Arriving in Rome

Chapter 1

Lisa’s POV

I can't wait to get off the airplane to breathe fresh air and stretch my legs. We have been on the flight for several hours now. My little sister and I are going to Rome for our vacation. I look out of the window and see Rome moving closer. Looking at Lilani, I can't help but think about my parents.

The car accident claimed both of their lives one year ago, after they came back from one of their friends' weddings. I remember when I got the call from the hospital informing me to go to the emergency room, which changed our lives forever. Lilani is so young she needs our parents; when the tooth fairy comes to visit, she runs up to her mother and shouts, “Look, the tooth fairy was here.” On her first day at school, they stand watching her when she falls in love and can't wait to see Mom and tell her about the boy and the first heartbreak. Mom brings ice cream and says everything will be okay. The father wants to break the boy's neck for hurting his little girl. But now she won't get to experience any of that. Lilani is only five years old and still doesn't understand why they don't come home every night.

I planned this vacation to Rome, hoping to take my sister's thoughts away from all the sadness and from the place that reminds her of our parents every day. I asked for three weeks' leave of absence from my law firm. My boss was kind enough to grant it to me. I planned this so we could go elsewhere on Mom and Dad's first death anniversary. After their deaths, I became like a mother to Lilani. I used all my savings to make this holiday possible. Now we have reached our destination. While reaching Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, the radiant lights above gently prompted passengers to fasten their seatbelts, signaling that our arrival was close at hand.

“We arrived,” I thought as we landed.

“Excuse me, Miss, but maybe I can help?” The air hostess made an announcement. “I notice you struggling to catch a taxi. Here, let me get one.” She continues and calls a taxicab. “Thank you so much,” I said to the air hostess.

Soon we will be on our way to the hotel where we will stay. To my relief, the manager can speak English, and after we complete the formalities, a porter accompanies us to our second-floor suite.

“I think you should rest a little,” I suggest to Lilani when we are alone again. Lilani shakes her head up and down and moves towards the bed. I assisted Lilani in getting into bed. “Sleep tight; I love you,” I said, kissing her forehead. I walk over to the window where the Tibert River flows by. I wish my parents were here with us. Turning around, I notice that Lilani is still sleeping. She will not wake up soon, and I decide to lie down for a while.

I woke up when I heard my sister sing. “Lisa...”, then knocking on the nightstand, “Do you want to build a snowman? Let's go and play!” Lilani giggles as she climbs onto the bed.

“I'm awake; now stop singing.” I laugh at my sisters' silliness and feel Lilani on the bed.

“How are you feeling, Lily?” I asked as she lay down in my arms.

“Better thank you, Lizzy. Can we do something fun, please?”? She asked me.

“Yes, let's walk to the park,” I said after getting off the bed.

We leave the room with the strap of my purse over my shoulder. I can no longer wait to explore this place.

We walked around the corner, toward the Tiber River, to the bridge. Here, we stand for a while and watch as the water flows past through the city.

Then we stroll on to the Villa Borghese Gardens. "I recommend that we get a bike."

“Yes, then we could eat something after that.” Lilani asked me.

“Okay, let's go grab a bicycle.” We walked over to where we could rent the bicycles. “Excuse me; I would like to hire two, please.” I requested the man and gave him the money.

Soon, Lilani and I will be on our way, riding through the garden.

“Let's rest for a while,” Lilani asked after we rode for half an hour.

“There is a fountain where you can make a wish,” I proposed.

I took Lilani's hand and walked over to a few people standing, ready to flip a coin. I handed Lilani the coin and said, "Take this." She took it and closed her eyes.

Two guys stand far from me, staring at me from head to toe and smirking. This caused my temper to flare.

But before I could say anything, Lilani shouted at them, “Why are you looking at my sister like that? Don't you know it's rude? She's not a meal you can eat! Stop staring at her!”

They looked at Lilani, surprised that she had just talked to them that way. They glanced at me and stepped away. I smile at Lilani, and we ride the bikes back and stroll back to the hotel together.

“Let's go for dinner in the dining area,” I suggest.

I noticed Lilani ate a little, then complained about a headache. “I have pain again,” Lilani tells me.

“Let's get you to bed,” I replied, leading her to our suite.

“Good night, Lilani,” I said, kissing her on the head. She closes her eyes and falls asleep while I play with her hair, staring at her.

“She never complained about this before three weeks ago.”

That night, I couldn't sleep. The room is different, and the noises from the window are strange.

It was past midnight when I fell asleep.

The following day, when I woke up, I noticed my sister missing from bed. I sat up and glanced around the room, only to find Lilani drawing at the table and smiling. “You seem better today,” I remarked.

“It's because I don't have pain today, Lizzy.” Lilani smiled happily.

“I'm glad you feel better,” I said.

“So tell me, do you want to go on an outing this morning?”

“Yes, can we go to the park again, please?” Lilani asked me with puppy eyes.

“It looks like she enjoyed the park yesterday,” I thought.

We got ready for our outing to the park.

We walked around the garden when Lilani started complaining about a headache again.

I picked her up and walked back to our room. “That's it; I'm taking you to the doctor,” I said sternly.

“Go and take a bath.”

A few minutes later, I heard something in the bathroom, became worried, and investigated. As soon as I entered, I found my sister unconscious on the floor.

Shocked, I kneeled beside her and sighed aloud, relieved when I realized she still had a pulse.

I will have to call a doctor immediately. I got up to contact the manager. “Please help me; we need to get a doctor for my sister,” I requested in English.

“I will call a doctor immediately,” the manager said and hung up.

While I was sponging my sister's face with a damp cloth, the hotel manager knocked on the door and walked into the room at my invitation.

“I called Doctor Rossi,” he informed me.

I put the damp cloth on the bedside table and said, thankfully, “Thank you so much for calling the doctor, Mr. Romano.” I said. Thankfully, he can speak English. Just as the manager wanted to leave, I stopped him.

“Wait, how will the doctor and I communicate? Does he speak English?” I suddenly asked worriedly.

“You do not have to worry about the doctor, Signorina,” the manager assured.

“The doctor can speak English very well.”

“I honestly don't know how to thank you for your help, Mr. Romano,” I said gratefully.

“I just hope this isn't serious.”

“I understand, Signorina. I'll be in my office if you need my help,” the manager said. “Meanwhile, I hope your sister will recover quickly.” With those words, the manager left the room and left me alone again.

I gently stroked the pale face of my sister. I have no idea why she's unconscious. “I hope it's nothing serious,” I whispered.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I quickly wiped them with my hand. “I need to be strong,” I told myself.

Then there's a knock on the door. I quickly got up and opened the door.

“I'm Dr. Rossi, and you're the patient's mother?” I heard the doctor ask in English with a heavy Italian accent.

“I'm Lisa Saunders, her older sister, Dr. Rossi,” I said, standing aside to let him in. He walked over to where Lilani lay. The doctor examines Lilani and asks, “How is her health, Miss Saunders?” He asked me.

“As far as I know, excellent doctor. She had just started complaining about the headache a few weeks ago, but I thought it was because she was missing out on her parents”. I told him truthfully.

“I told her to get ready to take her to a doctor and found her on the bathroom floor unconscious.”

The doctor struggles for almost fifteen minutes to bring Lilani around. “Your sister will have to be admitted to the hospital, Miss Saunders.” The doctor announces this as he carefully places his stethoscope in his suitcase.

“Your sister is in a coma, not just unconscious.” The words shocked me.

“Is my sister's condition serious, Doctor?” I asked with a lump in my throat.

The doctor looked at me with sadness and said, “Yes, I fear your sister's condition is serious, Miss. But exactly how serious it is, I do not know. I will get an ambulance to come immediately.”

I suddenly became concerned about her, and after the doctor's departure, I quickly got an overnight bag for her.

Just as I was done, the ambulance stopped in front of the hotel. The paramedic helped Lilani and asked, “Do you want to ride with your sister, Miss?” I nodded and followed them to the waiting ambulance.

I have been waiting all night for the doctors to come out with some news about Lilani.

I can't even ask one of the nurses; I can only flip through the magazines and look at the pictures while constantly thinking about my sister.

Dr. Rossi finally makes his appearance at the waiting room door.

I quickly stood up from the chair and walked towards him. “Doctor, do you know what is wrong with my sister? Is she still in a coma?”

The doctor looked at me and said, “Your sister is still in a coma, Miss Saunders, and I am afraid her condition is critical. She will most likely have to have surgery. But we will only know tomorrow after the brain specialist has studied the X-ray plates again. You see, the plates showed a tumor on the brain.”

I looked at the doctor as if he had just grown two heads.

“Thank you, doctor,” I said and left the hospital.

I quickly went to my room to think about this situation. I cannot believe that this is happening to us. How will I pay for the surgery? I did not budget for medical expenses such as an operation. After thinking about all this, I finally arrived at the hotel.

The following day, I woke up early to get ready for the hospital. I wait for the doctor, and after what feels like forever, he finally comes over to me and says, “Good morning, Miss Saunders; please follow me.” I heard him say,

I quickly followed him to a room.

Dr. Rossi introduced me to the brain specialist, and I became tense.

“Please sit down, Miss Saunders.” He invited me to sit down and begin to speak.

“Unfortunately, the result of my examination is not good, Signorina. Signorina will have to get an operation as soon as possible; her life depends on it. He explained everything about the operation, but I didn't understand all the medical terms he used.

“Your parents must be notified about the operation immediately, Signorina. The operation can only be postponed for a few days.”

“I am sorry, but my parents died in a car accident a year ago. I told the doctor. I am her legal guardian."

“I am sorry to hear about your family.” He replied.

“We need your answer by tonight to make the necessary arrangements.” Doctor Rossi informed me.

I thanked the doctor and walked out of the hospital toward the park.

I'm thinking about my sister's operation and don't notice the older man sitting near me.

The thought that I would also lose my sister breaks my heart. I wish our parents were here to tell me what to do.

I'm so sad that I don't notice the man watching me.