Ryan opened the house door with his own set of keys as he told his mother to lock after he went out. They both stepped into the house and saw Amanda trying to change the direction of a rather heavy couch by herself.

"What the hell do you think you are doing Mom?" Ryan asked with a serious tone.

Amanda stopped what she was doing and looked like a child who was caught a hand in cookie jar. She didn't know what to say or do for the oncoming lecture his son was going to take. He clearly told her not to do anything except some light stuff around the kitchen. She luckily caught the sight of new guest in the house and greeted him.

"Hello Matthew. What a pleasant surprise? What are you doing here?"

"I work as a professor at Ryan's new college Mrs. Parker" Matthew returned her greetings with a hug.

"Please call me Amanda. Don't go back to old habits and act like a stranger." they've become close enough to call each other by their first names during the year. He was the only neighbor, who will talk without asking about her condition, every other day. Even though, there won't be much progress in two days. That's a main reason why she is happy about the new city.

Ryan went to fridge for a drink.

"Do you want anything sir? "

"Water is fine" came the response.

Ryan came with two glasses of water one for Matthew and another for his mother. Amanda sighed in relief as she avoided her son's wrath for doing things that stress herself out.

"Go make us something to eat Mom. Sir came to help us with the moving. We'll take care of it."

"Thank you Matthew. I appreciate it. We don't know how everything works here. So we couldn't hire someone to do these things. It'll take at least a month to get used to everything here."

Amanda said from the kitchen.

"No problem Amanda. Don't worry I'll help when I can. "

Matthew and Ryan got to moving stuff and dusting off the things that came with house. This house isn't as big as their old one. It only has two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a small lawn. With the help of Matthew it took only a few hours to get everything settled.

"Have dinner before you go Mathew. It's almost dinner time."

He didn't protest. They all sat at the dining table. "Where do you live by the way? Don't tell me you live next street." Amanda said with an amused tone.

Matthew laughed at that and replied

"I live on campus. I'm also a student there. It's easier that way."

"Oh. How's everything? Campus life? How are you a student and teacher at the same time?"

"I finished masters. Due to my grades and the research I've done I'm eligible to teach, but I have to have a year of experience. Now, I work part time while I do my PhD. Next year I'll be receiving my doctorate."

"How old are you again?"

"23"

Amanda looked shocked at that "I knew you were young, but not that young. Is it possible?"

"Yes it is. That's why like Ryan here, I didn't go to top universities and chose this one. Plus, I spent only 4 years in primary school so it helped me a lot."

"You're a genius I see. Ryan wanted to skip some classes. I didn't agree to it. He already behaves and thinks beyond his age because of his father's death, thinking he has to take care of everything. I, at least wanted him to have a normal school life."

'That explains why Ryan is so polite and doesn't behave like others his age.' Mathew thought.

"You don't have to tell my whole life story to him Mom." Ryan chimed in.

"Come-on Ryan you're gonna spend the next four years with him. You have to socialize more. I'm not going to be with you forever."

That irritated Ryan, he got up and walked away to control his oncoming emotional myriad to not lash out on his mother.

Matthew is concerned, he couldn't help but ask "If you don't mind me asking, what's wrong with you Amanda?"

Amanda sighed dejected and said "I have Leukemia. Final stage"

"Aren't you going to therapy?"

"I am. I don't want to be attached to all those machines and wanted to spend my remaining days with my son. He's still ignoring the truth. Thinking it'll disappear if he ignores enough." Amanda said looking in the direction where her son disappeared to.

"You know him. He's not much of a social person. I'm trying to get him out of his shell. Every time I try, this is the result I get. " Amanda wiped a stray tear that escaped her left eye.

Matthew didn't know what to do. He's not close to his mother as Ryan to know how he feels. He guessed something is wrong with her but didn't know she doesn't have much time left.

They ate silently for a few minutes before Ryan returned to have his left over dinner. Everything is awkward.

"You didn't have spectacles last year. How is your eye sight? " Amanda tried to make the situation normal.

Matthew chuckled before saying "My eyes are perfectly fine. I wear them to look professional. Some of my students are my age, they won't even listen to me if I look their age. So, I'm trying my best" he shrugged at the end of the sentence.

"You still look young Sir. The tie is a plus though."

After their dinner, Amanda insisted that Ryan drop him off at campus. Since, the teacher doesn't have a car.

During his return home Ryan has the time to think about his behavior at dinner. At first, his mother didn't say anything about condition and kept it a secret. Now she seems to rub it in his face that she doesn't have much time. He understands that she's trying to help him. He doesn't want that, he wants his mother to take proper medical care and be healthy. Still, she refuses to do just that. He couldn't lash out on his mother so he left that place to calm himself down.