Chapter 2

I shut my eyes, she was right, we had no money but watching my sister suffer and die just like my mother did was something I couldn't stand.

"I'm taking you to the hospital tomorrow morning" I said letting go of her.

She was shocked "we have no money Selena and you need to go to work tomorrow else you might get fired."

I shook my head "you're more important to me than my job, I would explain to Mr. Charles later."

I made it sound so easy but the truth was that I knew that Mr.Charles was far from someone who could understand that human lives are more important than standing all day to serve his troops of customers which includes the arrogant Mr. Chancy.

The next day....

I woke up very early as usual and dressed up for work, I have decided to take my sister to the hospital and go to work afterwards.

Leaving her all alone at the hospital wasn't what I wanted but I had no choice, I needed to keep working cause we needed the money for our survival.

Yesterday was very stressful for me and today wasn't any better either, I could feel my shoulders sagging with weakness.

I walked into the room and met her groaning in pain "don't worry Anabelle you're going to be okay" I kept saying touching her blonde hair.

She opened her small eyes with difficulty, her red lips had gone so dry and broken, it lookee like one who had no blood in her system.

"Selena..." She called out in difficultly.

I felt like crying, I clenched my hands into hers forcing a smile on my sad face "I would take you to the hospital now, you would be healthy soon."

She smiled at me with tears rolling down to her ears "thank you" she struggled to say with a smile.

I was glad that she was able to smile, it was a huge consolation to me.

Anabelle was getting even more weaker and I knew how scared I felt.

She has been sick for a while but I didn't notice it because I was always running off to work early in the morning and returning late at night. All along she has been pretending to be fine, I felt stupid not to have noticed what was going on.

I quickly cleaned her up and dressed her up in sweaters and a trouser "I would get a cab now" I said dashing out of the house.

I got a cab and took her to the state hospital at once, I wasn't ready to loose her just like I lost our mother.

We arrived at the hospital and she was rushed into the emergency ward.

I was nervous and scared, I haven't been to the hospital in a long while.

Few minutes later, my phone started ringing, it was Mr. Charles and I could feel butterflies in my stomach.

I noticed footsteps approaching me, I looked up at once, it was the doctor.

I stood to my feet with my eyes on his face "how..how...is my sister doctor?" I stammered.

"Her condition isn't good at all, why did it take you so long to bring her to the hospital?" He asked looking straight at my face.

I was speechless, how am I supposed to tell a doctor that I didn't notice that my younger sister was sick because I was too busy with work? It sounded absolutely irresponsible.

The doctor sighed when he saw I had no answer to give "your sister needs surgery or she might not last long" he said wearing a sad look.

I was shocked to hear the doctor say that, I began to panic and he observed that.

"Please calm down young lady" he said placing his hand on my shoulder.

"But what is wrong with her?" I asked in a shaky tone.

"Your sister has acute leukemia, cancer of the blood" the doctor informed.

I looked away thoughtful and lost, I have heard stories about people who suffered and died from cancer but never did I imagine that the same could happen to my sister.

I could remember when my mother was ill, Louis had told me that the symptoms my mother was having was equivalent to cancer but I refused to believe him, I recall screaming at him "you're not a doctor Louis so shut up."

Louis left me at once drained in anger, I believe I went too far but I couldn't control my emotions, I was frustrated and needed consolation and I felt he wasn't offering me that.

Louis have always dreamt of being a medical doctor but his parents couldn't afford the fees for the medical school, he had no option other than to drop that dream and I guess that was why my words hurted him alot, I call him "my emotional boyfriend."

"Are you okay young lady?" The doctor asked peering at my face bringing me out of my thoughts.

I was startled "yes.. yes... I'm okay" I kept my eyes steady on him, trying to pay attention.

He nodded "she needs quick surgery because the leukemia cells have spread widely throughout the bone marrow and blood, she needs an urgent stem cell transplant or a bone marrow transplant procedure to replace the diseased bone marrow with a healthy bone marrow"

"If that would save my sister's life, then do it please" I said looking desperate.

"Alright, surgery would commence once your payment is confirmed" he said.

I gasped looking around "I thought this is the state hospital sir and treatment is free?"

He nodded "yes, you're right, treatment is free but not surgery, meet the cashier for details on how to make the payment he said walking away."

I knew I had no money and I was even more scared to meet the cashier to ask how much the surgery would cost, I ran after the doctor and in no time I caught up with him.

I was out of breath, I bent over placing my hands on my knees trying to catch my breath.

The doctor only stared at me with his hands deep into his lab coat "is their a problem?" He finally asked.

I nodded "please sir, I really do not have any money on me, help me save my sister, I promise to bring my monthly salary until I'm able to finish the payment, just save her life, she is all I have" I pleaded almost going on my knees.

"I'm sorry young lady but we don't accept such payments here, the sooner you pay the better for your sister" he walked away without saying another word to me.

"Sir...." I called out again running after him.

I was getting tired of running though.

He stopped and turned around.

From the look on his face, I knew he was getting tired of my disturbance but I couldn't help it.

He kept a straight face, he didn't look friendly but he was alot more older than I am, between his early fourties I guess.

"Can...can I see her?" I asked stammering.

"Sure..." He said pointing to a ward few steps from where I stood.

I nodded as I watched him leave.

I walked back looking for the room my sister was placed in.

Finally I found her with an oxygen mask over her nose, she was asleep with drips on her hand, I bursted into tears.

"I'm so sorry Anabelle, this is all my fault" I quickly sat beside her and held her hand.

"I would not allow anything happen to you, I promise" I said sniffling.

My phone started ringing again, I forced it out of my small bag, it was Mr. Charles again.

I was afraid of picking the call, he might end up telling me that I'm fired and that might break me even more.

Mr. Charles was cold hearted and cared only about his business, telling him that I was in the hospital sounded like a foolish excuse to him, according to him the only reason you shouldn't come to work is if you are dead.

I walked out of the room kissing Anabelle on the forehead. I hurried off to meet the cashier. She gave me the bill, I didn't look at it because I was in a hurry, I threw it into my bag and hurried off to the nearby bus stop to board a bus.

I was at work thirty minutes later, It was 9:00am.

I noticed the glaring eyes of my colleagues but I didn't notice my boss's presence.

I hurried off to my locker and dropped my bag locking it.

I was startled when I saw Mr.Charles standing behind me with his hands folded.

"Good morning sir..."I greeted stammering.

"You come to work when you like Selena, isn't it?" He asked yelling.

"I'm sorry sir, my sister was sick and I needed to take her to the hospital" I said hoping he might understand.

"I don't care about your sister being sick, I employed you here to come early to work and do your job, lazy!" He thundered.

I trembled in fear moving backwards.

He grabbed my by the arm "listen to me, I don't care about you or your cursed family, what's more important to me is that you do your job, I will deduct half of your salary for this."

I fell on my knees at once in tears "Mr. Charles please, don't do this to me."

"Get your ass out of here and get to work!" He ordered without considering my plea.

I stood up at once wiping my the tears that had soaked my pale face.

I walked into the restaurant and started taking orders from the customers who didn't make it easier for me, I guess the day was a real bad one for me.

I curled up in my usual spot during my break period deep in thoughts, I have finally looked at the bill the cashier gave me at the hospital and it got me weaker.