Chapter 1 Unexpected!

Clara~

I came down from the slinky bus so tired since I was just coming back from high school. Just a glance at my face would define my mood.

My school bag hung helplessly on my left shoulder as I held my parasol with my right hand. Heading straight towards my street, I saw a young man who was trekking towards my destination.

A glance at him coupled with the fact that I was tired just got me angry. Truly, he was innocent of my feelings, but whenever I, Clara, remember the incident between my parents, it pushes bad blood down my spine.

Generally, it forced me to hate that gender even without a course. I do know not whether to think of the trauma my so-called father caused my mom or the one he caused to me.

I was already a step away from him before I realized that he greeted me even not minding that he was older than myself, while I didn't say a word to him. Rather, I kept straight my head and walked straight home."Hello, mum!"I whispered gently as I entered the house and detected a grave silence in the house.

Mum couldn't reply to me. I repeated twice, but couldn't hear her say a word. Though I was tired, hurriedly kept my bag and rushed into her room. "Jeez! What's wrong?No one was there to hear me screaming except my mum, who lay helplessly on the floor.

I touched her body it was warm but mummy could not give a response to my multiple questions. As I held her head up, she couldn't hold herself.

No one was there to hear my outcry. I tried all I could to carry her, but she was heavier than I imagined. Luckily, I looked up and saw her handset on the couch beside her." Hello! Hello!! There's an emergency at..." I paused abruptly as I realized that no one was replying to me from the other end.

I could hear my heartbeat and breaths. "Hello, this is emergency services, calm down and report the situation"Someone finally replied from the other end."My mum is on the verge of dying and no one to take her to the hospital." "Your location, please.

"In a few words, I told her my address, and just in a short while, an ambulance arrived at our house and took my mum to the hospital."You need to can down, Clara, let's do our job!""She's my mum! Please help me out."I kept lamenting, not minding what they were saying.

While in the emergency room, all I could do was keep caressing my mom's hand. I could see nurses running helter-skelter applying one technique and the other."Doctor! Please save my mum. She's all I've got.

I continued seething, but they weren't concerned about my words.While my heart was palpitating continuously, at one point, I realized hot fluid rolling down my chin. It could be confusing to determine whether it was tears or sweat. I was almost soaked with sweat. I wasn't concerned about that, but it caught my attention when it finally entered my eyes.

Continuously, the nurses would be testing her with one gadget and the other..."Don't tell me that my mother is dead. Save her, she's all I've got. Mum, you can't die....""Young lady, please be calm, let's do our job. Would you like to wait for us outside the building?"A nurse interrupted me from yelling at them.

Not just her words, but the way she acted, and what she said, made me realize that I was becoming a distraction to my mother's health. But in all, I want her alive again. I couldn't just watch my mum, and she would die like that.In a short while, just like in a dream, I overheard my mother sneezing.

Such a long-awaited joy. I hoped that it would finally arrive, but always doubted my hope since my mum was unconscious for some while. How best would I express my heartfelt appreciation? I was still lost in thought when I realized hot tears rolling down my chin.

"Mom, stay with me! Nothing will happen to you!"With ecstasy of mine, I hurried to hug her on the gatch bed."Thank God you're ba...!"Unfortunately, I got interrupted by a nurse."Take it easy! She's yet to recuperate.""That's fine! Continue your work, ma!"Just as the conversation between myself and the nurse was going on, I realized that the doctor was quietly gazing at me."Clara!" He finally spoke up.

He forced a grin on his face, though I needed no one to tell me that it was faked."Yesss sir!"Already my heartbeat changed."We require some money to carry out some dialysis on your mammy. And she needs urgent attention""I know it. Where will I start?

We don't have up to 100 Cents in that house."I intruded with my horrible voice and expression."Please, you people should help me. She's all I have. I'm an ordinary part-time bartender.""That's all I can say for now. If we can get up to a thousand dollars or so, we will start."The doctor continued, not minding my complaints.

Shockingly to me, he pulled the hand gloves and left me with the nurses in the emergency room. Looking at the nurses, I could see it written all over their faces that they can't explore any option of theirs.

They are bent to obey the doctor's verdict. Already they've raised the work. I could see them communicating with their facial expressions.

While my mother lay helpless on the gatch bed. Instead of waiting and thinking of how to get the money, I had to start from somewhere in search of it.But in all sincerity, I have no idea of making such an amount in that period.

Even my 10 months' salary might not sum to that. While I have no relatives to help me out."Anyway, Clara! Something has to be done.

And you have the options. To either save your mum or leave her to die now that we need you most"I whispered to myself though it sounded as if someone said it to me. Reflexively I zoomed out of the hospital, having nowhere in mind to get the money.