Behind the Mask

In Manhattan, in one of the public houses made up of two bedrooms, Ariel cried out, "Mummy! Mummy!!"

(Breathing heavily) "My heart! My heart is paining..."

Before I could react, he collapsed.

"Tracy! Tracy!!! Please, let's take him to the hospital!" We rushed to carry him and ran through the streets of Manhattan because we didn't have enough money to book a taxi.

"Doctor! Doctor! Please save my son, he's dying! Please save him!"

"Calm down, calm down. He's in good hands. He'll be fine. You just need to stay outside, okay?"

My heart raced like a wrestler in a battle ring.

Please, God, don't let anything happen to him.

We waited anxiously outside while the doctor worked on him.

"How is he, doctor?" I asked nervously.

"He's fine now, but I need to talk to you in my office," the doctor replied.

I followed him, fear gnawing at my insides, praying his condition wasn't as bad as it felt.

"Your son is stable, but he's suffering from congestive heart failure. This means his heart is unable to pump blood effectively enough to meet his body's needs. It's a result of coronary artery issues. That's why he collapsed-his breathing became too shallow. He may experience fluid retention and fatigue at times. But with surgery, he will be fine."

"Surgery?" Tears streamed down my face. "How will I afford that, doctor? Where will I get the money?"

"It will cost £30,000, and he needs treatment quickly, before the condition worsens. In the meantime, you'll need to get these medications for him. You can go to the pharmacy."

"Okay, doctor." I stood frozen, overwhelmed with confusion. Who could help me? Why would God let a child suffer like this?

"Annie, what did the doctor say?" Tracy's voice cut through the fog in my mind.

I stared blankly at her, feeling deaf and numb.

"I'm talking to you!" she pressed, her voice cracking.

"Let's take him home. The doctor said he'll be fine," I said, though my voice wavered, betraying the panic swirling inside.

"But your face says otherwise. Sis, please, talk to me," Tracy insisted, eyes wide with worry

I shook my head, wiping away the fresh tears that came unbidden. "Tracy, please, can you take him home? I need to go to the café. I'm sure Mami will be waiting for me."

She hesitated, her gaze searching mine for any sign that I wasn't falling apart inside. Ariel's voice, soft and trembling, broke through the silence.

"Mummy... is everything okay with me?"

I looked into his wide, trusting eyes and forced a smile, even though it felt like my heart was being torn apart. "Son, you're fine. The doctor said you were just tired, which is why your heart was hurting. After you take the medicine, you'll be fine."

I stood up, wiping away my tears again, trying to steady my shaking hands. Tracy stood beside me, her own tears threatening to spill. She didn't say anything but I could feel the weight of her concern pressing down on me.

"But Mummy..."

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, my hands trembling, praying it wasn't the news I feared.