Chapter 1 The beginning of Lycia ending20:10 Sep 21 2025
Times Read: 159
A nine year-old girl, Lycia, has been battling Ewing's sarcoma since she was 7. Despite two previous remissions, the cancer has returned, this time in her spinal cord, and it's aggressive. The diagnosis is stage four, with no chance of recovery. Though her spirit remains unbroken, Lycia's greatest concern is her mother, Sarah, who's fragile when it comes to her daughter's well-being. In front of her parents, Lycia puts on a brave face, smiling and offering words of encouragement. But when alone, she breaks down, silently crying out in pain and deep sadness. It's as if solitude allows her to momentarily shed the burden she never should have had to bear.
Sarah checked on Lycia to see if she was awake or not. If she was, she would bathe her, and if not, she would wake her up. To her surprise, Lycia was already up and had showered too. "My little responsible girl", she thought to herself, only that little girl wouldn't stay with her more than a year. Sarah knocked on the door and waited for Lycia's response. "Come in." "Good morning, little joy. How are you? Feeling alright today?" "Yes, Mum, I feel good today too." Her mum pursed her lips, kissed her cheek, and hugged her lightly. "Come on, get ready for breakfast. Did you take all your medications?" "Yes, Mum. All the vitamins and Monday's pills are taken."
Sarah went to her own bedroom, tired but happy that her daughter was feeling well today. However, she couldn't say the same for her marriage with Mike. He had been strange and cold lately. She knew he had grown cold since Lycia's diagnosis, but back then, he was cold yet not that distant. Now, he was totally distant from her, except in front of Lycia.
Sarah entered her bedroom to find Michael giving her his back, a familiar sight these days. The familiarity didn't dull the sadness she felt. He used to hug her, kiss her, and compliment her, but now he seemed to have lost interest. His excuses came easily, all for the sake of maintaining a façade in front of Lycia.
"She's awake," Sarah said, trying to break the silence. "Good, it's time to bathe her." But Lycia had already showered, and Sarah couldn't help but think, "That child sometimes makes me feel like we're the children and she's already grown up. Did we mess up her childhood?
"Mike, why aren't we intimate like before? Don't you desire me anymore?"
"Don't call me Mike. I'm Michael," he said in a stern tone, not looking back at her. Sarah felt taken aback by his sharp words. "You used to like it," she reminded him, trying to keep her voice steady. "People change, Sarah. How can I feel attracted to you when you don't even care about your looks? Look at yourself in the mirror, you've put on weight."
Wow, Michael, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?" Sarah retorted, her tone rising. Michael glanced at her, then looked away, his expression softening slightly as he apologized for his harsh words.
Then, he pulled out baseball tickets for two people. "I've got tickets for the game," he said, his tone noticeably nervous. Sarah shook her head immediately. "I can't come with you; I've got to take care of Lycia." But Michael's response was unexpected and indifferent. "No, you go take up a new hobby. Lycia will come with me this Friday after her test." Sarah's head whipped around, and she winced, straining her neck in the process. WHAT! she exclaimed, standing up from her chair, her voice echoing through the room. "She's coming with me to the Green Monster," Michael said, his voice firm and loud, the words almost barked out.
Sarah's face turned pale, her eyes wide with fear. "NO!" she exclaimed frantically, her voice shaking. “She can’t go; it’s too risky and dangerous in her situation. Please, don’t do this!” "Yes, she will," Michael countered, his voice low and even, but laced with exasperation. "For God's sake, Sarah, stop being a helicopter mom! She's got only one year to live, and you're suffocating her, keeping her by your side all the time. She needs to live, not just exist under your constant care."
Sarah felt deeply hurt, her eyes welling up with tears. Every sacrifice she'd made, every moment she'd given up for Lycia's care, seemed to mean nothing in Michael's eyes. "She can watch it on TV," she argued, her voice trembling. "It's not the same," Michael insisted, his jaw clenched. "What kind of mother would ruin all the fun for her terminally ill child just to keep her safe?" he asked, his voice laced with frustration and accusation. Sarah replied, her voice cracking, "A mother that loves her and protects her, one who’s given up everything for her." Michael snapped, his words biting. "Too much of that is toxic. Just this once, for God's sake."
After an hour of yelling at each other, they finally took a moment to breathe. Sarah's voice was strained as she said, "Only for try-outs. Not more than that." Michael let out a huge sigh of relief, pumping his fist in the air in triumph. "Yes! Thank God!" he exclaimed, his voice still rough from the argument. "You will be eagle-eyed," Sarah said firmly. She went out of the bedroom and went downstairs with Lycia to make breakfast and Michael is breathing more calmly That was close. I nearly had a slip the tongue that I was going to bring Michelle instead of her . She can never know about us .
Lycia's education takes place in the comfort of her own home, with her young aunt Michelle serving as her private tutor. Unbeknownst to Lycia's mother, Sarah, Michelle, 24, is having an affair with Lycia's father, Michael. Though Lycia is aware of the secret, she chooses to keep it hidden to protect her mother's feelings. Instead, she confides in her trusted friends: Bobby, her beloved bunny plush toy, and Thomas, the town's notorious bully who has a soft spot for Lycia. To her, Thomas is a gentle giant and a loyal protector, shielding her from the cruel taunts of other kids.
"Great job, Lycia! You're really getting the hang of this," Michelle said, glancing over Lycia's shoulder.
Lycia smiled politely, her eyes never leaving the worksheet. "Thank you, Aunt Michelle. You're a good teacher."
Michelle's expression softened slightly, pleased with the praise. "I'm just glad you're understanding the material, sweetie. Your father would be proud of you."
Lycia's gaze flickered for a moment, but she kept her composure. "I'm glad I'm doing okay. Can we move on to the next topic?"
Michelle nodded, launching into an explanation of decimals. Lycia listened attentively, her face a mask of interest. As the lesson continued, Michelle chatted about various topics, unaware of Lycia's inner thoughts and feelings. Lycia, meanwhile, maintained her polite façade, all the while observing her aunt with a discerning eye.
"No one's going to take my dad from me and Mom – not even you, Aunt. I'm watching you."
After lessons finished, Lycia stepped out onto the porch, where she found Thomas waiting for her. She whispered to her mom that she was heading out with him, making sure to emphasize that it was a secret from her dad and aunt. "I'll be back in an hour, Mom," she promised, and her mom nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Michelle came out of the bathroom and asked, "Where's the little one?" Sarah replied, "She's gone up to sleep. Let her be, she was yawning a bit." Michelle nodded understandingly. "Oh, I see. No worries, I'll stay with you for a minute and then I'm off to work." The two women sat in silence as Michelle finished her tea, before she eventually got up to leave.
Thomas, just 10 years old, has known unimaginable pain. Having lost his sister, CeCe, to pancreatic cancer at 16, and his mother, Mary, to advanced breast cancer a year later, he's all too familiar with the weight of silent suffering. His father, a janitor, struggles to make ends meet, driven by a desperate desire to secure a better future for Thomas. In a misguided attempt to provide for his son's college education, he's turned to gambling, hoping to win big. But the debt collectors keep calling, and the weight of his financial burden grows heavier by the day. As Thomas's father's desperation deepens, he becomes increasingly withdrawn, hiding his struggles from his son.
"Hey, where's Mr. Nolan?" Lycia asked. "He went out for a side hustle," Thomas replied. Lycia's brow furrowed in confusion. "A side what?" she asked, her English remarkably good for a 9-year-old Maltese girl, but not quite catching the colloquialism. Thomas smiled, realizing he had to be more careful with his words. "Oh, it means another job, like a part-time one, but only temporary and without a contract," he explained.
As he spoke, Thomas felt at ease with Lycia, a sense of freedom he hadn't experienced since his mother and sister passed away. He got up to fetch a glass of milk, knowing Lycia wasn't allowed processed foods or drinks, but milk was close enough to natural. As he handed her the glass, he gently reached out to untie her wig, his fingers moving with care. He began to brush her hair, envisioning a new style. This was his passion – styling wigs for cancer patients and others with hair loss. It was a dream he'd nurtured, and he lost himself in the gentle strokes of the brush.
As Lycia confided in Thomas about her father's affair and her mother's struggles with cancer, her voice cracked with emotion. Thomas listened attentively, his expression softening with concern. When she broke down in tears, he wrapped his arms around her gently, holding her close. "They love you, Lycia," he whispered. "Your parents would do anything to see your lovely smile again. You're not alone, and we're here for you."
"Come on, drink the milk and let's get going," Thomas said softly, gently putting the wig back on Lycia's head and adjusting it with care. His hands moved tenderly, making sure everything was in place. As he finished, he smiled warmly at Lycia, trying to reassure her. "You okay now?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. Lycia nodded, cleaned her face, and headed straight to her room to get ready for her trip to the cancer clinic. The blood test results showed no significant changes, which was a relief. She was thrilled about the upcoming trip to the Ta' Qali Stadium to watch a baseball match, affectionately referring to it as the "Green Monster." She warned her dad that it was either a father-daughter outing or nothing, and he reluctantly agreed, ripping up the extra ticket to make her happy.
With a prognosis of just one year left to live, Lycia's fate took a darker turn when government officials deemed her case hopeless and arrived to take drastic action. They brutally murdered Sarah, and as Lycia was being dragged away to the ominous Badlands, she was granted a heart-wrenching moment to bid farewell to her mother's lifeless body, her lips brushing against cold skin as tears streamed down her face. In a desperate bid for rescue, Lycia managed to leave a secret message hidden in the collar of her bunny, which she deliberately placed near the window, addressing a frantic plea for help to Thomas as she was torn from the only home she knew.
As Thomas approached Lycia's door, he sensed something was off. The door was closed, and a single drop of blood stained the pavement, starkly contrasting the usually spotless surroundings. Peering through the window, his heart sank at the sight of Lycia's mother lying lifeless on the floor. Panic set in, and Thomas broke the window to enter the house. He rushed to call for help, but the phones were dead. Lycia's mother was cold and stiff, her eyes frozen in a glassy stare. Thomas frantically called out Lycia's name, searching the house, but she was nowhere to be found.
However, he noticed Lycia's beloved bunny, Bob, sitting by the window, which seemed strange since Lycia would never leave without it. Thomas picked up the bunny and took it home, hiding it away. Later, he anonymously called for an ambulance and took steps to cover his tracks, burning his sneakers and cleaning any surfaces he might have touched to avoid leaving any evidence behind.
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