More than a lie

Clara stood by the doorway, her school bag dragging behind her like a burden too heavy for her tiny shoulders. "Daddy," she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper, "please don’t let me be the only one without a mommy on Mommy and Me Day." Her eyes, wide with worry, searched his face. “They’ll laugh at me. I know they will.” Cyrus was scared. He didn't know how to tell his daughter that her mum wouldn't be showing up for the “Mummy and me day” event at her school. “Yes sweetheart, I'm still trying to contact your mum. I know she'll definitely make it to the event, okay?” Clara nodded with a smile, revealing her beautiful dentition. Cyrus knew he had to do something quickly to avoid his daughter being ridiculed in school. But he was clueless about what exactly to do after all the efforts to convince his ex-wife to show up at her daughter's event failed. “Hello”, Anita's voice echoed over the phone. "Anita, Hi, it's Cyrus, please you really have to listen to me." It's just a two-day event, nothing much.” You have to do this, at least for the sake of your daughter. We may not be married again, but you are still her mother.” " Cyrus, I'm sorry, but I won't come,” Anita retorted.Plea… before Cyrus could say anything more, Anita had dropped the call. Cyrus was restless. He looked through the window and watched his daughter playing on the merry-go-round outside. He recollected how his family was once complete with his darling wife before she decided to divorce him for a random guy. Since then, Cyrus has vowed never to love again, not to talk about marrying again. He detested anything on the skirt. He changed his secretary to a man and sacked his daughter's nanny and maid. He stopped working for over two months and a week to heal from the heartbreak, which really took a toll on him. “Dinner is ready, baby" he told Clara as he fondly called her baby at times. “Yippee" Clara yelled, as she quickly ran to the dining table. “Dad, do you know you are one of the best cooks in the world?” Clara said. “Really?" Cyrus asked with a smile on his face, “Thank you baby, bon appétit", meaning enjoy your meal in French, he said. The next day, Cyrus quickly made breakfast of scrambled eggs with coffee and then baked pancakes for her lunch. Dropped her off at school and headed straight to the hospital where he worked, one of the best hospitals in California owned by him. “Good morning Doc,” his secretary greeted and helped him with his briefcase, which was worth over a hundred dollars. He held it in a way that seemed like he was carrying a newborn baby and followed him behind to his office. “Is the list of patients I'm attending to for today ready?” he asked, looking directly at Kofi, his secretary. " Yes sir, it is. But there's a special case today.” “A special case”? He repeated. “Yes, she wouldn't let us conduct a test on her till she has met you.” Kofi responded. “Hmmm, it's okay, let her in when it's her turn” Kofi nodded and left, closing the door behind him softly. After attending to about fifteen patients, he decided to take a rest, but the noises he heard outside his office got him worried. He called Kofi and inquired about what caused the noise. “It's the woman I told you about." "Oh, how about her? “ Cyrus asked. " She wouldn't wait for her turn to see you, she's been pleading with me for a while now to let her see you.” Let her in, said Cyrus. Andrea walked into Cyrus's office with trembling feet but a determined heart with a goal. "Doc, I'm sorry to cause a drama in your hospital. So sorry. Andrea pleaded with tears in her eyes, almost kneeling. “It's fine” he feigned a smile. "What's the problem, heard you insisted on seeing me first before you do a test. Why? “ For a while, Andrea couldn't say anything. It looked as though she had just been deprived of her freedom to speak. She played with her nails, then buried her face in her palms. Giving loud sighs for the 100th time. Meanwhile, Cyrus sat leaning on his back looking at her. Expecting her to say something, “Speak up!” he yelled. He was running out of patience, after being calm for a while. “I'm sorry, it's just that I….. Need… money, she stammered. "My mother is critically ill, and I didn't have the money for her hospital bills, so I decided to come to New York to get a job.” “I got one, but the pay is not worth it,” she added, sobbing. “I'd like to sell one of my kidneys. "I heard I could sell one of them for a good ransom,” she blurted. "I really need to save my mother." Doc I can't let her die, I can't“ Andrea gave a loud cry. Cyrus had just been listening to her keenly as she spoke. Though he was a multi-billionaire with diverse properties in his name, he was humble and respectful to whoever he met. His father, a billionaire , owned the biggest real estate in New York City and diverse, expensive hotels, which before he died willed everything to Cyrus as their only child. Though they were wealthy, he still chose to follow his childhood career, being a medical doctor. His dad and mum would always tell him, Cyrus , why don't you stick to the family's business? Being a doctor may wear you out. “I love to take care of patients," he'd always reply. " I'm sorry to say, but I don't support people selling their kidneys. One may have two kidneys. That doesn't mean he or she won't be needing the other one some day, besides you are still agile and strong. " You really have to help me doctor, please, I have to save my mother,” she added. “Get more jobs, work extra hard , I'm sure you'll be able to raise the money for your mum's hospital bills", Cyrus said, and left the office for his lunch break.