A Mother's Loss

Carla’s POV.

I was putting on a black dress with a tinted glass to hide away the sorrow and tears that lingered in my eyes. Amelia, the only person who had always been with me was seated beside me, also putting on a black dress, as she held my hand and rested my head on her shoulder. She was trying to comfort me but no matter how hard she tried, I couldn’t forget the fact that I had lost a part of me. If someone had told me I would feel the pain of a mother who had lost her child, I wouldn’t have believed it.

As I sat in the church and the priest delivered his sermon, my eyes were glued on the little casket in front of me. The casket which enclosed in it, was the person I would never see again. As much as I tried refraining myself from crying, I just couldn't. Which mother would be happy that her ward died right in front of her? My mind trailed back to the day before, the day I had received the devastating call.

I remembered how I and Amelia had rushed to the hospital where the teacher had said Mia was taken to. Getting to the hospital, we met the teacher, who was as unstable as I was at the hospital reception, pacing up and down. Seeing her, we rushed to where she was, wanting to know where Mia was and how it happened.

“Miss Anna” I had called out upon seeing her.

“Where is Mia? What happened?” I asked before she could speak, my heart beating fast and worry was etched on my face. It was a bad day for me and it couldn’t have been worse after getting the call.  

“She …… she ……” she stammered, as she pointed in the direction of the emergency ward. She was flustered and tears began to roll down her cheeks. Seeing how scared she was, I knew Mia’s condition was worse than I had thought. Leaving her and Amelia alone, I rushed in the direction of the emergency ward.  Upon getting there, I looked around to see if I would get a sight of Mia, but she was nowhere to be found. Eventually, I ran into a nurse who later directed me to where she was.

Getting to the space where she was laid on the bed, I gasped as I covered my mouth in shock. I couldn’t believe it was my daughter who was lying there in such a critical condition. Tears began to roll down my eyes at the sight of the state she was it. She couldn’t breathe on her own. She had been placed on oxygen and the medical team hovered around her, examining her, trying to detect what was wrong and where she was hurting.

 As young as she was, pain was etched on her face. It was evident that she was in pain. Seeing her in pain made my heart ache and not being able to withstand the pain, I broke down. I collapsed onto the floor as I began to sob. The medical team noticed my presence and after getting to know I was her mother, they informed me of her condition.

“Miss Evans, I am sorry to say this but your daughter is in a critical condition” the doctor said as she faced me but I couldn’t utter a word as I didn’t know the words to put together. I just stared blankly at her and when she realized I wouldn’t say anything, she continued.

“According to the result of the x-ray we conducted on her, it was discovered that one of her veins had ruptured due to how she had hit her chest on the floor when the car hit her. Hence, she has internal bleeding and the only way she can survive right now is undergo surgery as soon as possible. But the ……..” she further explained but I cut her short before she could finish.

“Then, get her into the theatre and do what you are supposed to do to save my child. I do not mind doing anything you want. Just please save my daughter doctor. Please!!!!” I interrupted, as I got on my kneels and began to plead with the doctor, crying profusely. At that moment, all I wanted was for my child to be saved and not minding that I was embarrassing the doctor and that eyes were on us, I continued to plead while on my kneels.

“You do not have to do this, Miss Evans. It’s our responsibility to save your daughter and we will try our possible best to do that. You can get up now” she said, as she helped me up.

Hearing what she had said, I wiped away my tears and thanked her.

“Thank you doctor. So, will she be moved into the theatre now? How much do I need to deposit for the surgery? Do you need me to do anything?” I hurriedly asked, wanting to make sure the surgery wasn’t delayed and my daughter was saved. As soon as I asked those questions, I noticed that the doctor’s countenance changed. She looked worried and I could see pity in her eyes as she looked at me.

“That’s where the problem is Miss Evans. All our surgeons are booked. They all are currently in the operating rooms performing surgeries and the only person surgeon left is currently on leave. He got married recently and he is on his honeymoon. All we can do now is to wait till one of the surgeons is done, then we can proceed with your daughter’s surgery” she apologetically explained.

“What? Wait till they are done with the surgery? You just told me she needs to undergo the surgery as soon as possible. What if she dies before then? Will you take responsibility for that? Can’t you just call in the supposed surgeon who is on leave or better still, get into the operating room and do the needful!!!!!” I yelled, losing my sense of reasoning and patience.

“Miss Evans, you have to calm down. I understand you are in pain right now but there is nothing I can do to help. I am not a surgeon, so there’s no way I can operate on your daughter. As for Doctor Charles, there is no way I can call him in as I do not have the authority to. He is the Chairman’s son-in-law” the doctor gently explained.

At the mention of the name ‘Dr. Charles’, my brain clicked and it was at that moment I realized that, there was still a chance to save my daughter. I had forgotten that was the hospital Charles was working and that he had gotten married to the daughter of the owner of the hospital.

“He might be on his honeymoon but he wouldn’t forsake his daughter, would he?” I had thought as I excused myself from the doctor and brought out my phone to call Charles. As I dialed his line, I prayed silently for him to pick my calls but it seemed as if God didn’t answer my prayer as he didn’t pick.

I was confused, helpless and in desperate need of his help. In as much as I didn’t want to contact him, I needed him at that moment to save my child - our child!!!

I began to pace up and down as I continued to press my phone, trying to get in touch with him. I messaged him, which showed that the message was delivered and read but he didn’t respond. I sent a voice message, explaining to him the critical situation his daughter was in and how we needed him to come around but he listened to it and didn’t respond.

I was heartbroken and sad.

“How can he do this to me? How can he do this to his daughter?” I had thought, as tears streamed down my eyes, colliding with my cheeks. My heart was hurting. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t give up as I kept on messaging, calling but he didn’t respond.

I begged him. I promised I wouldn’t disturb him again if he saves my daughter. I told him I would let him be with the woman he chose to be with and luckily, he responded.

“Really? Is that a promise?” that was all he said. Not minding the hatred I was feeling towards him, I quickly responded, assuring him that he had my words. I was willing to tolerate his ridicules and torment as long as he saved my child. I kept on staring at my phone, waiting for him to respond but he went off again, not giving a response.

10 minutes later, he responded with a laughing emoji, after which he said:

“Let her die. She means nothing to me. I have a new family now. She can die for all I care. I hope we do not get in touch with each other again. Goodbye”. I thought I had seen wrong as I blinked repeatedly as I read the message. I couldn’t believe the cruelty in his words.

“Let her die? She means nothing to me? Is he joking or he is being serious right now? Does he know I am talking about his child? His Mia?” I soliloquized as I collapsed on the floor, expressing my frustration and anger through the tears that rolled down my eyes.

Just then, I saw the doctor who had attended to me earlier and the other medical team, rushing into the emergency room. Seeing them, I knew something was wrong. I quickly got up from the floor and just as I had thought, something was truly wrong. It was Mia. Her monitor had begun to beep and even with the oxygen mask on, she was finding it hard to breathe. I ran to her side, wanting to know what was going on but the doctor told me to step aside as they needed to attend to her.

I stepped aside as instructed, while praying to God for her to be fine. My legs were trembling, same as my hands. I felt weakened as I watched them try their possible best to save her. I buried my face in my hands, praying vehemently and crying at the same time. I still had hope then, the hope that she would survive but when the monitor finally stopped beeping, I knew that was the end.

It had all ended but I couldn’t bear to uncover my face and look at her. I didn’t want to accept the reality but when I heard the doctor say: “Time of death, 4: 10 ……”, I knew that was the end. And with that, I slowly lost my consciousness and my body collided with the cold tiles.