Chapter 2

With shaking hands. She staggers closer to the hospital bed. To some degree, she bends, with one hand resting on the side edge of the bed. Deep breaths. She holds out her quivering hand, hesitating to touch him.

A month ago

“I am so sorry but your dad suffered a severe heart attack.” a feminine trembling voice said.

The blow to her ears made her knees weak and she dropped onto a couch.

Heart beating out of her chest. Her eyes opened wide in disbelief and her smartphone hit the floor.

“Hello! Are you still there?”

No! My papa? No. Rose zoned out.

“Miss, you have to travel to Bogota immediately please.” the woman said.

Today

Tears fill the surface of her eyes when the memory replays. Papa, please don’t leave me. Panting, she cups his face with shaking hands . I promise, I will do anything to bring you happiness again. Staring at her lifeless father, waiting for a miracle to be resuscitated. I will devote myself to heal your wound. If only she had the means to save her father.

“He survived three heart attacks and this time the damage was severe. Now, he is in critical condition, suffering from heart failure and he needs a heart transplant.” the voice of the doctor iterates across her synapse.

Footsteps make her jump out of her skin and she turns around.

“Dr Kenny—” A heavy sigh eludes her.

“You are still here?” Dr Kenny says in a witty manner.

Rose's smile is wistful. “How is he?”

“Still the same. The inadequate blood supply is a concern and there is something else going on that agitates him.”

“When will he wake up?” Rose says, hugging herself.

“Not soon, we keep him sedated because when he is awake he gets panic attacks and it worsens his condition.”

“Any news on a donor?”her mellow voice comes out weak.

Dr Kenny observes the patient and takes out a pen from the pocket of her white coat to make notes. “Yes, we got a donor but the bad news is he doesn't have the same blood type as your dad.”

Rose covers her mouth, sobs run down . “What am I going to do? I can’t let him die like this...” She moves a mess of her long shiny black hair behind her ears. “He is all I have.”

“Don’t lose hope, he is one of our priority patients. Please go home and rest, you have been here the whole day.”

“He needs me here..I haven’t seen him in almost three years, and now this..”

“I understand, but if something comes up, you will be the first to hear about it, okay.” Dr Kenny says with a bitter sweet smile.

*************************************************

Rose ambles into the small apartment she is renting out with heavy steps. She casts her body on the bed, lying on her stomach. Tonight, the smell of fabric conditioner does not soothe her tense body.

“How is your dad doing?” A soft raspy voice settles.

“Aaahhhhh!” She rolls off the bed, hits the side of her hip on the cold tiled floor.

“Relax, it's me.”

“What the freak? Are you kidding me?” Her eyebrows furrow, with her hands pressed firm on the floor to attempt to get up.

“Ooops…My bad. I didn’t mean to give you a heart attack. Come on, you are way too young to end up like your paps, right?”

“Demetria, I don’t understand how that’s funny at all.” Massaging the side of her hip.

“Alright sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Geez, relax.”

“What are you doing here anyway?” Rose says putting her blow dried hair in a messy bun.

“Ouch! I didn’t think I needed a reason to see you. ‘Little miss too good to be around me now’. ”

“Don’t be shallow. And cut the bull shit. I am in no mood to put up with your tantrums.”

“Bitch. I don’t have tantrums FYI.”

“Then, what is it? Didn’t you say I bore you, huh? And so?”

“Aren’t we best friends? I mean friends fight all the time.” Demetria gets comfortable on a couch with crossed legs and relaxes her arms on cushions.

“Are we ? Because I don’t see how.” Rose folds her arms over her chest.

“You know what, you are right, you have never been my friend.”

“How dare you?” Rose somewhat slant her head .

“Don’t act surprised. You always judge me and nag about how I do things. In reality you only stick around because your life is lonely and boring.”

“Oh yeah? I can’t believe the nonsense coming out of your mouth.”

“Duhhh. Admit that I add some sort of excitement to your life.” Demetria says scratching the top of her nail with a thumb.

“You know what? I have had it. I am done. To hell with you. I regret bringing you with me. You can do whatever you want. Stay away from me.” Rose says, biting the inside of her cheek.

“Insensitive bitch. Goodness, you have become so crabby over that insufferable man that doesn't even give a damn about your existence. Demetria squints her eyes.

“Shut up! Don’t you dare talk about my dad. You hear me?” Rose’s pupil constricts.

“You should be lucky I even paid attention to you in the first place.” Demetria says.

“I should be lucky? You are so diluted it's annoying. What do you want from me, huh? Is it not enough that you lied to me, huh?

“Don’t you dare accuse me. I tried.” Demetria rolls her dim narrow hazel eyes.

“You chasing trouble , is helping me? I don’t see how.”

“I did it for you, ungrateful bitch.” Demetria raises her tall skinny figure.

“Well, if the shoe fits then…” Rose shrugs her shoulders.

“Is that so? After I risked my life to help you pay your despicable father’s medical bills. This is how you repay me?”

“Excuse me, point of correction, it was a loan. So don’t act like you were handing it out. Besides, don’t pretend you were doing it for me. You were already involved in God knows what, way before I asked you for money.”

“I swear you are going to regret treating me like this, dear sweet Rose.”

“Enough! Get out! I can’t keep going back and forth with you.” She moves past Demetria to open the door.

She stares at her feet, fighting the sting in her eyes as she waits for Demetria to leave.

A cell phone chimes.

“You forgot your purse—”

“I figured, Sherlock.” Demetria paces back for the purse.

“Hello!” she answers.

“You better respond to my calls on time.” A broad voice speaks from the end of the line.

“Babe, please relax, okay.”

“Don’t call me that. We need to talk right now. You have a lot to explain”

“Well, maybe some other time, I am leaving—”

“Can you continue your conversation elsewhere?” Rose interrupts.

“Wow! The new Rosalia Nuñes is something else. Who do you think you are talking to me like that?” Demetria says, covering the phone with a hand. “Babe, I have to go.” She stomps out. And Rose slams the door shut.