Chapter Two: SHALLOW
1084 Words
"Are you Mrs. Smith?" a nurse asked.
They both looked up to see a nurse approaching them, and her mother wipes her tears with the back of her hand.
Her mother nodded. "Yes. How is my daughter?"
"I believe the doctor has more information about her condition. And he has requested to see you in his office. This way, please," the nurse gestured.
Cara pushed her mother’s wheelchair, following closely behind the nurse with her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail.
They stopped, and the nurse knocked gently.
"Come in," a voice said.
The nurse smiled faintly and showed Cara into the room before closing the door behind her.
The doctor was seated behind the table, which was filled with different files; he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes gently before putting them back.
He gestured towards an empty seat and Cara drew the chair back and sat down while her mother wheeled forward.
The silence was deafening.
The doctor's face was set in a hard line, making Cara swallow hard. Sweat trickled down her face as she sat at the edge of her seat.
The doctor sighed deeply. "I am afraid I have bad news."
"No," her mother whispered gravely. "Tell me she'll be fine."
Cara’s chest tightened as she watched her mother’s panic-stricken face. She bit her lip, struggling to keep her tears at bay.
Life had taken an unpleasant turn after the death of her father. Who would have been a shoulder to lean on?
They were not wealthy but her father did his best to cater to their needs. His death left a huge void that couldn't be filled.
The doctor sighed, his eyes filled with regret. “Mrs. Smith, I won’t sugarcoat this… your daughter has bone cancer.”
A lone tear slipped down Cara's face and she quickly wiped it off. She was scared for her mother, scared that the news would deteriorate her health condition.
Her mother's silence made her heart skip, and a chord of panic struck, which made her shiver.
Cara could feel her mother's choked breath and feel her shaky hands.
"Does she have a chance?" Cara asked. Getting the words out was a painful struggle but the state of her sister's health was important to her.
The doctor focused his gaze on her. "Fortunately, yes. And that's why we need to proceed immediately with surgery."
She heaved a sigh of relief, and then her eyes flew to her mother's face; she could see how it brightened at the mention of a possible solution.
"Then let's not waste any time. Please, let's do the surgery," her mother urged, biting her lips.
He leaned forward. "It's not as easy as it seems. There are standard hospital procedures that must be followed," the doctor explained.
"I don't understand," Cara murmured, her voice revealing her weakness.
"All I'm trying to say is that the surgery would cost 30,000 dollars. You'll have to pay before the surgery is carried out."
Cara exchanged a surprised look with her mother, her jaw dropped almost touching the floor in shock. They could barely feed.
Where on earth would she get such a huge amount from?
Her mother was motionless except for the tears dripping from her swollen, red eyes.
She grabbed the doctor's hand from the small table. Her lips quivered as she pleaded with him. "Please, help me. We do not have that now but can you proceed with the surgery? We will find a way to pay back."
" I wish it was that easy, I would have done something to help," he sympathized.
Her vision became blurry with tears. The only job which brought in money was taken from her. Even if she worked at the restaurant for a lifetime, she still wouldn't be able to raise enough money for her sister's surgery.
After her father’s passing, their savings had dried up paying for medical bills and rent. With her mother unable to work, the weight of survival had fallen entirely on Cara.
She touched her face gently as tears slipped past her lips. The salty taste of her tears mingled with her saliva.
She opened her bag and brought out a handkerchief, which she pressed gently across her face as she cleaned her tears.
"How long do we have to raise the money?" she asked. She did not know if she should cry or burst into laughter at the question she just asked.
It's not like she has a huge sum of dollar notes stashed somewhere or a property to sell to raise the amount being demanded for the surgery.
"The earlier you get the money ready the better for your sister. As further delay could pose a threat to her life," the doctor responded.
"Alright… I'll figure something out," she whispered.
Cara got up and wheeled her mother out of the office.
Closing the door gently behind her, she crouched down, her hands placed on her mother's thighs.
She stared deep into her mother's eyes, which were sunken in grief, losing their shine and sparkle. She felt empty deep inside, overwhelmed with sadness.
"Mom, I don't want you to feel this way, please," her slender finger ran through her mother's hands which were clasped together.
"I don't know what to feel for my child. It's terrible watching you bear the burden alone. I have failed you and your sister. Too bad I am confined to this wheelchair," her mother wailed, her voice laced with sadness and a tinge of frustration.
"No, don't say that. You have not failed us. It's not your fault that you had an accident. We should go see Jenny." Cara consoled, not blaming her mum for their circumstance.
If that unfortunate incident had not happened years ago, her mother wouldn’t be so sad.
Her mind raced. Who could she turn to? Was she willing to swallow her pride and beg for help?
She stood up and wheeled her mother along the long corridor of the hospital, following her mother's direction.
They got to the room, and she pushed the door open, then they went in.
The air left her lungs as she stepped into the room. Her sister lay motionless, lost in a sea of white sheets.
The beeping sound from the machine beside the bed filled the room. And the smell of disinfectant hit her nostrils.
Only financial help could save Jenny now. And she knew exactly whom to ask—but was she ready for the cost?
- Writer
