That night, her mother ached all over. She was twisted in pain and broke a few glasses. Although she refused to let Noin in, Noin broke the door open. She found her mother was pale and sweating all over. She quickly fetched the pills and called for an ambulance.
After the diagnosis, the doctor said nothing. When Noin asked him, he simply said the condition of her mother was getting worse. The cancer cells have already spread to other parts of the body and there was no way to cure. Noin thanked the doctor and went straightly to the ward. Her mother was lying in a bed. Here eyes were swollen and red. “Do you feel better, mama?” Noin asked gently by the side of her mother. Her mother stared at her without answering. She was breathing hard and moved her lips as if she wanted to speak but she bit her lips instead. Noin took a deep breath, determined to be the first one to break the wall between them. “Mama, please forgive me. I was a child, then. I ran away because I didn’t know what to do when all the things at home reminded me of papa. I knew that you and uncle got married because of me. I was so weak at that time…I sincerely hoped that uncle and you would live happily together. Yes, this was my wish before I knew uncle was dead. I ran away to train myself in order to be a strong person to love you and support you… Forgive me…forgive your weak and naughty daughter.” Noin voice was trembled. She couldn’t bring herself to cry, but her mother sobbed wildly, “It’s my fault. I saw you wandering near the streams and in the woods. I saw you daydreaming of your father. You looked so sad and lost at that time. I noticed these and so did Guidarini. We had a long discussion. As a good friend to our family, Guidarini agreed to be the godfather of you. He was not sure whether you could receive the shock…” She felt a strong pain. The nurse has injected a higher dose of morphia into her body, but sometimes the medicine did not work. She struggled to continue, “of our marriage. So he suggested that he might live with us, but I thought it was unfair for him to live with us without any obvious reasons. I know, there will be rumours…” She could not continue, “Why did he leave me, like your father?” “Mama, this time, I will not leave. I will stay with you, support you and comfort you.”
Two months later, Noin and her mother moved to a small village near the Alps. Her mother wanted to live there because it was the place in which she met Francesco for the first time. She wanted to spend the rest of her days there. Although it was difficult, Noin got all the medical records and reports of her mother to a hospital nearby. She determined to make her mother happy. She found a new job and became a rescue team member. In normal days, she needed to check all the resting places of the skiing area, produce ‘artificial avalanche’ and help the people in need in the mountains. She made new friends there. They all loved mountains and shared very similar interests with her. The old feelings of living with mountains came back to her. She was content; this was a comfort to her to ease her mind a little. Her mother was happy and getting better. The doctors were more optimistic about her condition. Noin threw herself into the new life she had and tried not to think about her past, although she often failed. The dreams of the past few years brought both happiness and sadness. Sometimes, she really wanted to go back and meet everyone, but she knew she had to pay more attention to her mother.
One day, the team received an emergency call from a resting place about 5000m above sea level. A climbing team was trapped by the glacier and one of the team members was injured. Noin set out with other ten team members, hoping to rescue them before a storm came. They were divided into three groups and searched for the climbing team from 4000m above sea level. They searched for a whole day, but they still could not find the team. The search continued on the other day. The storm was coming and it would develop into a severe storm. Everyone was nervous, especially Noin. She has experienced that kind of situation before and still clearly remembered every scene. She pulled herself up using all her strength, suddenly the rope tightened. She looked down and saw one of her teammate was hanging on the rope. The ice beneath them began to fall due to its great mass. Noin shouted, “Up here, be quick!” She quickly climbed to a platform-like ice block and helped the others to get there. Just then, the whole wall of ice fell like a sheet. Apparently, they were trapped. They quickly reported back to the office. At that very moment, heavy snow began to bounce against them, so they climbed to a sheltered place as fast as possible. They ran into a cave where they met another team. Strong winds were roaring outside and the snow on the ground got thicker and thicker. They tried the communication system again and again, but the strong winds interfered the transmission of the signals. They were completely isolated from the outside world.
One experienced team member, Alfred, who was one of the pilots of the whole team, gathered the people in the cave together. They had a discussion. Noin told the others there was no way to get out at the eastern side since the ice sheet has fallen. Another team member reminded that there should be an ‘artificial avalanche’ on the next day on the southern slope, so getting out from the southern slope could be dangerous. Alfred finally pointed out that they were probably on the south-eastern slope 4550m above sea level. They then discussed the possible route they could take. The weather was getting worse outside; the snow has already blocked half of their exit. This, at least, provided them a shield against the storming weather outside. They only had three pieces of chocolate with them. Although they were surrounded by ice, they were under the threat of dehydration. They only had about 1 litre of water with them and this had to be shared by six people. The most important thing at hat moment was to get enough rest, so they took shift to get rest and stay on guard. Noin and Alfred were responsible for checking the weather constantly. The sky was so dim and it seemed that the bad weather would continue for several days.
Two days have passed, they were still trapped in the cave. There were no water left and they bean to take in snow. This was not a good way to get water because this would lower the body temperature. Their clothings were still enough to keep them warm. All of them were not allowed to sleep because the temperature was too low. They still tried hard on the communication system, but they still could not contact anyone outside. Noin looked at the sky, the clouds were thinner and began to move in a south-eastern direction. That meant, they were sheltered by the mountain. A gust blew into the cave, Noin shivered. “How’s mama?” she thought. “She should go to have her regular check-up today.” She looked at her watch for the time. “She should be there now.” Noin felt uneasy, she should be there with her mother. Someone was shouting. Who was that? She quickly called the others to listen. “Al…fred!” The voice was fading. It was the voice of one of their colleagues, Victor. He was leaving. “Victor! Here!” everyone shouted. Alfred and Noin immediately blew their whistles. Three seconds later, they heard someone whistling back. They whistled again, so their colleagues could locate them. Finally, they all arrived at their office three hours later. On the way, they knew that all the climbing team members were saved and were sent to the hospital two days ago. Noin’s mother was waiting anxiously in the office, she jumped up when she saw Noin back. Noin came to her mother, smiling, “Good afternoon, mama.” She said it light-heartedly to ease her mind. “Did you have your check-up?” “No. Lucrezia, you looked tired. Let’s go home and get a rest.” Her mother observed her carefully and said. “Alfred, can I hand in my report tomorrow morning? I think I have to leave now.” Noin said as she took her jacket on. “OK, take your time.” Alfred answered, sipping hot chocolate. “Thanks, mama, let’s go.” They took a taxi. To her mother surprise, they were going to the hospital. Noin said in a naughty way, “I’m not tired, mama. You know, I’m young.”
Things went very well in the first and a half year. Noin’s mother’s condition was stable, the cancer cells were seemed under control. Noin was satisfied with her job, although sometimes she had accidents, like the one mentioned. Her physical fitness got further improved. However, good things never last long. After the first and a half year of well being, the health of Noin’s mother turned worse. At first, she found herself having difficulties in breathing, then she had difficulties to move. A thorough check-up was done, and the doctors suggested that she should stay in the hospital. Noin sadly agreed. She did not want her mother to be alone in the hospital, so she asked the rescue team members to reserve the afternoon and night shifts for her. Her friends all understood her and tried her best to help. So, Noin usually spend the daytime or morning in the ward with her mother and nights in the office. It was so painful for her to hear the moan of her mother. Her mother has already been injected with the maximum dose of morphia, but still she was in great pain. Even though Noin tried hard to keep herself smiling and cheer her mother up, she could not do it. Another thins was bothering her.
One day she received a call from Lady Une. A very shocking news came, Lady Une told her that Miss Relena was kidnapped and disappeared. Lady Une called her to take up the duty as a preventer again. “Sorry, Lady Une, I can’t.” Noin replied. “My mother is now lying in the hospital and struggling for her life. I can’t leave her now.” Lady Une was disappointed but Noin promised to come back once her mother felt better. The doctors and her friends were trying their best to help Noin and her mother, but in vain, her mother was getting worse and worse. Two months later, the pain finally took her breath and life away peacefully and slowly.
