Mom's April Fool Prank Killed Me

I was still at the office pulling an overtime shift when my mother called me, sounding like her world was ending.

Nia! Your father's having a massive heart attack! Get to the hospital right now!

My dad has had heart issues for years. Hearing that, I didn't think twice. I abandoned my work and raced toward the hospital.

In my panic, I lost control of the wheel and slammed into a guardrail. I blacked out instantly.

When I finally regained consciousness, my mother was sitting by my hospital bed. She was casually munching on a bag of potato chips.

"Mom, how's Dad? Is he okay?!" I croaked, my head throbbing.

To my shock, she actually burst out laughing. She looked at me with total amusement.

"Oh, honey, it's April Fool's Day! I was just pulling your leg. I can't believe you actually fell for it!"

"Your father is perfectly fine. He's out at the bar with his buddies right now."

"But you? You have zero sense of humor. You can't even drive a car right. I had to leave my poker game early just because you ended up in the ER..."

She gave me a disgusted look and reached out, smacking me hard right on my bandaged head.

"It's not even that big of a deal! I'm going back to my game. Don't bother me unless it's an actual emergency!"

The impact on my fresh concussion made the room spin. I leaned over and vomited until I was dry-heaving.

I stayed in that hospital bed for days. Not a single soul from my family came to visit me.

My mother even posted a photo of my bloodied, battered face on Facebook. She mocked me for being "too sensitive" to take a joke.

Before I could even be discharged, another bombshell dropped.

"Mom! You need to come to the clinic for a follow-up immediately! Your physical results show you've contracted..."

"Contracted what? Don't you dare try to pull that April Fool's crap on me! Stop trying to curse me just because you're bitter!"

I stared at the medical report in my hand and suddenly started laughing.

"Mom, April Fool's was days ago. Today is a day for the dead."

I hung up before she could respond.

After all, she was the one who tested positive for the virus, not me.

This time, I wasn't the one who needed to hurry.

Just as I clicked off the phone, Dr. Miller stood beside me, his brow furrowed in concern.

What did Mrs. Vance say? When can she come in for the confirmatory testing?

The initial screening is positive, and her charts show clear symptoms of the acute stage. Its almost certain she has the virus.

If she doesn't start treatment now, shes a danger to herself and everyone around her.

Dr. Miller tried calling her again, but she had already blocked the hospitals number.

I knew exactly what she was doing. She was at the casino or a poker table, convinced I was just playing a prank on her.

This condition isn't a death sentence anymore, but she needs to cooperate. She could live for years with the right meds.

The doctor sighed, looking at me with pity.

Its tough having a mother like that. You nearly died in that crash, and when she got here, she asked if we could just patch you up and send you home to save money.

Now shes ignoring her own life-threatening diagnosis. We can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved!

Over the past few days, I had become the main topic of gossip among the nurses.

Everyone knew about the crash. The paramedics said I was covered in blood and drifting in and out of consciousness, screaming about my dads heart.

The ER doctors actually thought my father was the one in surgery at first because of how much Id rambled about him.

When it came time to sign the consent forms, my mother showed up looking annoyed.

She didn't spend a dime of her own. She dug through my blood-stained purse to find my credit card to pay for the deductible.

When I woke up, she didn't ask how I felt. She just ridiculed me.

She took a photo of me wrapped in bandages and posted it for all our relatives to see.

Some people just can't take a joke! Look at this idiot who wrecked her car over a little prank! [Laughing Emoji]

My aunts and cousins chimed in, calling me a buzzkill. They said I looked like a hideous mummy.

Some of them even turned my pain into memes and sent them to me privately.

Then there was my father.

He kept calling me, not to check on my health, but to complain that my hospital stay was cutting into my work hours and his allowance.

Everyone thought I deserved the crash because I couldn't handle a simple April Fools joke.

But in that moment on the highway, I wasn't thinking about the date. I was thinking about my fathers life.

I was terrified Id never get to say goodbye.

Looking back at how much I cared, I felt like the worlds biggest fool.

Dr. Miller was still trying to reach her. I shook my head and spoke calmly.

My wounds aren't healed yet, so I can't drag her here myself.

Just mail the official report to the house. Once she sees the hospital seal, shell have to face it.

I said that, but in my heart, I stopped caring about her survival.

I didn't judge people with the virus, but my mothers situation wasn't an accident.

She and my father had been sleeping in separate rooms for years because they loathed each other.

My mother was never lonely, though. She was constantly bringing home different men she met at the poker halls.

They were always shady, transient types. She never used protection, and she never cared about the risks.

I had tried to warn her about her lifestyle before, but she just told me to shut up and stop ruining her fun.

Fine. She was a grown woman. She could live with the consequences of her own choices.

I thought shed come to the hospital quietly once she saw the papers.

I was wrong. She was crazier than I imagined.

The next morning, a familiar screech echoed through the ward before the nurse could even check my vitals.

Nia Vance! Get your pathetic ass out here and look at what youve done!

I jumped, my heart hammering against my ribs. Before I could sit up, my mother stormed in and slapped me across the faceDtwice.

The nurse froze in shock. Patients and staff from the entire floor started crowding around the door to watch the drama.

My mother threw the medical report at my chest, her face purple with rage.

You little brat! How dare you forge a medical report to humiliate me! This is the most disgusting prank yet!

Positive for antibodies? You even made it look professional. Did you think you could actually scare me with this?

She sneered and turned to the growing crowd of onlookers.

Listen up, everyone! My daughter, Nia, has been sleeping around behind our backs. Shes the one whos sick!

She tried to swap her test results with mine to cover her tracks! Isn't that just the lowest thing youve ever heard?!

The only people who knew the truth were me and Dr. Miller.

But Dr. Miller was off-duty today. There was no one to verify the truth.

The crowd immediately shifted. People started looking at me with pure disgust.

Wait, isn't that the girl who was in the car wreck? I heard she was a mess.

No wonder her mom treats her like garbage. If I had a daughter that shameful, I wouldn't claim her either!

It wasn't just strangers. Some of my coworkers from the accounting firm were visiting someone else and joined the crowd.

They saw my mothers righteous anger and whipped out their phones to record me.

Expose her! Nia Vance from Accounting is a total predator!

Shes carrying the virus and trying to frame her own mother! Stay away from her desk!

We need to audit the books. Who knows what kind of filth shes touched with her hands!

They uploaded the videos to the company Slack and social media. My phone began vibrating non-stop with angry messages from my boss.

The crowd was getting louder. I rubbed my temples, trying to stay calm.

But my mother wasn't done. She started squeezing out fake tears, playing the part of the grieving parent.

I raised her with everything I had, and this is how she repays me? Doing such filthy things in secret...

Its a terrible disease, but Ill spend every penny I have to keep her alive, even if she hates me...

She glanced at me from the corner of her eye, a glint of triumph shining through her fake sobbing.

She was playing the martyr to ensure I was completely destroyed.

The onlookers were touched. Don't blame yourself, ma'am! Its not your fault!

Exactly! Nia brought this on herself. She doesn't deserve a dime of your money!

Even the nurse who had been kind to me all week was now looking at me with a mix of fear and judgment.

I took a deep breath and looked my mother dead in the eye.

Whether Im sick or not isn't up to you. And its not up to me.

Lets call Dr. Miller, the head of the department. Hell tell everyone the truth.

The mention of Dr. Miller made the crowd quiet down. He was a renowned expert and the next candidate for Chief of Staff.

The tide of the crowd began to turn. They were hesitant to pick a side if a major doctor was involved.

Lets hear what the expert says. I don't want to get sued for defamation.

Yeah, stay sharp, guys. Don't let her mom use us as a mob if it's not true.

My mother crossed her arms and smirked. She clearly thought I was bluffing.

She still believed the report was just a clever April Fools prank Id made on a laptop.

I dialed Dr. Millers number while everyone watched in anticipation.

I thought this would end the nightmare.

But the phone just kept ringing. No one picked up.

When the automated voice told me the call couldn't be completed, my mother started clapping loudly. She spat on the floor near my bed.

Still trying to buy time with your imaginary friends? You don't know a big-shot like Dr. Miller. You were just faking that call!

I was breaking into a cold sweat. I tried to redial, but she lunged forward.

She knocked the phone out of my hand, sending it skittering across the floor.

Dr. Miller is a busy man. He doesn't have time for a lying little tramp like you!

Nia, Ill give you one chance. Get on your knees right now and apologize. Beg for my forgiveness.

If you don't, Im going to your office and showing every single person there what a degenerate you are!

I snatched the medical report off the bed and flashed a cold, sharp smile.

You say Im a degenerate? Wheres your proof?

This paper has your name on it, Martha Vance. It has the hospitals official seal.

Mom, lying is easy, but facts are hard. Tell us, what exactly did I do that was so filthy?

The crowd, which had been ready to tear me apart, looked at the document. Seeing her name and the official seal made them whisper again.

Wait, the paper really does say Martha. Is the old lady the one lying?

I bet shes the one whos been getting wild...

Before I could breathe a sigh of relief, a roar came from the hallway.

You want proof?! Ill give you proof!

My father shoved his way through the crowd. He was holding a clear plastic bag like it was a trophy.

I found all of this in my daughters bedroom! Right under her bed!

She lives under our roof and brings home absolute trash to sleep with!

When I saw what was in the bag, my head spun.

The crowd gasped. Used lace lingerie and open condom wrappers... Oh my god. She did that while living with her parents?

Theres no doubt now! Nia must have forged that report to blame her mother for her own mess!

I looked at my fathers smug, greedy face. I knew exactly why he was doing this.

Ever since his crypto investments tanked a few years ago, he had become a degenerate sports gambler.

He had begged me for money dozens of times. When I refused, he made my life hell.

He had keyed my car and even shown up at my office to scream at me for being an ungrateful bitch.

Now, he had gathered some random trash to frame me.

My mother, despite hating him, instantly teamed up with him for the kill.

Im so ashamed! I can't even look at you, Nia!

The people around my bed scrambled backward like I was a leper.

I was standing right next to her! Do you think I caught it?

Man, I need to get tested. I just came here for a checkup and now Im exposed to this filth!

Someone threw a banana peel at me. Then a half-eaten lunch box.

The greasy food stained my thin hospital gown, and the smell of old meat clung to my skin.

I took several deep breaths, forcing the air into my lungs.

Since none of you believe me, lets go to the lab right now. Well do a blood draw on the spot.

The truth will show up in the blood. Lets see whos actually sick.

The crowd, which was about to leave, turned back around.

My mother shrugged, looking completely unbothered.

Fine by me. Ive got nothing to hide. Why would I be afraid of a little needle?

Nia, you better get ready to cry. Everyone is going to see the monster you are!

I walked to the lab with a frozen expression. I paid for the expedited testing.

In less than thirty minutes, the results were printed.

The crowd surged forward. When they saw the paper, there was a collective gasp.

My heart stopped. I stared at the results in disbelief.

My mother grabbed the paper with a triumphant yell and read it out loud for the cameras.

Martha Vance: Negative.

Nia Vance: Positive!