Dinner
Irina’s POV
Once again, we were having dinner, but it felt like I was in a cemetery. Dinner should be a time for families to share how their day went but mine was different. Suddenly the silence was broken by a man storming into our home.
His words were “You must pay your debt or I’ll leave this house with collateral” in a threatening tone.
For the first time I saw fear in my father’s eyes; his hands trembled but I felt only satisfaction. Since my mother’s death my father treated me poorly as if I were a stain on his perfect life.
Yes, my mother had health issues when she was in labor but was it truly my fault?
Life was perfect until disaster struck. My mother was playing with my older sister, Natalia, and me when we suddenly heard a crash from the kitchen.
It was my mother; she had fainted and collapsed on the floor. Natalia quickly called an ambulance and alerted our father.
When we arrived at the hospital, she was taken to the emergency ward. The only sounds I heard were gurneys and heavy rain hitting the windows.
My father kept saying “Mom will be okay,” with a broken voice.
After what felt like an eternity the doctor came out and said “She is awake but in a very critical condition. The next 24 hours are critical, as her peripartum cardiomyopathy has worsened. We will transfer her to a ward and you'll be able to see her.”
“Is this man speaking gibberish? Her what? Why didn't he come down to our level?” I asked Natalia. She looked lost, and our father explained “Your mother has a disease weakening her heart muscles. It all started when she gave birth to Irina and…”
A nurse approached us, indicating which ward my mother was in.
My mother looked lifeless; her body had fought hard. She told Natalia “Look after Irina, my darling” struggling to breathe. Seeing all the wires connected to her made me feel like I had lost everything.
The monitor’s beeping grew irregular, and my father went for the doctor. “Her pulse is dropping rapidly and I fear she will…” the doctor said before my father reached out to her, saying “Baby, look I am right here. Please open your eyes don't do this to me.”
The heart monitor emitted a long beep causing my father to collapse against the wall, tears streaming down his face. It felt like something pierced my heart; my world was collapsing and I could do nothing.
My sister, whom I admired as the strongest among us, cried until she had no tears left.
After that day my father spoke very little. If I made even the tiniest mistake like placing a plate on the counter instead of the rack he would beat me badly. Natalia often protected me but was usually hurt in the process. I would cry myself to sleep hoping it would get better someday but it only worsened.
My father became an alcoholic and started coming home late even started gambling—something he once warned us against.
His words were “Talia, Rina, make sure you never get involved with a gambler or think about gambling.” Now we live with the greatest gambler, burdened with debt.
Natalia started working to buy our groceries often coming home late or not at all. My father didn't ask about her but when I did, she would get angry saying “Would you rather mind your own business and eat or die of hunger?”
A loud bang on the table snapped me back. From Natalia’s expression I knew something terrible had happened.
