Episode 002
1395 Words
Alina
The hospital walls have heard my prayers more than the church has. It had seen me shed tears and be in the most vulnerable state more than any other person on earth has, and this time, it was no different, as I sobbed and prayed for my brother to be fine. He was all I had in this world, and I couldn’t imagine a life without him. NEVER.
I had no idea how much had passed from the time he was taken in by the nurses, as my mind was full of running thoughts.
What could have caused him to just fall?
Was he sick?
Was he hungry?
Was he standing and sleeping, and as a result, fell down?
What exactly was the problem? I pondered as my heart raced in fear.
“You know whatever happens to him is all your fault, right?” my stepdad mentioned, his words bringing me back to reality.
I didn't even know he was still here. He was kind enough to drive us to the hospital, and I appreciated him for it, but staying back was what I didn’t understand. He has made it clear countless times how he was not interested in our welfare, so I didn’t expect much from him even in my worst state.
“And how is it my fault?” I asked, turning towards where he sat as I wiped my tears.
“If you had just let him rest like every normal child by this time, we wouldn’t have been here,” he mentioned.
Staring at him, I was lost for words. A part of me told me he was just bluffing and trying to get under my skin, but another part couldn’t help but believe his words.
We locked eyes for almost a minute, as I was lost for words, until suddenly, our attention was drawn back by an unfamiliar voice.
“Miss Alina?” a nurse called, drawing my attention towards her. She held a file and stood at a corner as she called out my name and looked into the crowd for who was going to respond.
“Yes, ma,” I responded as I ran towards her. “How is he doing?” I questioned frantically.
“Who are you to Lucas?” she asked, probably trying to know my relationship with my brother before giving out more information. In the form I filled earlier, I only stated I was a guardian and nothing more, hence her confusion.
“I am his sister,” I replied, hastily.
“So where are your parents?”
“They are both late. I am his only family.” I took in a deep breath and continued, “So, can you tell me what is wrong with him now?”
She nodded. “So who is he?” she asked again, pointing towards someone behind me. I turned to get a closer look and rolled my eyes the moment I saw him standing a few inches behind me.
“I am Carlos, their stepfather,” he responded with an obvious fake smile.
“Ummm….okay. You both can come with me then,” the nurse said as she turned and led the way down the hallway. “The doctor would like to speak with you.”
Cold shivers ran down my spine with every step I took, as silent prayers followed. Finally, after what felt like forever, we got to the doctor's office. The nurse handed the file over to him and left almost immediately.
“Welcome, please have a seat,” the doctor said with a warm smile that calmed my nerves for a bit. Deep down, I felt like those smiles meant everything was good, but the words that followed after left me frozen in my seat.
“So his head injury was just minor, and he has regained consciousness,” the doctor announced, his words bringing relief down my spine.
“But…?” Carlos questioned. He seemed to have read the doctor's expression after saying that, something I was not aware of, as I was carried away with the good news.
Taking a deep and long breathm the doctor finally dropped the bombshell. “We need to start chemotherapy immediately for him.”
“Chemo what!!!!!” My voice rang through the office and into the hallway, as my vision blurred. I placed both index fingers into my ears, cleaning them just to be sure I heard correctly.
“Chemotherapy. Lucas has cancer. I know this is bad news, but the good news is that he has been diagnosed at an early stage and has a sixty per cent chance of surviving. But we have to commence treatment immediately.”
******************
I stared blankly into mid air, as the doctor's words echoed in my head. “....Lucas has cancer….” No matter how I tried to push the thought away and concentrate on work, I just couldn’t. My mind was racing, and my heart was palpitating so fast that I felt like it could burst at any minute.
“Alina”, my friend and colleague called out loud as she tapped me on the shoulder, her voice and touch brought me back to reality. “Are you okay? You have been scrubbing this particular dish for a long time now and staring blankly into mid air like you kept something there. Are you okay?”
In that moment, I felt a surge of emotions gush down my spine, and before I knew what was happening, I broke down into tears, explaining my ordeal to her.
It was evident she couldn’t do anything to help my situation, but I needed to speak to someone. I wanted to relieve the burden off my chest just so I could breathe properly again.
There was no way I could afford chemo with my kitchen assistant job; even with my other two jobs combined, I could still not afford it, and I knew going to Carlos was not an option. I already owed him for my mom's treatment, and now my brother.
It’s been one week since the doctor broke the news to me, and there has not been any miracle on my end. And to make things worse, the doctor was already telling me how my brothers sickeness was getting worse and needed to start treatment immediately, and in that desperate moment, I decided to seek help from the one person I was running away from, Carlos.
He had called to check up on even Lucas or me since that day. It felt like he had just completely blocked us out of his life, and really, I couldn’t blame him.
“You must be out of your darn mind if you think I will spend a dime on chemo again. Have you forgotten what happened the last time?”
“I haven’t forgotten, sir, but this time the doctor said he has a sixty per cent chance of surviving, that is more than enough. Please just help me save my brother.” I pleaded, on my knees, as hot tears rolled down my cheek.
“Have you forgotten how much debt you are in? I have nowhere to borrow from, and even if I did, there was no way you could pay back,” he said with disgust evident in his voice. “You would just have to let him go be with his parents,” he suggested, but I wasn't going to take no for an answer.
I wailed, cried and begged my lungs out, begging for a chance and offering to do anything, anything at all, just to make sure my brother's bill was paid, and even though I knew deep down I was giving myself up as bait, I didn't care. I was desperate, and that was all that mattered most.
“Come back in two days', and the solution to all your problems would be available,” Carlos said with a sneaky smirk on his face as he had just caught a prey.
The look on his face got me worried, but I didn't pay any heed to it. What mattered in that moment was my brother and I was going to do anything to save.
Even if it meant selling my soul and dignity, I was ready to sacrifice everything just to see him alive and healthy.
- Writer
