Golden Sacrifice

Alice sat in a corner, watching keenly at the sympathizers gathered at her father's burial. "Take heart, Alice," her father's closest friend whispered to her in a quiet voice, his eyes teary. "Everything is under control. All hope is not lost," he added as he embraced her.

Meanwhile, Henry was seated at a distance, his arms crossed, gazing at his sister. "I'm here for you, Alice. I will be your backbone," Henry assured his sister as he sped to her side, noticing her isolation. He enveloped her as her tears dropped onto his chest. "I will be your rock," he whispered to her, his voice gloomy.

Alice's eyes were flooded with tears uncontrollably, as were Henry's. But he knew he had to be strong for her.

"What will you eat?" Henry enquired from Alice, she has been starving herself since morning.

"I don't have an appetite. I just want to be left alone," Alice pleaded, hurrying to her room. Abandoning her brother.

After everywhere was deserted, Henry strolled to check on his sister. "Her deep closeness with our parents has made their demise take a total turn on her," he whispered to himself as he got closer to her bedroom.

He swung the door open and noticed she was already asleep. "She cried her eyes to sleep. I know that," Henry murmured.

A few weeks after the burial, Henry said to his sister, "I will resume work tomorrow. It's been a few weeks since Dad's burial. What about you, Alice? Won't go back to work?" He enquired from her at the dining table, where she looked sober.

"I will start soon," Alice responded.

"Good night," she said, retiring to bed. Her eyes still looked devastated, red from crying. Meanwhile, Henry just wants her to move on; the only way is to start working. Her profession as a web developer takes a lot of her time. That will sway her mind from thinking too much about their parent's demise.

"I hope I didn't say anything wrong," Henry wondered as he also retired to his bedroom as well.

The next day, Henry went to work as planned. However, Alice was still deeply asleep, which tells him that she had a sleepless night. Because no matter the circumstances, she gets up early.

As a small grocery shop owner, Henry works on his terms. He has been trying to keep his struggling business afloat.

"How are you doing today, Alice? You were asleep when I left in the morning," Henry asked in a rough voice.

"How was work today? Are you okay? You seem stressed," Alice asked, noticing her brother's fatigued face.

"Don't worry, dear. I'm just stressed. I need to rest," Henry replied, retiring to his bedroom.

"I hope my brother is fine," Alice whispered to herself. She was sipping her juice and watching her favourite series. She wanted to inform him about moving back to Mexico next weekend. To resume work. She has stopped working for about six months now. This is the right time, with the persistent calls from her clients and boss.

The next morning, Alice woke up late, gazing at the sun rays reflecting in her room. It was a quarter past 9 a.m. "Henry must have departed to his shop by now," Alice said, groaning and yawning.

She quickly doubled her steps to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for herself, but she overheard a heavy wheezing sound from her brother's room. She paused to listen keenly. "I believe he has left for work. Who's panting heavily in his room?" Alice exclaimed to herself and her eyes went round. She dashed out to go and check it out.

Upon getting there, as she swung the door open, she met her brother panting heavily. His labored breaths echoed throughout the entire room.

"What!" Alice exclaimed her mouth agape, and her jaw dropped open. His breath was caught in his throat as he opened his mouth wide, struggling to draw air. Alice's mind went numb; she didn't know what to do.

She quickly raced to her room to get her phone and ordered a ride. The cars in their house are old and unreliable. Moreover, she needs someone to help her carry him into the car since he's extremely weak.

At the hospital, Alice was dragging her feet on the corridor while whispering to herself and bouncing up and down. Her face becomes red and hot awaiting the doctor's report about her brother's health condition.

She arrived with him two hours ago, but no one has explained anything to her. "Please, ma'am, the doctor demands your presence in his office," a voice snapped off Alice's thoughts.

"What? How's my brother?" Alice groaned her voice tight. Before she could turn again, the nurse disappeared, leaving her head hanging.

She gently knocked on the door. "Come in," the doctor beckoned Alice but she stood in front of the door, clenching her jaw. She pursed her lips together as she crept into the doctor's office.

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she gazed at him. "You're welcome. Make yourself comfortable," the doctor said, pointing at the nearby seat in front of him.

He handed over the test results to her as he relaxed in his seat, staring at her. Her jaw dropped open, and her hand covered her mouth as her eyes glanced through the white paper she was holding. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Kidney failure! She exclaimed. "How's that possible?"

Her eyebrows rose, and her eyes filled with tears, she gazed at the doctor and held the unbelievable test results. "I can't believe this doctor," Alice squeaked, her voice dripping.

"Your brother has been suffering from kidney failure, but it showed no symptoms," the doctor revealed. "It's at the worst stage and needs immediate transplant, or I'm sorry you will lose him," the doctor emphasized, his words pierced through Alice's heart.

"What! Is... Is that the transplant bill?" Alice stuttered. "100 million dollars!" She hollered for help. Contemplating on how to raise the said amount, glancing at the bills keenly.

"It should be done immediately," he proclaimed.

"Can I see him now?" Alice pleaded.

"Of course," the doctor responded. They dashed to the ward he was admitted to. Alice bent down close to her brother, staring at his motionless body. She held his fragile hands, tears flowed down her cheeks and her heart raced.

"We were chatting together brother, just last night," Alice whispered in a gravelly tone. "Here you're lying today lifeless. You promised to be my backbone and strength, brother," Alice said as she breathed deeply, her eyes still watery.

"The transplant should be hastened to save his life," the doctor echoed his final words to Alice and left.

Alice stood up; her eyes went round the hospital ward, and her heart was beating so fast. Contemplating how to raise such a huge amount of money within a short time.

No one to turn to! No hope! No help!

She gathered her broken pieces and crawled to the reception. "Please, I will be back soon. Kindly take care of my brother," Alice pleaded with one of the nurses at the reception as she was about to leave.

Alice got home looking devastated and miserable. Her gaze drifted to her parents' photo hanging on the wall, and her eyes turned teary. The night was extremely long for Alice, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, pondering on what step to take.

The next day, Alice woke up intending to take the bull by the horns. She must do everything possible to save her brother's life, her only surviving family.

She went to her brother's shop to start working there whilst preparing to resurrect her mother's business to make it strive again. Since she didn't want to raise eyebrows about her brother's condition, she only reasoned with his customers that he was on a break; that's why she took over from him.

A week later, she reinvigorated her mother's business and started running both businesses. Her mother's small struggling restaurant has been abandoned for a long time and needs much effort to revive it.

A customer beckoned Alice,she was dozing off at the shop. "Please, these are the items I'm purchasing."

She panicked and stuttered, "What do you want?"

The customer paid for the items and departed whilst staring at her weirdly. "I hope she's ok."

"I am exhausted and I need a break," Alice murmured to herself, she yawned repeatedly. Her fingers were shaking as she scrolled her phone, trying to check the money she had saved so far. After running shifts for the two businesses for weeks now. "1000 dollars!" She yelled. "Then it will take forever for me to raise this money. My only brother is dying slowly," Alice hollered in silence.

The next morning, she was very weak and tired. She planned to take the day off to go back to the hospital and check up on Henry's condition.

She got to the hospital and was panting heavily. "How's my brother doing?" She enquired from one of the nurse's at the reception.

The nurse drew closer to her. "The doctor is attending to him currently. Kindly come back later and check up on him," the nurse said and she left back to the ward.

Alice stood up to leave; her mind raced and she bumped into someone. His fingers were busy scrolling on his phone as he strolled into the hospital.

"I'm sorry, sir," Alice apologized even though it wasn't her fault.

"Can't you see properly, young lady?" He yelled in a husky voice.

He called on the guy following him to take his phone for him, which fell on the tiled floor.

"He looks very handsome with a muscular figure. Probably every woman's dream, but he sounds very rude," Alice murmured to herself. She ignored him without uttering a word. He's certainly not her problem.

She arrived home and was astonished at what she saw. Luxurious cars were parked in front of their gate. The moment she got there, one man dressed in a suit got down and raced to open the white Range Rover car in the middle. As the door groans, a beautiful woman probably in her late forties, tiptoes towards Alice. The corners of her mouth were full of smiles.

Her heart raced. "Who's she?" Alice whispered to herself, her feet were fixed unto the ground.

"Are you Mr. Smith's daughter?" She enquired, her voice nasal. She adjusted her spectacles and glanced at Alice keenly.

"Of course, ma'am. What do I owe this unexpected visit?" Alice asked but her attention was on the able-bodied men behind her.

"I am his boss. He was one of my dedicated and committed staff," she revealed.

Alice's eyes widened as she felt awful for her interrogations. "Come in, ma'am," she hesitated. And she pulled their damaged gate for her.

Alice was distressed as she served her a glass of water, her hands shaking. "You're warmly welcome, ma'am."

"I'm sorry, I couldn't make up time to come earlier to sympathize with the family. He's one of my dedicated and hard-working staff," she pleaded and she stared at Alice keenly. She handed over a brown envelope containing some cash to her.

"Thank you, ma'am," she appreciated and she stretched her hands to accept it, her eyes filled with tears. She used her palm to wipe Alice's tears on her cheeks as she was wiping nonstop.

"Take heart, my dear," she pampered her and she closed the gap between them. She embraced her to give her hope admist her sorrows and pain.

"What's your name? What do you do? Do you leave here alone?" She interrogated her in a low tone. Because she didn't see anyone in the house with her.

"I'm Alice. Yes, ma'am I leave here alone. I resigned from my job months ago after the demise of my mother," Alice answered, her voice low barely audible.

"What!" She yelled.

"Are you the only child of your late parents?" she enquired while looking at her keenly.

Alice was quiet for a while. She didn't know how to answer her.

"I'm Mrs. Milton. The CEO of Milton's empire, I took after my husband but I will hand it over to my son soonest. We have branches all over the country," she introduced herself, seeming there was a lot she had to say.

"I have an offer for you since you leave here all by yourself. I need a caretaker if only you will...."

However, Alice interrupted without letting her end her statement. "I will accept it. I can commence work now."

"That's fine. You will stay with me then," Mrs. Milton suggested.

"Of course. I will love that," Alice agreed, her mouth curled into a smile.

"Get ready, and let's head home now. It's almost sunset," Mrs. Milton said with a broad smile.

Her maid resigned for a while now; she has been looking for a replacement. She's very ecstatic; she has gotten one without any stress.

As they were on their way to Mrs. Milton's residence, Alice was surveying the environment. Pondering on how to manage her affairs effectively. Working as a maid to the Milton family and managing both businesses. She needs to strive harder because her brother's life is slipping away.

"Feel at home, Alice. Anything you need, alert me and it will provide," Mrs. Milton assured Alice.

This is the biggest mansion Alice has ever come across, talkless of living in. She's overwhelmed by its luxurious decoration.

"By paying me for services here accompanied with running both businesses, it will go a long way to help me. My brother is dying slowly and it breaks my heart," Alice whispered to herself as she retired to sleep.

As days went by, leaving with Milton's family became the best thing for Alice. But she's still struggling to get funds for the bills.

"Hope you're enjoying your stay in my house," Mrs. Milton questioned Alice when she brought her juice.

"Of course, ma'am," she replied in a low tone.

"But you looked stressed. Do you need a break?" Mrs. Milton enquired.

"Not at all, ma'am."

"My son will be coming over; prepare something sumptuous for him," Mrs. Milton spoke calmly like a whisper.

"You don't have anything to worry about, ma'am," Alice assured her and left back to the kitchen.

"I need to prepare his meal now. So I can go to the shop early. Since it's past 8 am. Today is Saturday, and many customers will visit the shop," Alice murmured to herself as she hastened up with her chores.

A few moments later, there was unfamiliar noise from the living room. "Probably he's here now," Alice whispered to herself. She was dishing out the meal to set up the dining table.

She came out with the meal, and her eyes drifted to the fair-complexioned, handsome gentleman seated, giggling with extreme happiness written all over his face. His muscular figure is captivating-every woman's dream. Alice's gaze remained fixed as she dragged her feet on the floor, admiring him. Even though he hadn't noticed her presence, he was very busy chit-chatting with his mother.

"Please, the dining table is set ma'am," Alice said, standing in front of them.

As she glanced at Mrs. Milton's son, he looked familiar. However, she can't recall where she met him.

"Meet Oliver Milton, my only son," Mrs. Milton introduced her son to Alice. "He visits here once in a while."

"You're welcome, sir," Alice finally spoke after a while.

Oliver looked at Alice keenly as if he had something in mind. "Do I look familiar to him too?" Alice murmured to herself and excused them to enjoy their meal. She sped to the shop.

Alice got very busy at the shop, but she had to return early to prepare supper for Milton's family.

She hurried up to her room to change her outfit. As she got closer to Mrs. Milton's son room, she heard sounds that drew her attention. She drew closer to listen carefully.

"Darn it! I love that! Oh...Oliver! Fuck me like a whore!" A woman yelled and moaned; her voice was honeyed and penetrating.

"What!" Alice yelled but she held her mouth tight in order not to heard. "Is this the kind of man he's?" she added, shaking her head.

"But the voice is very familiar, but I just can't make it up. Let me head to the kitchen to work. That's very important."

Alice hastened up to prepare dinner, her mind clouded up with thoughts of her brother. She had not raised the money even with running shifts for these jobs.

Alice retired to bed early to rest her bones. To re-energise for tomorrow's routine. At almost midnight, she woke up and needed water. She headed straight to the kitchen. As she got to the stairs, she met someone walking forward and backwards while throwing his hands in the opposite directions. Her heart raced. She nearly ran back to her room.

She gathered the courage to draw closer, and she perceived the scent of alcohol around that space. "What! You're drunk sir," she yelled, holding her nose because of the smell.

She pushed him aside, hurried to the kitchen, and went back to her room to sleep. He's not her problem.

The next day, she woke up to several missed calls from the doctors, and her heart skipped. She felt restless, and her hands shook as she held the phone to return his calls.

She dialled the doctor's number as she strolled up and down her room. "Hello, how's my brother doing today? I've been trying my best to gather the money," Alice exclaimed, her voice stuttering and breaking.

"Your brother is dying. Don't blame us for anything. The surgery should be done now," the doctor's voice echoed in the room,she kept her phone on loudspeaker.

Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. Immediately the doctor dropped the call.

"Who's that? I hope the person hasn't heard our conversations?" Millions of thoughts oozed on Alice's mind, she crawled to open the door.