The Last Time We Loved

Chapter 7

Elara

I returned to the hospital, I needed to try again, my mother didn’t have much time, I need to assure the doctors that I was going to work twice as hard to provide the money.

I was drenched with the light rain misting down again. “I’ll beg them again.” I whispered. “I’ll beg the doctors again, maybe they’ll let me pay later, maybe…”

Soon as I turned, I collided directly into someone, and I gasped, staggering back.

“Whoa… hey, careful…” A familiar voice said, catching my wrist instantly to stop me from falling, but I froze when I looked up to see Mr. Nate Hayes.

The same man I had been avoiding for years, someone that should never see me like this.

I pulled my hand away from him as my instinct screamed that I should run, I turned my back to him and took a step to flee, but his voice made me stop.

“Elara?” Nate said my name and I squeezed my eyes shut.

My mother’s pale, breathless face flashed in my mind, and instead to walking away, I turned around, locking my eyes with his in desperation.

“Please,” I whispered. “Please, can I talk to you? Just a moment, I really need your help.”

Well, f**k it, I need his help! There was no one else to turn to but Nate.

If I got kicked out of the company, he can help me get back, I have to explain that I was wronged, that the senior cheated with my ex boyfriend and when I confronted her for it, she fired me, I don’t know the lies she told to get me kicked out, but I was fired wrongfully.

Nate lifted his brows. “Elara---“

“Please,” I whispered, cutting him off again, I know we haven’t been talking, I know I had always run away from him, I know I shouldn’t have done what I did a year ago, but I was stupid, foolish to have trusted Jacob, but now I was helpless.

Tears gathered at the corner of my eyes. “I…I have no one else, I need to talk to you, it’s about my mother… please.” For the first time in my life, I wasn’t hiding my desperation, I was going to show every bit of it to Nate now.

“Slow down, Elara, tell me, what happened to you…” Before he could finish his sentence, his ringing phone interrupted us, he glanced down at his pocket, but didn’t reach for it.

“She needs…” The phone rang again, and I pressed my lips, almost cursing at whoever must be calling him at this time under my breath.

“Looks like you need to take that.” I said, although I wanted him to ignore it and hear me out.

He reached for his pocket, took out the phone and was about to end it without taking it, but he hesitated, perhaps the name that flashed on the screen made him pause.

“This will take a moment.” He told me, I nodded as he answered the call, placing the phone on his ear.

“Yes.” Nate said. I couldn’t hear what the person at the other end of the line said, but it was enough to get a reaction from him.

Nate’s brows snapped together, and he clenched his jaw, his eyes darkened, colder than when he had looked at me, and staring close to his face now, I could see they look a little bit pale, he looked a little worse than the last time I saw him.

He loosened his tie and scoffed. “I will be right there.” He ended the call and took a step to walk away. I panicked and grabbed his arms.

“Mr. Nate…” I called out quickly and he turned to me, he blinked, perhaps recalling that I was still here. “About…”

“I have to go, Elara.” He told me and I blinked.

Has he forgotten what I was telling him already? Then again, it seemed like he had an urgent matter to attend to.

“But…I, please just a minute…”

He was already shrugging out of his coat, without a word, he stepped closer and put it over my shoulder since I was soaked, his sudden gentleness caught me off guard.

“Let’s talk later okay. I will call you, Elara.” He assured and without another glance at me, he turned and strode away with his long legs covered in black trouser.

I stood there, frozen. “But my mother needs surgery…” A whisper escaped my lips, and warm tears rolled down my cheek.

I rubbed my swollen eyes, I was exhausted, I was scared, helpless, my knees gave in and I sank onto the curb sobbing, he had said later, but I don’t know if there would ever be later, Mr. Nate hasn’t directly called me for a year ever since I started ignoring his calls.

I stood beside my mother’s bed, wrapping my hand gently around her finger, she looked too thin. Tubes snaked across her pale skin, and a ventilator breathed for her.

“I’m right here mom.” I whispered, but my mother didn’t stir, it didn’t look like she could hear me, my lower lips trembled and my vision blurred again.

“I don’t know what to anymore,” I confessed softly. “I tried everything, I really did.” I pressed my forehead against the side of the bed. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” I whispered.

My phone vibrated in my hand and I looked down at the screen, it was Nora’s school administrator.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Is this Elara Brooks?” a woman asked from the other side of the line.

“Yes.” I answered, my gaze flickering to my wristwatch, it was past noon.

“This is Mrs. Lincoln from Carter middle school, I’m calling regarding your sister.”

I stood up immediately. “Is she okay?” I asked without hesitation.

There was a pause on the other side of the line. “I’m afraid she’s gotten into some trouble today, we need you to come in immediately.”

I tightened my fingers around the phone. “What kind of trouble?” My heart pounded inside of my chest.

The woman hesitated. “It would be best if we discussed it in person.” Before I could say a word, the line went dead and I blinked, staring blankly at the screen of my phone.

What trouble had Nora caused now?