Bound by survival

Chapter 4

It had been a week already. Ashley is still in the hospital.

Mom was doing everything she could to stay strong while trying to figure out how Ashley’s surgery money could be raised, but I could see how exhausted she was already.

“Hey, why are you staring at your screen like that,” Macy asked, walking into the living room, holding a bowl of cereal.

“Just trying to see if my savings could at least cover for half of Ashley’s surgery. If I could also apply for a loan or something. But it seems impossible,” I said, letting out a heavy sigh.

I barely even had a quarter of what was needed for the surgery. There is no way I would be able to raise that amount of money in time.

Macy sat down beside me, turning so she was fully facing me. “I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”

“I hate this….. I hate that I can’t fix anything,” I whispered, my eyes fixed on the screen as the digits blurred back at me.

“You are doing the best you can,” she said softly. “Ashley is really lucky to have you as a sister.”

Those words gave me a little comfort even if they couldn’t fix anything.

Silence filled the living room.

“You haven’t smiled once this week,” Macy said after a while. “If you aren’t in the hospital, you are hiding here. I don’t like seeing you this down”

I let out a dry laugh. “There’s nothing to smile about.”

“I know,” she replied gently. “But there’s a club opening downtown on Friday night. At least a change of air won’t be bad, you can’t keep drowning in this house, Anna. Just one night, let yourself breathe.”

“No. I’m not interested. Macy,” I said, rolling my eyes. “And besides, I have nothing to wear.”

I didn’t even want to think twice about it. Ashley was still lying in the hospital, and she expected me to say yes to going to a club.

“It's just one night. Let yourself breathe,” she repeated. “Just think about it like a break from everything, and I’ll handle what you’ll wear, leave that to me.”

Then she stood up and walked back to the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I leaned back onto the couch, staring at the ceiling like it held a solution. A night out wouldn’t be bad. Macy was right. I needed a break from my life.

I got up, went into the room.

“Fine,” I said, standing in the doorway. “I’ll go, but I’m not staying out long.”

Macy gasped like I had just handed her a winning lottery ticket.

“Yesssss,” she shouted, like this was the best news she had heard all year.

I smiled as I watched her celebrate.

“I promise you won’t regret it,” she said with a smile. “Now, for the dress we would be wearing, we need to go shopping tomorrow. Don’t worry, all the bills are on me.”

I burst into laughter. “Ooh really, with what money?”

She winked,“ I’ve been saving.”

“Thank you,” I said softly.

“No need to thank me Anna, we’ll get through this together,” she replied.

I quietly nodded with a smile.

The next morning, Macy was already awake before me.

I walked into the kitchen and found her sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in one hand and her phone in the other, smiling like she had just been given an award.

“You are up early,” I said, walking towards the refrigerator to get some water.

She looked up and smiled. “Yeah, it’s a big shopping day.”

“You are way too excited about this,” I said, turning the water into a glass cup.

“Of course I am,” she replied without looking up. “You never go out, Anna. This is a historical moment.”

“I do go out,” I muttered.

“To the hospital and to school,” she corrected immediately.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a slice of bread from the counter. “Relax, I already said I’m going.”

“I had to make sure you didn’t change your mind.” She replied, her eyes still fixed to her screen.

“ I haven’t,” I muttered.” But first, we have to go see Mum and Ashley before shopping.”

Macy hesitated for a moment.

“Actually…I have to meet someone,” she said, glancing quickly at her phone.

I frowned. “Someone?”

“Yeah, just something quick,” she replied casually. “You go to the hospital first. We can meet downtown later, then go shopping.”

“Hmm…okay then, we’ll meet up by 2pm” I said.

“That’ll be perfect. Say hi to mom and Ashley for me,” she replied.

“Yeah, I will,” I said, leaving the kitchen.

I got dressed, took a cab, and headed to the hospital.

The ride was quiet.

When the cab stopped in front of the hospital, I paid the driver and stepped out.

I walked through the entrance and took the elevator to the third floor.

I stopped in front of Ashley’s room for a second before pushing the door open.

“Hi mum,” I said with a smile as I wrapped my arms around her. “I got some stuff for you and Ashley on my way here.”

She smiled tiredly as she hugged me back.

“You didn’t have to, Anna.”

“I wanted to,” I replied, placing the small bag I was holding on the table beside the bed.

Ashley turned her head slightly when she heard my voice.

“Anna,” she called out softly.

I walked over to her bed immediately.

“Heyyy, how are you feeling?” I asked.

She smiled weakly,“Better. What did you bring?”

“Your favorite snacks,” I said, opening the bag. “And some juice.”

Ashley’s eyes lit up a little.

“You are the best sister ever,” she said with a huge smile.

“I know,” I replied jokingly.

After a while of talking and laughing about random things, I looked at the time on my phone.

1:30pm

“I should probably get going soon. I have to meet Macy downtown,” I said. “We have to go shopping.”

“Shopping?” Mom asked, like she hadn’t heard from me the first time.

“Yeah, Macy convinced me to go with her to a club opening, on Friday.”

Mum raised an eyebrow

“A club?”

“It’s just one night,” I explained. “Macy thinks I need a break.”

“She’s right though,” Ashley interrupted. “You should go have fun.”

Mom sighed softly before nodding.“Okay then, take care of yourself.”

I stood up and hugged both of them before leaving.

After leaving the hospital, I pulled out my phone from my pocket.

I sent Macy a quick message.

On my way.

And a few seconds later, my phone beeped.

Good, I’m already here. Waiting for you.