The Last Time We Loved

Chapter 6

Elara

I couldn’t break down in front of my sister, not after she had asked if our mother was going to die. I had assured her that everything was going to be fine, that I was going to handle it, but honestly, I don’t know what to do with the information the doctor’s had just told me.

I tried my best to hold my tears as I said goodbye to Nora who headed for school the next day. I had told her it was just a minor issue with mom, that she was going to wake up soon, but it was a lie.

As I shut the door, I leaned on it and the tears I had been holding back since the previous day rolled down my cheek. I recalled the conversation I had with the doctors.

“Ms. Brooks, your mother collapsed from severe respiratory distress, her lungs were already under a lot of strain, it appears to be an advanced stage lung disease, and the episode caused major complications, her lungs can’t keep up anymore.”

“But she just fainted, how did it get this bad?”

“Her oxygen levels were dangerously low when she arrived, we’ve stabilized her for now, but she needs surgery immediately, if we don’t operate as soon as possible, we may lose her.”

I curled my hand into fist, anger shot through my veins as I pushed away from the door heading into my mother’s room, I opened her drawer and trash out all the cigarette she had stored in there, and all the alcohol she gets wasted in.

I had seen her cough a few times, but I didn’t know she was that sick, I wasn’t always at home, I leave early and got back home late, so I had no idea she kept on smoking. I had complained, begged her, but she had told me that was the only way to stop thinking about dad.

How can she not get over a man that doesn’t want her? It’s been ten years already, she should love us that are present in her life, but she keeps drowning for a man that left her when she was most vulnerable.

The doctors had said she could die. Was dying more important to her than being with Nora and me?

I walked into my room, and collapsed on my knees in front of my small desk, slowly reaching for the paper the nurse had handed to me the previous day. “This is the cost estimate and the required initial deposit to begin the procedure, please settle it as soon as possible.”

I stared at the figure, I was just fired and now a figure I don’t have stared back at me, it felt like every wall around me was collapsing.

I opened my laptop to check my account balance, but my stomach dropped, it was barely even enough to cover for rent for the month.

A soft sob escaped my lips, I didn’t have family support, and there was no saving, because of Jacob I couldn’t even receive my monthly salary before I got kicked out.

“No… no, no…” I covered my face with my hands, but crying wouldn’t change a thing.

I wiped the tears aggressively and stood up, if I break down now who would look after Nora, I have to be strong for her.

I gathered every last dollar in my account, even the money I had saved for rent, food, and my sister’s tuition fee, then went straight to the hospital to deposit it all.

The clerk looked up at me. “Ms. Brooke, it’s still not enough.”

“I blinked. “How much is left?” I could barely recognize my own voice, I swallowed hard when the clerk told me, the number felt bigger this time.

“I’ll find it, I will find the rest, please, please don’t delay her care if it gets worse.” The clerk only gave me a sympathetic look and I hurried out of the hospital.

I left the hospital in a hurry, there was no more fund at home, perhaps the bank will give me a loan, I can’t lose my mom too, she was all I have left.

My father left, my boyfriend hurt me and we broke up, I got fired at work as well, losing my mother will break me more than any other.

I went to the nearest bank and stood in front of the loan officer, breathless. “Please,” I begged. “My mother’s life is on the line, she needs surgery, I can pay it back, I have a good work…” I paused. “Well, I had a job, but I will get another, please.”

The lady shook her head. “Miss Brooks without current employment, we can’t approve a loan of that size.”

“But I just lost my job yesterday.” I cried out. Hayes Global was one of the top company in the country, and while I worked, I haven’t tried to get a loan, because the pay was good, but I was fired before I could even get my monthly payment.

“I have worked at that company for five years, I’ve never owed anyone, please, I’m begging you.”

“I’m truly sorry.” She said quietly. “The system won’t allow it.”

My heart dropped, and my knees nearly gave out, but I caught myself on the counter. I had explained, I had begged, I had told them of my situation, why won’t anyone consider it, not the doctors, not the loan officer.

I walked out of the bank numb. I could barely feel myself, my eyes sting, I looked a mess, not the girl who smoothened her suit and wore sparkling heels, with styled hair, I was a complete mess, with nowhere to go ask for help now.

I can’t even call my father, I don’t know his cell number, I don’t know if he was still alive, I don’t know where he was at, if he had moved on, gotten married, gotten a new family, there was no relative to turn to, no one.