Every Sunday, Tysha woke up early, sometimes earlier than the sun, and took the coast train. Living in a inner city, she missed the sea, even if it was less than ten miles away. The station used to be full of people her age who had gone out during the night and were returning to their homes. Yet, she was well rested and freshly showered. Tysha would climb on the train and take a seat next to the window. She never carried a book or anything to entertain herself, looking at the scenery was enough for her.
The first part of the ride was underground, under the city's streets and buildings, under its parks. The tunnels emerged in the middle of a suburban landscape, combining factories and housing. The fields started gaining terrain as the train approached the coast. Some towns could be seen in the distance, and, all the sudden, the sea appeared on the right of the train. That was the vision Tysha had expected the most during the week, the one that made the effort worth it. Small quaint stations would pass through the windows. Some of them hadn't been used in ages, their windows and gates closed. Tysha was stopping on the last one. The arrival of her stop always made her have confronted feelings. On one hand, it was a nice destination, on the other she feared what would she find there. She feared her future, yet, she had to face it.
She would get out on the last stop and the bartender of the station's cafe would greet her with a smile. Tysha had been going there for some years, already, and she didnd't know for how much longer would she have to go. She waved at him, and, as usual, he invited her for coffee, Tysha always declined politely. Next came the uphill climb, it was pleasant most of the times, although it was hard if it was raining, but on Sundays there were no buses, and most of the people drove, so Tysha had already became used to the walk.
The asylum welcomed her on the top of the hill, its gates were closed, but the guard opened them as soon as he saw Tysha.
-Good morning Tysha.- he said, fatherly.
-Good morning, Gavin.
To access the building, Tysha had to cross the gardens. They still retained the same colonial air of the house, and they were a beautiful place, although not a happy one. Several patients were sitting on benches, staring at the horizon, some seemed to be mumbling to themselves, and only the most lucid ones were talking to each other. Most of them were elderly, and seemed to be content with their fate. The younger ones were usually more violent, and were never allowed into the gardens without company.
Tysha headed to the building where the doctor was already waiting for her. The girl liked her, Dr. Andrews had always been very straightforward, and had insisted from the first day on Tysha to call her Lisa instead of Dr. Andrews. The older woman hugged her.
-How's my mother?- Tysha asked.
The doctor's face grew somber.
-I'm not going to lie to you, Tysha. She's worsened a lot during this last week, I don't know how much longer she will have.
Thysha's mother, Samantha, had been ill for ages. It all started with some mobility problems, and soon she wasn't able to do the most easy of the tasks. That period meant lots of broken things around the house, and tears. Samantha knew what was coming for her, she had seen her mother go through the same. Her mind was whole but she had lost control over her body. That was when she insisted on going to the asylum, she didn't want to be a burden for her daughter. She didn't want to have her cope with what she had suffered. In the asylum they would take a better care of her, she said. Tysha had accepted reluctantly, how many sixteen-year-olds had to have their mothers admitted into an asylum? After that, Samantha only worsened, losing control over her mind as well as over her body. She became violent, menacing everyone that she would kill herself. She didn't wanted to see her daughter anymore, telling her it was her fault she was locked there. It broke Tysha's heart.
-How are you, Tysha?- the doctor asked, as soon as she finished updating her on the health status of her mother.
-Well, I still haven't felt any of the signs.- Samantha's illness was genetic, and even though Tysha hadn't had a genetic test done, she was still keeping an eye in case it started.
-I mean in general, how are you doing?
-Well enough. I mean, I'm tired, this is not easy, working, studying, coming here,... But I had never expected it to be easy.
-If you need anything don't hesitate to ask.
-Thanks, Lisa.- she had offered Tysha help every time she had been able to.- There are some things I have to do by myself.
-Do you want to see her?
-Of course I do.
For the first time in a long time, Samantha was calm. Her silhouette was dark against the immensity of the sea behind her window. Yes, it was time. It would be the last time Tysha would see her mother alive.
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