CHAPTER 3
1182 Words
Evelyn bent down, carefully selecting the greenest and freshest vegetables as she placed them in her shopping bag.
The market air is filled with vehicle sounds and the faint voices of sellers and shoppers.
Suddenly, a loud sound of a honking truck startled her.
Evelyn gasped, she could feel her heart racing, almost jumping out of her chest.
“Ma, why are you so startled? It's just a truck”
The vegetable seller asked with genuine concern as her eyes narrowed towards Evelyn, who looked like she had just come back from the dead.
Evelyn forced a nervous smile as she tried to steady herself.
“It's nothing,” she muttered, trying to shake it off.
But something felt off. She blinked, and for a few seconds, everything she looked at started to blur off.
“Ma! "There's blood coming from your nose!” The seller anxiouly pointed at Evelyn’s face.
Evelyn placed her hand below her nose, and it was filled with blood.
She lost hold of her vegetable bag which fell and spilled some of the groceries she had bought.
Everything felt blurred out and far away. She tried to hold herself together, but her feet staggered as her body landed on the market floor.
People immediately rushed to her side.
“It’s Evelyn! She’s one of my customers! I always send her grocery supplies every weekend.”
One of the sellers gasped.
“Hold on! I have Hazel's number!”
Everyone turned to the seller as she opened her apron and hastily grabbed her phone.
They quickly called an ambulance, and Evelyn was taken away.
At the hospital, Hazel’s heart raced as she pushed open the door.
She saw her mother being tended to by doctors.
She froze as both her hands landed on her lips.
She rushed to hold her mum's hands.
“What happened to her? "Is she going to be okay?” Hazel’s voice is already shaky.
The doctor glanced at her, his face serious.
“She’s suffered a sharp spike in her blood pressure.”
“We’re not sure what caused it, but it’s high enough to make her lose consciousness.”
“But She… she was just fine this morning,”
Hazel explained with a faint voice.
The doctor sighed, looking at Hazel.
“I understand, but her blood pressure is dangerously high. This isn’t just ordinary stress.”
“We’ll monitor her, but she needs complete rest. If she doesn’t take it easy, the consequences could be serious.”
Hazel nodded, her heart heavy.
She held her mum's palms tightly, she could hear the soft beeping of the machines.
“She’ll be fine, right?” she asked, barely holding herself together.
The doctor gave her a reassuring smile,
“She will be fine, but she needs a very good rest.”
Hazel looked at her mum,
“She looks perfectly okay, what could have happened, mom”? Hazel whispered under her breath.
“But… the bills…?” Hazel enquired, her forehead ruffled with worry as she turned to the doctor.
“Oh yes!”
He handed her a small stack of papers.
Hazel took the bills, her heart sinking as she looked at the amounts listed.
Her mind raced. There was no way she could afford this.
…
Enzo was getting ready to leave his house when his phone rang. Hazel’s voice came through, shaking.
“Enzo, it’s my mom... she’s in the state hospital near the market. Something happened, and she’s being admitted.”
His heart dropped. “I’m on my way,” he said, his voice urgent.
He didn’t wait for another word before hanging up and rushing out the door.
Enzo arrived at the hospital in less than 20 minutes.
After inquiries, he rushed into the room where Evelyn was lying in bed, looking fragile but stable.
Hazel was sitting beside her, looking exhausted, her eyes almost wet.
Enzo walked up to Hazel, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“What happened ,” Enzo enquired, his voice soft but strong.
“I don't know Enzo, she just collapsed while she was shopping,” Hazel explained, her voice trembling.
He placed his hands on Evelyn's forehead while holding her hand firmly.
“What's her status? She will be okay, right?”
He asked, turning to the assistant nurse standing across the room.
“Yes she will, she just needs proper rest”, the assistant nurse nodded.
“Put all the bills on me. I want her to have the best care. Please instruct your nurses to take proper care of her, they will be paid well!”
He handed the management his personal number to call if any bill comes up.
Hazel’s heart swelled with gratitude as she looked at Enzo, with a little smile on her cheeks.
The weight on her shoulders lifted just a little.
“Thank you... thank you so much Enzo,” she whispered, holding his hand tightly.
Enzo grabbed her hand firmly.
“She will be fine haze, I'll make sure of that.”
“Have you had anything to eat?” he asked, looking into her eyes.
“Uuuuh…actually no,”
“OK, give me a few minutes”, Enzo laid down his phone and car key, heading towards the door.
Fifteen minutes later, he walked into the room, looking fresh but still carrying the same heaviness in his eyes.
He went over and placed a small bag on the side table, fresh food, coffee for Hazel.
Hazel smiled tiredly. "Thank you so much Enzo," looking into his deep gray eyes.
Enzo nodded. Then his gaze shifted to Evelyn.
He stepped closer, studying her quietly.
“She will be fine haze,” Enzo said, grabbing her hand, almost like he was trying to convince himself too.
Hazel nodded.
“Come here.”
Enzo held her lower back, dragging her close to him.
“I promise you that she is already fine,"
Hazel nodded again. This time, the weight on her chest was almost completely lifted.
“Ok haze, I need to run along. I was supposed to meet Mr Costi like 40 minutes ago.”
Enzo said, looking at his watch.
“Mr Costi has been giving the company loads of trouble since dad passed,” Enzo said with a tired look on his face.
“I hope everything is okay at work?” Hazel inquired, her voice weak and faint.
“Yes, sure!” Enzo assured her confidently, giving her a soft kiss on her forehead.
As Enzo made it to the door, they both locked eyes before he finally left.
…
It's 5pm in the evening. Hazel saw Enzo off as he came to check in on her.
She placed her phone on the table and just as she laid her head on her mum's bed, her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen, it was from an unsaved number, her mind filled with questions as she read the message.
Come to the hospital, I've got questions.
It’s about your mum, and it's about Edmond too.”
From Ethan.
- Writer
