14: The Choice
1018 Words
As Amara Okafor walked back home, she couldn't help but think about how bad her life had turned ever since she met Jide Lawson.
But as much as she wanted to regret meeting him.
As much as she wanted to hate him.
Her heart wouldn't let her.
It still beats for him.
But where does she go from here?
She was broke, heartbroken, and now jobless.
Maybe Obinna was right.
She should have collected the money.
But she kept her dignity and lost every other thing.
Jide has moved on.
But here she was, not knowing where to turn to.
Her phone suddenly buzzed in her pocket.
It was Obinna calling.
Amara frowned at it, before finally picking up.
"Obinna, what is it?"
But the voice she had was muffled with tears.
"Mama is in the hospital."
Amara became alert immediately.
"Why? What happened?"
"She became very sick after you left, I had to rush her to the hospital."
"Okay," Amara tried to sound calm, "What's the Doctor saying?"
"He said Mama needs to undergo an operation if we want her to survive." Obinna answered, "Amara, can you come over? He is asking for money."
"I'll be on my way now," She said and hung up.
Without wasting so much time, she flagged an Okada driver.
And headed straight to the hospital.
----
Amara got to the hospital minutes later, and the sight of her younger brother in tears pulled at her heart.
"Obinna," she called him, and he looked up at her.
"Where's the Doctor?"
As if hearing his name, the Doctor appeared from behind.
"Amara," the doctor spoke to her softly, "your mother needs a gastrointestinal surgery immediately."
Amara nodded.
"How much is this surgery?"
"Approximately eight million naira."
Amara held her head with her hands.
Eight million naira?
Where would she get such an amount of money?
She had never seen such an amount before?
"It will cover the surgery, post-operative care, medication, and hospital fees," the doctor quickly added.
But Amara was no longer listening.
Her thoughts were on how she would raise such an amount.
"Her medication wouldn't do anymore," the doctor continued, "Your mother needs the surgery to survive."
Tears trickled down her eyes.
She felt completely defeated.
Obinna went to his sister's side as soon as the doctor left them.
"Sister, don't cry," he said softly, comforting her.
"Where do I get the money from?"
"Maybe you can ask for a loan at your workplace?" Obinna suggested.
Amara shook her head.
"I was fired today."
Obinna's eyes sprang wide.
"Fired?" He exclaimed, "You mean you don't have a job anymore?"
Amara kept mute, her mind racing and thinking of solutions.
"Now I wish more than ever that you collected that money," Obinna said quietly.
That was when Amara remembered.
She remembered the card Mrs. Lawson had thrown at her.
It had her personal phone numbers on it.
Amara had kept it.
She couldn't tell why, but she was glad now that she did.
"I'll be right back."
She said to Obinna and left the hospital.
At a junction on the road, she purchased airtime.
After loading her phone, she took out the card from her bag.
She stared at it for a while.
Twenty-five million naira.
The amount that could have changed everything.
The amount she had proudly rejected.
Her fingers trembled.
Calling Mrs. Lawson means losing her pride, dignity, and self-respect.
But not calling her meant losing her mother.
That was non-negotiable.
----
The Lawson's mansion was buzzing with excitement, and the atmosphere was filled with the aroma of Nigerian Jollof and fried chicken.
"This is so delicious," Lara said, as she casually sipped from her wine glass.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it, my dear," Margaret Lawson said, smiling at her.
They munched on their meals in silence for a moment.
Then Chief Adebayo Lawson broke the silence.
"Jide, you've been quiet," he said, and everyone at the table looked at Jide.
"Is everything okay?"
Jide looked up at his father, but he could feel his mother's gaze boring into him.
"Yeah, just enjoying the meal." He answered quietly.
"Hope you've apologized to Lara for your poor commitment in the past months?" His father asked, with a stern look at him.
Lara smiled.
"We've called a truce and are starting on a clean slate." She answered instead.
Lara looked at Jide with a smile, and he forced himself to mirror it.
"That's lovely to hear," Margaret said, "especially now that your engagement party is fast approaching."
Jide swallowed his food hard.
This was really happening.
Why couldn't he accept it yet?
Why did he still silently wish for Amara?
Margaret's phone suddenly buzzed at the table.
"Honey, no phones in the dining room," Her husband said gently.
She mouthed her apologies as she looked at the number calling.
It wasn't a number she knew.
"I'll quickly take this."
Margaret said and excused herself.
----
Alone now, Margaret Lawson picked up the call, and the moment she heard the voice of the other side of the phone, a smirk smeared on her face.
"I knew you would come back begging," she said mockingly.
"Please ma'am," Amara pleaded, "I'll do whatever you ask."
"So, you want the money?" Margaret asked, taunting her.
"Yes..."
"Then beg harder." Margaret replied, "Beg like the helpless person that you are."
Amara held her breath.
She was fighting the urge to hang up the phone.
She was fighting the urge to tell Margaret Lawson to go to hell.
But her mother was dying.
She had to let go of her pride.
"Still proud?"
She heard Margaret say.
"No."
"Then beg!"
"I beg you with everything in me," Amara quickly said, "Help me..."
Margaret laughed out loud.
"Send your account details."
She said after a moment.
"Thank you," Amara said happily, "Thank you so much."
"If I ever see you close to my son, or even say a word about this to him," Margaret warned, "you won't like what will happen to you."
"I promise to stay far away from him," Amara quickly said.
Then the line disconnected.
- Writer
