HIS MAD OBSESSION

It was one stunning afternoon with sweat dripping down my face. My legs trembled as I balanced another tray of steaming cups, sweat trickling down my back. The constant hum of customer chatter and clinking dishes blurred into white noise after hours on my feet. I work at a coffee shop in Bahamas. It's not like I'm not an intelligent girl, but I couldn't afford tuition to the tertiary after my high school. While I was serving one customer, I heard my phone ringing, but I ignored it because we don't usually answer phone calls whilst on duty at work. But the calls kept coming consistently. So, I excused myself outside and answered the phone call, only for me to hear the disheartening news that my mother had fainted and has been rushed to the hospital. I asked permission from my boss and rushed to the hospital. Saint Martin's hospital is one of the finest hospitals in the city of Bahamas with well-trained doctors. Because the staff of the hospital were accustomed to me, they just allowed me to fill the necessary forms and I rushed to see my mother. My vision blurred, hot tears spilling down my cheeks before I could stop them. A sob caught in my throat as I gripped the edge of the hospital bed. I saw the IV infusions and the machine on my mother, who looked very pale lying on the bed motionless. I finally had to stop crying and went to meet the doctor. "Hey Pamela, how are you doing?" the Doctor asked. My voice came out raw and hoarse, each word scratching my throat like sandpaper. "I'm not fine, I'm managing and you know I can't be fine with my mother's condition." The doctor continued, "I don't know why you're so stubborn. I have told you to deposit USD 442,500 so we can start working on your mum, and you can go work harder to be able to pay for the remaining USD 221,250 later to save your mother's life. Your mother has stage two kidney failure, so if care isn't taken, it might graduate to stage three and then eventually stage four, which is the last stage and death stage." "Doctor, it's not my fault, I'm working fourteen to eighteen hours every day just to earn money for my mother's kidney dialysis. I know she hasn't been on dialysis for almost a week and it disturbs me so much. The money I earn is so little and I don't know what to do, I'm confused," I tried to explain. "If she doesn't go on dialysis this weekend and pass through the necessary surgery, she might gradually move to the next stage, which is slowly drawing her closer to death," the Doctor insisted. I immediately broke down into tears again. A heavy weight settled in my chest, making each breath a struggle. The future stretched before me, a dark, endless tunnel with no light in sight. I stood from my chair, walked back to say goodbye to my mother although I knew my mother wouldn't hear me, but I found it necessary to go say goodbye. On my way home, whilst on board a train and reflecting on all the doctor had said earlier, a thought struck my head; why don't I swallow my ego and go to the one person I vowed never to speak to again: my Dad, Mr. Patrick Toole, for help. Although I haven't been in a very good relationship with him because he abandoned me and my mother when I was just eight years old after he fell in love with my mother's best friend, Miss Abigail. Miss Abigail's warm hugs and comforting words had once been as familiar to me as my own mother's. Her perfume, a mix of vanilla and lavender, still lingered in my childhood memories. It remains a mystery as to why she backstabbed my mother that way. Although I was a child and understood little, but I mostly saw envy in her eyes whenever my mother spoke about how well my dad treated her and stuff like that. But I ignored it because I thought it was my childish thinking, and even once I tried to bring it up, my mother angrily shouted at me, insisting I was overstepping. It was obvious they trusted each other, shared many secrets, and hanged out a lot. This is why I am still surprised about the fact that my thoughts were actually true. Eventually, Miss Abigail was able to seduce my dad into sleeping with her and my dad leaving my mom and I without a penny for her. The main cause of my mother's kidney failure was because after my dad left us. Day after day, I'd find Mom curled up on the couch, staring blankly at the wall. The vibrant woman who once filled our home with laughter had become a ghost of herself, moving through rooms in silence. Soon afterwards she started drinking alcohol, smoking, and crying each time she found herself alone. Our kitchen cabinets echoed with emptiness, save for a few dented cans and boxes of instant noodles. The fresh produce section of the grocery store became a distant memory, replaced by the harsh fluorescent lights of the dollar store's snack aisle. "Let me go and ask him," I contemplated within myself. Maybe he still has a little bit of humanity left in him. Alighting at the Bahamas train station, I took a cab to my father's house and gave the cab driver the address as he drove to his house. When my father saw me, he had this look of surprise on his face because it's been a long time he set his eyes on me; yet, he immediately pretended like he wasn't surprised. Did he even actually recognize that I was his daughter? I wondered. "What are you doing here?" My father, Mr. Patrick, asked. With that question, I knew he had actually recognized who I was. The daughter he abandoned many years ago. I broke into tears and knelt down on my knees in front of him. "My mother is seriously ill and at the verge of death but the doctors are requiring USD 442,500 dollars to do a Kidney transplant for her. They have refused to begin the treatment until an amount of USD 221,250 has been deposited although as I'm talking to you now she has fainted due to lack of dialysis and lying lifeless in the hospital," I said to my dad. "Pamela the thing is.... I mmm," My Father, Mr. Patrick Toole, said confusedly. "How shameless of you to come here and beg us for money?" An angry voice echoed from behind my dad. Even though I wasn't expecting that, I wasn't so swayed away when I saw my step-mother walkout through the door. She had been there all these while listening as I made my request known to my dad. "When was the last time you ever visited your father?" she continued. "You know we have made enough fortune and so you are here to find a way back into our lives. I promise it won't happen, rise from your knees and leave us alone in peace," she said with her angry tone. "Ok then I'll pay you guys back, I promise please." With my hands joined together and pleading since I didn't have an idea where to turn to if I leave without any help from my dad. But she continued rattling while my dad silently stood staring. Heat crept up my neck and into my cheeks. I lowered my gaze to the floor, wishing I could disappear into the plush carpet beneath my feet. "Maybe we can let her borrow the money, I mean, it's her mother that's sick," Patrick said. Finally, he broke the silence. "Are you still thinking about your stupid ex-wife?" Mrs. Abigail asked. "No, no," Mr. Patrick replied. "Do I need to remind you that I, Abigail Toole, and my daughter Natasha Toole, are your new family now! Patrick, without me you'd have nothing," Mrs. Abigail said. "I'm sorry my sweet wife," Mr. Patrick responded, "it's a matter of life and death." "Aww, if it isn't my loser sister asking for money like a beggar; who else will do? How pathetic?" my step-sister Natasha said, trying to annoy me. Each word from their mouths felt like a physical blow, my shoulders hunching further with every passing second. My nails dug into my palms as I clenched my fists, the sting a welcome distraction from the humiliation burning through me. I stood up and while I turned to leave, the only words that I could alter was, "This is a mistake guys, I am sorry for coming here in the first place and to ask for money. It's better I leave, so you continue to enjoy the peace you have always had."