Chapter 3 DESPERATE CHOICE

Barbara's POV

I was still having mixed emotions after my conversation with Emily, her response and reactions were unusual.

I remembered I didn't ask what was going on with her, I was carried away by the Emiliano's family chat. I felt selfish, I forgot her own comfort.

I felt like going to meet her to ask her what was troubling her.

I opened the door to our apartment, I moved in silently trying not to get any attention.

I sighed heavily, the silence that enveloped the living room just reminds me of our constant struggles.

Sometimes, I feel like I live alone. my mother was always quiet in her room, she's on a wheelchair, I really don't expect much from her, but Damon, my little brother, should have been lively but his health conditions couldn't let him have a normal kid life. He had to be careful with his movements day after day.

We try as much as possible to get him his medicals and hopes he gets well soon.

I heard a faint noise from my mother's room. I moved towards the door to her room to check on her.

"I'll talk to her Andrew." My mum said, it seemed like she was speaking with someone on the phone. This was very unusual, I've never known my mum to be social since I was old enough to know her well.

I didn't hear her voice anymore, it seems she's done calling.

"Mom" I called out to her.

"Barbara, come on in." She called back to me. I opened the door.

I stepped into my mother's room, she was sitting on her wheelchair, dressed in her night gown.

The space in room had been adapted to her needs, there was a motorized lift installed next to her bed to help her from her bed to the wheel chair, vice versa. The brown curtains were soft and there were framed pictures of our family photos every where.

She had her favourite books stacked neatly on a shelf at the side. This was helpful for her wellbeing, it would help her be independent and mobile enough while feeling comfortable in her own space.

"When did you arrive, honey?" My mother asked.

"A little while ago " I replied.

"And how's Emily?" She asked again piercing me with her gaze.

"She's okay." I numbled even though I knew she wasn't.

I wanted to ask about who she was talking to on the phone, I had a little challenge because my mom is pretty crafty, she might be handicapped but she is very sensitive and intuitive.

"Mom, is something wrong?" I asked my voice trembling slightly.

"About what my dear? We have a lot going on here." She replied calmly.

"Well, I thought I heard you on the phone, so I was kind of worried" I said carefully.

"There's a lot going on in our family and you know it." She replied firmly. Here we go again, I just couldn't get through her.

"I could get help anytime from now considering what's going on." She added.

"Is there anyone that could help?" I asked slowly.

"Yes" she replied.

"Who?" I asked curiously then I realized I over reacted.

"You could help but you just won't listen" she said mockingly.

I saw that one coming, she's always going to talk me out of my career, we've always talked about it since day one.

"Mom? who is Andrew?" I asked trying to change the subject.

"Someone you shouldn't worry about, really." She said nonchalantly.

"I'm just trying to make sure everything is okay." I said softly trying to get through to her at least.

"You could make everything better if you'd just listen" she said firmly, not showing a sign of why she would understand me. She always pressured me to find a more realistic job.

I knew this conversation was going to get to this topic. My mom had always been concerned about my career, urging me to look for a more realistic and stable path. She understands my artworks were helping a lot but it's not enough.

There are so many things we desperately need, especially my brother Damon, getting sicker by the day, his medical bills were increasingly difficult to cater for. The frequent rent payment for our home and my art studio was another source of anxiety.

I also didn't see any light but I held to the hope Emily and John were giving to me.

"It's not your fault anyways." She said in a low tone, gazing and staring emptily into the atmosphere.

"Mom I promise, I'll make sure everything is okay." I said emptily not sure of myself anymore.

"It's meant to be my responsibilities, not yours." My mom said helplessly.

"Mom please don't say that." I said softly as I walked towards her, I wanted to prove to her that she was wrong about taking the blame. I wanted her to believe that I could take care of everything.

I got on my knees beside her, I held both of her hands with mine and I lay on her soft knees. Even though I'm an adult, I still needed her motherly care and I wanted to show her that I needed her and she wasn't useless.

I felt her soft hands on my hair, I was calm a little. I hope she's feeling better.

I heard a faint noise coming from outside the room.

"Damon?" My mother mumbled, I raised my head up from my mother's knees trying to listen again.

I got up and rushed out of my mother's room, the faint noise was now loud and that voice was Damon's moaning, it was coming from his room. I rushed to meet him, what could be wrong now?

"Damon!!!" I shouted as I barged into his room pushing the door. He was sitting close to his bed, his hands on his stomach, groaning in pains. I ran to him trying to calm him down but he seemed to be in severe pains.

"Damon, what's wrong?" My mother's voice quavered with fear. She must have followed me down to the room.

"Mom, go call the hospital", I shouted. My voice tinged with panic and urgency. I turned back and she wasn't behind me anymore. I felt neglected at the moment. Damon was still groaning in pains.

"Mom!!!" I shouted again. I carried Damon to the living room to sit him on the couch, my mom was there on the phone calling for help sitting on her wheelchair.

"I've called them." She said. She came to Damon, looking at him with pity, she brushed his hair from his face.

"It'll be alright Damon, help is coming" my mother said softly.

Time passed swiftly, in a few minutes, we heard sirens. That was the ambulance and immediately, I carried Damon out to the ambulance packed in front of our apartment.

An ambulance doctor helped me get Damon into the van. I rushed back to meet my mom who couldn't get through the door.

"Mom, I'll be back, stay calm." I told her as calmly as I could but deep down, I feared the worst.

I ran back to the ambulance as it was about to leave, I entered the van quickly and I saw Damon unconscious on the gurney.

"Damon!!!" I gasped.

"Calm down, miss, he's going to be fine." One of the doctors said. I had to get myself together, I sat slowly on the side stand.

As the vehicle moved, I watched the doctors moved quickly and efficiently using their emergency tools trying to keep Damon alive.

Tears dropped heavily from my eyes. I couldn't loose Damon now. He is just so young and doesn't deserve this suffering.

The vehicle stopped, it seemed we had arrived at the hospital. The van was opened by other medical attendants and they all moved Damon from the gurney to the patient's transport bed.

He was moved into the hospital to an operating room.

Minutes stretched into hours as I anxiously waited for the news in the waiting room. When the doctor came out finally, my heart sank at the grave of expression on his face

"He's in coma right now", the doctor explained gently. "We stabilized his condition for now but he'll need to be transferred to another medical center for specialised care. It would cost a lot but it's worth a shot.

My heart raced, I struggle to comprehend the critical situation of Damon. The cost of the medical service he would need would definitely cost a lot and I saw no way to afford it.

My poor mother, I couldn't break this news to her at this time. It would only worsen her situation. Desperation gnawed at me as I analysed the mounting bills and my family's dire circumstances.

As I contemplated the impossible, the memories of the contract marriage offer resurfaced in my mind. It was my only lifeline, the only way to save my brother's life and end my family's struggles. I'm forced to make a difficult choice now.

But right now, I need to act fast. I put my hand in my pant pocket and brought out the card Diego gave me.

Is this the only way? I thought.