A surprise visit

Chapter 12

Rodney

"Diane, that's not the issue. I'm at work right now; I'll call you back," I replied to the persistent Diane, who was becoming increasingly exasperating. I ended the call and tossed my phone onto the desk in frustration.

I can't help but miss Anne. The memory of that day lingers in my mind—she avoided me as if I were a plague.

I made a mistake by starting an affair with Diane, which led to my breakup with Anne, and now I'm filled with regret.

Anne was never a source of trouble; she was the ideal partner any man could wish for, and I squandered that opportunity.

If I could turn back time, I would change several things. When I saw her leave the cafeteria with that guy everyone has been buzzing about, I felt an urge to chase after them.

She appeared so joyful, sharing a meal with him, a sight I had never witnessed before. The way he looked at her was as if she were his beloved. Isn't he married with a child? I can't believe Anne is involved with a married man. The thought alone infuriates me.

Suddenly, my door swung open, jolting me from my thoughts. "We need your help right away," a nurse said urgently. I quickly rose from my desk and followed her to the ward, gathering that someone had fainted.

Upon entering the ward, I was taken aback to find Anne there. It was surprising, to say the least. She has always had a tendency to overextend herself, as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. This was one of the aspects of our relationship that eventually wore me down.

Her priority has always been her family, often at the expense of her own well-being, striving to provide her sister with the life she never had.

Although she had reached a level of stability, there was still a visible strain. We had set up an IV for her, and the sound of her slow, steady breathing filled the otherwise quiet room. I found myself gazing at her face, feeling an overwhelming desire to kiss her.

Suddenly, her sister burst into the room. The moment she spotted me, her expression hardened. It was understandable; she likely harbored resentment towards me. Without uttering a word, she was soon joined by their mother and father, the latter looking quite pale. Her mother turned to me and asked, "What happened to her?" Her face was streaked with tears.

"There’s no need to cry; she is stable now. She just had a fever," I reassured her. She nodded and turned her attention back to Anne.

Dr. Martin entered the room, addressing me directly. "Rodney, I need you to check on some patients. Don’t worry; I’ll take care of Anne, she's my patient." The audacity of him to say that to me, like he didn't want me here, I managed a smile, nodded, and exited the ward.

Emily

The unexpected call from the clinic caught us off guard; Anne had fainted. My mother was filled with worry when the phone rang. I was aware that Anne was under a lot of stress, but I had no idea it had reached this level. A sense of guilt washed over me, as I realized she was striving to provide me with a life that our family has never experienced.

I am truly thankful for my sister and my best friend. Whenever I returned home, Anne was always eager to hear about my college experiences, and it saddened me that she couldn't achieve her dream of graduating from college.

Life can be incredibly harsh for those of us without a support system. I watched as her pale face mirrored the immense pressure she had been under.

My mother was sniffling while my father tried to console her. I held her hand and felt it move. "Anne," I exclaimed, prompting my parents to rush closer as she slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze swept across the room, and she attempted to sit up, but my father gently restrained her.

"Oh no, young lady, you need to stay lying down," he insisted. She complied, covering her eyes with her hand. "You really frightened us, Anne. If you're feeling tired, why didn't you rest? Do you want us to lose you?" my mother said, wiping her nose.

Anne lowered her hand from her tear-filled eyes. I, too, felt tears welling up; my sister was clearly overwhelmed, and I felt powerless to alleviate her burden.

I work at a restaurant while attending school, but it hardly makes a significant difference. Knowing Anne, she is determined to provide me with opportunities she never had, ensuring I never lack anything. She also supports my father, whose job barely sustains us, especially as he ages.

I wish there were more I could do to assist. "I know, Mom. I'll take better care of myself from now on," Anne managed to say. I immediately embraced her, and she returned the hug.

"Looks like I scared you," she remarked, and I nodded in agreement. A small smile broke through; she truly seems older than her years and peers.

Her phone began to ring, and I handed it to her. "Don't cry anymore; as you can see, she's awake," my dad said to my mom. "Hello, Cole," she say, my eyes widening—so her billionaire friend is calling. "Oh no, I'm at work; I'll call you back later," she replied. Did she just lie? We all exchanged glances, and she offered us a faint smile.

However, my mom wasn't going to let that slide. She snatched the phone from Anne's hand, and before my sister could respond, my mom declared, "She's lying; she's at the clinic." Anne immediately turned to my dad, who was stifling a laugh with his hand over his mouth. "Yeah, she fainted. You really need to talk to your friend Cole, okay?"

My mom returned the phone to Anne, who continued to stare at it. "Why did you tell him that?" she asked. "If you won't listen to us, maybe you'll listen to Cole. You really need to take better care of yourself; we aren't the only ones struggling," my mom replied.

Anne remained silent, her head bowed. My dad placed a comforting hand on my mom's shoulder, prompting her to ease up on Anne. "I know it's not easy, Anne, but please, you're my daughter, and I don't want to lose you," my mom said, kissing Anne on the forehead.

"I'm sorry for worrying you all," Anne said to my mom. "It's alright; I need to get back to work," my dad responded. "Okay, see you at home," I said, and he nodded. "I'll walk him out," my mom said as she accompanied my dad.

I turned to Anne. "Hey, she was just worried." She nodded. "Yeah, I know. I really should rest; you guys are right." She lay back on the bed and closed her eyes but quickly opened them again and sat up. "What?" I asked, confused. "I can feel it; Cole is on his way," she said, and I couldn't help but laugh.

She looked at me earnestly. "I'm serious; I know him, and I need to get ready," she insisted. I decided to tease her a bit. "Oh really? But do you really need to?" She didn’t respond, instead grabbing her bag and pulling out a mirror. "I look terrible; please help me," she pleaded just as my mother entered the room.

"What’s happening?" Mom inquired, but I was too busy laughing. "She wants to look good for Cole," I said, and my mother joined in the laughter. "No, that's not it!" Anne protested, but we were not convinced.

Within moments, Cole arrived, and he looked incredibly handsome just like the tabloids, my sister is really lucky to have someone like him. Now I understood why my sister wanted to make a good impression.

He appeared quite anxious, and as he approached, my mother said, "Em, let’s give them some privacy." I was eager to hear their conversation, especially after discovering his true identity, but as suggested, we left them alone.