Chapter 5

Aria's POV

The antiseptic scent lingered in the atmosphere, melding with the soft chatters of hospital workers, and patients alike. 

   I strode towards my mother’s hospital room. Opening the door, my eyes fell on my sister.

   Vivian lunged herself at me, pulling me into a hug. “How did you do it?” Tears streaming down her eyes and settling on my shoulders. She pulled back, a grin slipping onto her lips. 

   My gaze zeroed in on her, as I attempted to make sense of her words. An unsteady chuckle escaped me.

      “The doctor came in and said the payment had been made. Mom will be having her surgery today.”

   A sense of relief tugged at every inch of me as my eyes widened. Despite selling my soul to the devil to make this happen, it was worth it. 

    Her gaze lingered on me as her smile fell to a neutral expression. “How did you get the money?”

    I took a deep breath before heaving out a puff. Does she need to know? Does she need to know the price of the surgery was my soul? Of course not.

   I patted Vivian on her head. “Does it matter?” I flashed her a smile. “As long as mom will be fine, isn’t that good enough for us?”

   An unsettling look settled in her eyes as she nodded her head. I knew she didn’t agree with my words, but we were both too concerned with our mother’s health to bother with such trivial matters. 

    I drew closer to my mother’s bed. Her eyes shut. Her chest heaving, in rhythm with the medical monitors.

   Cupping her hands into mine, I muttered, “You are going to be fine. I found a Good Samaritan who was willing to help us.” I continued, despite knowing Julian was anything but a Good Samaritan.

   But the doctor had said Although she was in a vegetative state, we should still be having conversations with her. So we always said positive things around them and made no mistake of crying in her presence.

    After a while, the doctor and nurse came and took my mother out of the room for the surgery theater while Vivian and I waited outside, in the hallway. 

    Vivian stretched out on the chair. “I feel like licking ice cream.” She cushioned her head with her arms.

    Belying the knots in my stomach, I chuckle. Vivian had a habit of eating ice cream when she was nervous. I remember during my father’s burial, Vivian had stepped out to get a bowl of ice cream. And when she returned, my aunt slapped her and rained thousands of insults on her: Saying she was heartless and her brother deserved better kids. 

   I still remember the sharp snort that flared through my nostrils when I heard those words. He was never there for us. He always came home reeking of alcohol and cigarettes. In his drunk state, he would pounce on my mother as though she was a sinner who had committed an unforgivable crime. 

   When we thought things couldn’t get worse, he upgraded into using drugs and gambling, plunging us deeper into poverty.

   So when I heard my aunty say those words, I felt like ripping her apart. It was we who deserved a better father. It was my mother who deserved a better husband.

    “I’ve always wondered how you can stomach anything,” I said, glancing at the theater door. 

    “That’s the only way I could drown the nervousness in my stomach.” Her eyes lingered on me. Her lips parted but then it tightened into a straight line.

    “Say what’s on your mind.” I exhaled. I already have a lot to worry about, I had no strength to wonder what was going through her mind.

    Vivian straightened up as she fidgeted with her fingers. “Who’s the good samaritan you talk about?” She questioned. 

   I heaved out another exhale. There was no need to hide it. Sooner or later, she was going to find out about it.  “I am getting married.”  

   Her eyes widened. “Ethan took you back?”

    A short chuckle bubbled out of my throat. “Of course not. Another man.”

   Her eyes dimmed. “Were you cheating on Ethan? I mean you guys just divorced barely a week ago, where did you meet a man who wants to marry you in less than a week?” her speech came out fast and it somehow grated on my nerves.

   “Isn’t the heavens gracious?” I teased.    

    Vivian wasn’t satisfied with my response a frown formed on her face. “Don’t tell me it’s a contract marriage?” She jerked upward.   

   When all she got was my silence, she raked her hand through her hair. “After how Ethan treated you, you still entered another one.” She let out a thin air of exasperation.  “Don’t you get it? Rich men like Ethan, don’t care about poor women like us.” 

   Of course, I knew that—all thanks to Ethan.  

   My voice sank and my gaze deepened. “But what was I supposed to do? It’s not like I could find $500,000 lying on the floor somewhere.” 

   “I am sorry.” She leaned back into the chair. “You are right.”

   “But I have learned my lesson.” I tilted my body and faced her. “I won’t let this man use me like Ethan.” I cupped her hand into mine. “Besides, he is also paying for your  college tuition.” 

    Vivian’s eyes tore at me as they widened. “So I’ll be going back to college?” Her speech came out slowly as if she was trying to process the information. “I want to be happy… No, I am happy. It’s just that, I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself.”

  I let out an exhale. “Well, I am your elder sister. I have to be the one.”

    The theater doors opened and the doctor came out. We jolted to our feet. 

    The man pulled down his nose mask. “The surgery was successful.”

    Almost instantly my sister pulled me into her arms. Our sobs, one out of pure joy, filled the once-cold hallways.