ALMADA'S DREAM, NANI'S DILEMMA

It was a freezing cold evening, so Almada ensured she put on a thick pant and a sweater before lying on her moderate-sized bed. She switched off her bedside lamp. Covered herself with a blanket. Then close her eyes tightly. She rolled from one side of the bed to the other, hoping to fall asleep. But she couldn't slip into slumber. Since the age of 10, Almada has struggled with insomnia. She had tried every possible means to combat her insomnia by using different sleeping pills recommended. All to no avail. Out of frustration, she got out of bed and switched on the TV to pass some time. She was enjoying a re-run of her favorite T.V. show she'd missed during the day until she saw on her screen a hospital filled with several lab coat-wearing personnel. Suddenly, Almada, who'd smiled throughout the show, became filled with sorrow. Since Almada's childhood, her only dream has been to become a medical doctor. She'd gained admission into medical school. But the trust funds her deceased father had tied down in ColWill Bank solely for Almada's fees in medical school vanished. Shortly after her dad's demise, ColWill Bank, which was one of the longest-serving banks in Portugal, experienced countless financial crises and had to shut down all its banks across the nation. The Portugese government had planned to compensate every citizen who had lost their monies at ColWill Bank. But they changed their plans when the nation began to experience external threats from a terrorist organization. Almada had no other choice than to forfeit her admission. Then she started job hunting in order to earn some money to fund her dreams of being a medical doctor. Almada couldn't stomach the pain from seeing those doctors on her screen. She switched off the TV. Sat on the floor and began to wonder if her dream would ever come true. Almada was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the knocks on her door. Tired of waiting without any response, Dolores wheeled herself into Almada's room. Dolores had an inkling of why Almada was seated helplessly on the floor with her eyes looking red. She wheeled much closer and asked, "What's wrong with you?" Uncharacteristic of Almada, she ignored Dolores and kept looking around in agony. Her snobbish behavior got Dolores disgusted. But she cleverly hid her disgust by maintaining a relaxed face because she knew Almada was deeply hurting inside. Dolores pulled Almada closer and whispered, "All will be well. "Please, do not be bothered." "I have to be bothered. I've sent countless emails of job applications to several institutions for months, but none have reached back to me." Dolores was well aware of her plight. But one thing she didn't want Almada to lose is hope. She held Almada's hands softly. Looked right into her reddish eyes and said, "The job market is really tough. So rejections are absolutely normal. I believe you're eventually going to get a job. But don't relent and keep on sending more applications. Remember, if you don't purchase the tickets, you can't win the lottery." Hearing those comforting words made Almada feel a tad better. However, her heart ached once more seeing Dolores confined to a wheelchair. During Dolores' 14th birthday, she survived a fatal car accident that took the lives of all her nuclear family and confined her to a wheelchair. Only a correctional surgery has stood in her way of ensuring she walked on both feet again. But it cost a fortune. €1M approximately. A gigantic amount that's never existed in their household. Almada had always wanted to become a medical doctor so she could carry out that correction surgery for free and within the next five years. Dolores would be confined to the wheelchair for life, as predicted by numerous doctors. Almada gazed at the clock, and it was already past Dolores' bedtime. She faked a smile so Dolores could feel relief and head back to her room. "I've heard all you said. I'll keep sending those application emails. Hopefully, one works out." "That's good. Keep on putting in the work and you'll definitely get looked at." Dolores adjusted her nightgarmour. Then she wanted to wheel herself back into her room. But Almada resisted. "Can I wheel you instead?" "Sure." Almada's kind gesture didn't amaze Dolores. But made her remember her deceased husband, who'd always wheel her around the house whenever he was at home. "We'd have been better off if he were still here. Continue to rest in peace, my love," Dolores muttered. By seeing her late father extend such kindness to Dolores even when he came back from work looking like a tired camel, Almada developed a kind heart too. Almada got up. Grabbed the push handles of the wheelchair and wheeled Dolores back into her room. "Thanks, Almada. Ensure you check that all the doors are locked before going back to your room." "I'll have a restful night." "And you too." Almada walked around the house. Ensured all the doors were locked before entering into her room. Still not feeling sleepy, Almada decided to get some work done. She brought out her laptop. Went online to research as many establishments with vacancy. Then bombarded them with application emails. Her eyes began to shut after she finished sending those emails. She closed her laptop and lay down on her bed. Forgetting to close her cottons, some rays of sunlight beamed into Almada's face. She got out of her bed. Headed to the toilet to deposit some morning pee. While Almada dressed her bed with some new sheets, she heard a notification message from her phone. She unlocked her phone and read the message. "Congratulations, Almada, you have been invited for an interview..." Without reading any farther, Almada punched the air in excitement. She left her room for Dolores' so she could divulge the good news. She knocked a couple of times but received no answer. "Maybe she's still saying her morning prayers." Patiently, Almada stood beside the door and waited for Dolores' permission to go in. "You can come inside," Dolores calmly said. Almada rushed inside. Hugged her mother and said, "Finally, I've been invited for an interview." "Wow! I'm so happy to hear that. So when is the interview?" "Today. Precisely, two hours from now." She responded after reading the whole message. "That's very sudden. But I wish you all the best." Almada went to the kitchen. Fixed some breakfast. Dished Dolores" portion into her favorite spotless white-looking plate. Then she ate hers hurriedly before entering into the bathroom. She kitted up in corporate wear. Applied a little makeup on her face and gazed at her reflection thoroughly before heading to the train station. After alighting from the train, she crossed over to a narrow road leading to the venue of the interview. It was still the wee hours of the morning, so the narrow road was virtually empty. As Almada walked on that road, she turned back a couple of times to ensure she was safe. Almost at the end of the road, she heard someone scream. "Somebody, please come and help me!" Almada heard the person scream again, and she turned back to find the person who needed some aid. While she searched around, a young man rushed towards her. "Don't be scared. I'm Nani. My car ran into someone. Please, do you have any hospital around?" Almada's shaky fingers stopped, and she nodded in approval. Immediately, both of them carried the victim into Nani's car and zoomed off the hospital. Almada waited alongside Nani in the hospital until the victim's treatment began. Then she left the hospital for her scheduled interview. She reached the venue of the interview. Knocked at the gate, but nobody answered. Almada flinched, then knocked at the gate harder. Finally, the gateman opened the gate. "Good day, Sir, I'm here for an interview." "When is the time for your interview?" The gate-man asked with a smirk on his face. "By 8 A.M." "Now, look at your wristwatch. What says the time?" "It's just 8:10 A.M." "You've arrived late, and the H.R. has instructed me not to allow any latecomers inside for an interview. Good-bye." The gate-man said before shutting the gate.