Terror raced through me as the doctor stated the results from Dad’s scan test. I clinged to my seat as if I had lost control of my movements, my feet and hands shivering. The way my heart raced fast, made it seem like I would pass out soon, or even pass on. I hadn’t ever felt this terrible.
“H-How would we pay for this?” Vicki flattered. “In a month, I’ll be granted five hundred thousand dollars from the government, as a result of the connection from my fiance. Five hundred is the limit they can offer for support. Now that my dad’s suffering from this, what’ll happen?”
The doctor furrowed her eyebrows. She seemed worried and confused. “In a month? Oh, wait. Haven’t I told you that this is urgent? One month is really too far.”
“Uh, okay.” Tears left Vicki’s eyes as she kept speaking. She was trying to be confident, but it just wasn’t working. “I-I’ve asked for donations. What about two weeks? That should do, right?”
“Vicki, you need to understand this.” The doctor passed the results over to us, gently placing her hands over each other. “Two weeks is too far. Okay, yes, we’ve had patients who were able to survive through a week plus, but that was tagged as a ‘miracle’. It’s really rare. You shouldn’t take the risk.”
“But, ma’am!” Vicki burst into tears. I guessed she could no longer control her emotions. “We can’t do anything else. You should’ve told us about this before now! How can you watch our parents die off?”
“We’re sorry about this, but you’ll have to do something. You can’t…”
As the doctor spoke, I zoned off completely.
Memories. Memories were all that dashed through my thoughts. Mom and dad. Those people were priceless. They had always been my greatest supporters. They had always been there in my worst times. How could I watch them die, when I had another option? Why should I keep risking this, when there was a way out of it?
Rolling my hands in a fist, trying to hold back my pain, I stood up straight. “Ma’am, it’ll be fine. In a week, I’ll pay all the money. I’ll settle all the bills. My parents will be fine.”
They both stared at me with widened eyes. They were obviously shocked.
“How’re you… gonna do that?” She pursed her lips at me.
I swallowed hard. “Let’s leave that up to me.” Turning around, I walked towards the door. Holding the door knob, about stepping out, I glanced at Vicki past my shoulder. “Vicki, come with me. I have a task to take.”
Without hearing a word from any of them, I stepped out, heading out of the hospital.
***
In about two minutes, Vicki and I would be done working for the day. As I tied my hair in a bun and stared at the rectangular shaped mirror in front of me, Vicki looked at me via the mirror. She sat on the king size bed behind me, in this maids’ room, looking so tired and irritated.
“Serene, I don’t understand what’s going on,” she finally spoke. The huskiness in her voice made it obvious that she was extremely furious. “Why’d you make us come back here, only to work? We were done for the day. Why did you make us work extra hours?”
I glanced at her reflection, and just took a deep breath. “I already explained this. I’m here for a reason. Soon, you’ll know what it is. I know we were done working. So, just calm down.”
“You wanna ask James for the money or what?” She stood up from the bed, sauntering towards me. Standing behind me, she glared so much, her hands on her waist. “If that’s your aim, just forget it. That man’s filthy. We both know that. Don’t do something crazy, okay?”
With a weak smile hanging on my lips, I turned around. “Calm down. Don’t assume things right now. You shouldn’t—”
“How can I calm down?” A tear left her eye. Her nose suddenly turned red like a red balloon, her face wrinkling. “You left the hospital for no good reason, and you expect me to remain calm? We’re in a crazy state, but all you can think of is work? I’m so confused! I am!’
“Stop yelling.” I took her hands. Once again, I swallowed. Swallowed my tears. “Things will be fine. Our parents won’t die. I’ll resolve this issue.”
“But, how?” She whimpered.
I glanced at the door, feigning a small smile. “Go on. Pack your stuff. I have to see someone in the living room.”
She furrowed her eyes at me, and whispered, “What’s going on?”
“Let’s go.” Saying that, I ambled towards the door.
It took a while for her to join me in the hallway. As soon as she came, we both headed to the living room. About stepping in, I bumped into someone. Once again, I had to encounter Sherri. It was her.
I rolled my eyes, looked away, ready to ignore her. “Sorry for bumping into you. Can you leave my way, please? I have a case to solve.”
“Oh, really?” She folded her arms around her chest. “A case? Is it about James’ proposal or—”
“Keep. Quiet.” I commanded. I glared at me, glared with so much ardency.
She smirked. She took a glance at Vicki. “Oh. I get it. Hiding things for your sis?”
“What’s she talking about?” Vicki held my arm, pulled it so I’d face her, dread racing in those brown eyes. “What proposal?”
I sighed. “Vicki, you shouldn’t—”
“What’re you hiding from me? What’s going on?” Her voice grew louder, covering the huge corridor.
“You’ll know what. Soon. Very soon,” I assured her, snapping my arm off her grip. Turning to Sherri, I shot her a glare. “As for you, thanks for the spoiler. Just leave. Because, very soon, you’ll get what you want.”
“Ex-Excuse me?” She raised her eyebrows like something sparked in her brain. She was quite agitated.
I smiled, and blinked away my tears. “Have a sweet night.”
“Don’t worry.” She smiled. That fake and devilish smile. “If your decision hurts, I promise to not tell him.”
“Good,” I remarked. I walked past her, walked into the living room; walked into a new step of my life; walked into the task that would make my entire life get warped.
James and his dad were seated on the big, L-shaped couch at the center of the gigantic room. Their eyes were glued to the laptop in front of them, quite obvious that they hadn’t seen me walk in.
I stepped close to them. As I did so, memories were haunting my heart and mind. My heart was leaping against my chest. Doubts were sprinting all through my body system. My emotions were in a state of confusion. I felt angry, sad, shaken, puzzled, and even queasy. Two forces were surrounding me. One was pulling me back, asking me to not do this, while the other was pushing me forward, begging me to save my parents.
A few feets away from them, tears attacked my eyes. I curled my hands in a fist, bit my lower lip, swallowed hard, trying to hold back this agony.
“My friend’s daughter is really good. She’ll be twenty nine, but she has no one yet. Her dad would be extremely happy to unite you both,” James’ father stated.
Vicki tapped my shoulder from behind, probably confused and upset, but I ignored her.
James smirked at the screen of the laptop, seeming glad for some reason. “Oh, yeah. This is one cute pie. Would love to have her. How can—”
“But there would be no need for that.” I gulped. I was holding my tears, as if I would get arrested for crying. I was trying to act normal.
Hearing my voice, they both turned to me. They stared at me like they were confused, James’ eyebrow cocked at me.
“Serene?” he called.
I heaved another thick breath, then declared, “James Robert, from now on, think of me as your spouse. Yes, I’ll get married to you.”
After saying that, my chest felt heavy. I didn’t feel any better. I only felt terrible. It felt like I had just betrayed someone.
I gulped again, and again, and again.
This was it. This was the new beginning. This was a goodbye to my lover, Ryan Arthur.
—