I was thinking about pizza.” She said.
“Can I stay up late tonight?” Hugo asked.
“I don't know if you can stay awake past your bedtime.” Amicia teased.
“I can, too!” Hugo said. Sophia shook her head in amusement as she watched the two walk to the bus stop. She and Arnaud walked to their car.
“When I was fifteen, my only worries on a Friday night were whose party would I go to first. I can't imagine dealing with this at her age.” Sophia said. Arnaud nodded in agreement.
“And that boy has got a spirit in him. I was a blubbering mess when I first got diagnosed.” He said as they drove home. Sophia remembered all too well that day. They had both been a mess. Now, they were more disappointed they had to go through all this again, but they felt better knowing what will happen this time around.
“That's why I gave Amicia our number. I want her to know there are people who can understand what she and her brother are going through.” Sophia said. Arnaud gave a dry laugh.
“If she uses it. I get the sense she doesn't like to ask for help.” He said. Sophia sighed. She got the sense too. It wasn't until later that night when she got a text from a new number. It was Amicia, just texting her so she knew what her number was, that Sophia knew this was a step in the right direction.