Date: 29 Jan 2001 00:13:17 -0000
From: Cristina <genx002@candies.com>
Subject: realizations-3

Disclaimer: Persons who are not supposed to read this 1.  Because of state
laws or 2.  Are offended by same sex relations should not read this.

Author's Note: Anyways...I know it took me long enough but I finally have
the next chapter.  Enjoy.

Thanks: To my one fan.  (woo I have a fan go me) And to the author of Fall
Down and Smile (which is a great story that I think everyone should read
located under the Lesbian/College section) for inspiring me to keep writing
this.

Chapter 3

I opened the door to reveal Dominique appearing innocent as usual.  We made
our way to the living room and situated ourselves on the couch.  We were
sitting there talking about anything and everything when the phone rang.  I
answered the phone to find some guy asking for Dominique.

  "Who is it?"  She said giving me her confused look.

  "The hell if I know."

     I tried unsuccesfully to make out the conversation, but I could only
understand one thing and that was that something was really wrong.
Dominique hung up the phone and just looked completely lost.

  "Dominique what happened?"  She just stared at me with a look of complete
shock before she fell out on the couch into uncontrollable sobs.  She kept
saying something about her Mom's test results.

  "What am I going to do?  I can't lose her."  She managed to choke out
between sobs.

  "Domino, you're not going to lose anybody 'till you tell me what
happened."

  "Mom's in the hospital with cirrhosis of the liver.  They gave her about
2 weeks until liver failure sets in."

  "Isn't it treatable?"

  "Yeah if your liver's not already scarred beyond the salvage point.  The
only thing left now is a transplant, which most people wait years for."

  "Where is she?"

  "In Houston.  I'm flying down tommorrow and I want you to come with me."

  "Are you sure about that?  Domino, you know that I'm not your mother's
favoritist person in the whole wide world."

  "I know, but can you just be there for me?  I can't do this by myself."

  "Come here."  I said as I pulled her into a hug and whispered in her ear,
"You know I'll always be here for you and I'm not wishing your mom death
either.  I just don't wanna be the one to cause conflicts when your mother
is on her deathbed."

  "If it happens, it happens.  It won't be your fault and we'll deal with
it when and if the problem arises."

The Next Day

     We had just arrived in Houston and I needed to call Daniel to let him
know what happened.  Dominique walked with me to the nearest payphone in
the all-to-overcrowded-for-anything-close-to-comfort-airport.  Daniel
picked up on the second ring.

  "Harmony.  Thank God!  Where the hell have you been?"

  "I'm in the Houston.  Why?  What happened?"

  "What in God's name are you doing in Houston?"  I proceeded to tell him
of our situation.

  "Anyways, what was your deal?"

  "Oh nothing.  I think my news can wait 'til later."

  "Well we've got to get to the hospital.  I just need you to take care of
the house.  I have no idea when I'll be back."

  "Ok.  Call me if something happens."

  "I will.  Bye."

     We called a cab and arrived at the hosptital about 15 minutes later.
Dominique was ticking by the time we got there.  We walked down the
corridor to room 352, the number given to us by the secretary at the front
desk, to find a small sickly pale woman lying in bed looking like death
itself.  As soon as she saw me however she sparked a little.

  "What is she doing here?"