An unexpected kindness
1098 Words
The next day, Bella came home late from the hospital, she was so tired and her body ached.
All Bella wanted at that point was to rest.
As she walked into the house she had already prepared herself for another argument with Margret.
But something was different. She smelled her favorite food, she stopped walking and looked towards the dining table, and the food was already served.
Margret walked out of the kitchen with a smiling face.
“You’re home.”
“Come and eat before the food gets cold.”
Bella stared at her in shock.
“Are you talking to me?”
Margret laughed.
“Who will I be talking to?”
Bella couldn’t remember the last time Margret spoke to her like that.
Bella sat down slowly, and to her surprise, Margret served the food herself.
Bella picked up her spoon, but she didn’t eat.
She only looked at the food in suspicion because this was unlike her stepmom.
Marget noticed.
“Are you still angry with me?”
Bella remained silent.
Marget let out a small sigh immediately.
“I know I said bad things about your late mother.”
“I shouldn’t have.”
“I was just angry, and I’m sorry.”
Bella looked up.
She didn’t believe what she was hearing.
Margret was apologizing?
Something didn’t feel right.
Margret spoke again, and this time more gently.
“I know how much Ethan means to you.”
“I know you love him.”
“You’ve been in the hospital every day.”
“You sold your things to help him.”
“You’ve done everything you can.”
Bella nodded slowly.
Then Margret said,
“You remember my friend who came to see me yesterday?”
“She told me about a chance to get the money.”
Bella listened.
“It’s a contract marriage.”
“And I want you to get married to him for a year, and we’ll get paid, then we can use the money for Ethan’s surgery.”
Bella shook her head.
“No”
“I can’t do that.”
“I don’t even know the man.”
“What if he’s a bad person?”
“What if he hurts me?”
“What if he refuses to let me go after one year?”
Margret kept her voice calm.
It won’t happen.”
“It’s a legal agreement.”
“There will be lawyers, and you’ll be safe.”
Bella still shook her head in disagreement.
“I don’t want to marry someone I’ve never met.
“I can’t do it.”
The smile on Margaret's face slowly disappeared.
“So…”
“You want to let Ethan die?”
Bella’s eyes widened, “No!”
“I never said that.”
Margret sighed.
“I knew this would happen.”
Bella frowned.
“Knew what?”
“You always say you love Ethan.”
“You call him your little brother.”
“You cry beside his hospital bed.”
“But now that there’s a way to save him, you’re saying no.”
Bella felt tears fill her eyes.
“That’s not fair.”
Margret stood up.
“Isn’t it?”
“Your father has no money.”
“He couldn’t even find a common one hundred thousand naira.”
“The house is gone.”
“The savings are gone, and no one would lend us money.”
She looked straight into Bella’s eyes.
“You’re the only person who can save Ethan now.”
Bella’s hand began to shake.
Margret continued to speak even more softly.
“If you say no….”
“And Ethan dies….”
“Will you be able to forgive yourself?”
Bella couldn’t speak, her heart felt so heavy.
She remembered Ethan smiling at her.”
“Can we still go to the beach?”
She remembered him holding her hands.
“I love you, sis.”
Tears rolled down Bella’s face.
Bella slowly stood up, the chair made a small sound as she pushed it back.
“No.”
Margret frowned.
“What did you say?”
Bella took a deep breath.
“I said no.”
“I can’t marry a man I’ve never met.”
“I don’t care if he’s rich.”
“I’m not going to give up my life.”
Margret's face changed.
“So that’s your answer?”
Bella nodded.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ll find another way.”
“There has to be another way.”
Margret laughed.
“Another way?”
She folded her arms.
“Tell me, where is the other way?”
“You’ve been trying for days.”
“You sold all your mother’s jewelry.”
“You even sold your phone.”
“You spent all your life savings.”
“What do you have left?”
Bella looked down.
“Nothing.”
“That’s right,” Margret said.
She walked closer.
“The doctors gave Ethan forty-eight hours.”
“Do you know how much time is left now?”
Bella didn’t answer.
“Less than twenty-four hours.
Bella felt her heart sink.
Margret kept on talking.
“Your father couldn’t even provide a hundred thousand naira, talk less of one million naira.”
“The bank has refused to lend him money.”
“We’ve already lost this house.”
“So tell me….”
“Who is going to save Ethan?”
Bella’s eyes were filled with tears.
“I..”
Margret pointed at the door.
“If Ethan dies….”
“It won’t be because we didn’t try, it will be because you said no.”
Bella quickly looked at her.
“Mama, please don’t say that.”
“Why?”
“Am I lying?”
“You keep saying you love him.”
“You promised he would get better.”
Margret lowered her voice and spoke more softly.
“If you really love Ethan…”
“Then save him.”
The room became quiet.
Bella couldn’t stop crying anymore.
She remembered Ethan's weak smile, and her heart broke.
Tears rolled down her face.
After a long silence, Bella spoke in a low voice,
“…. I’ll do it.”
Margret looked at her.
“What did you say?”
Bella closed her eyes.
“I’ll marry him, I’m doing it for Ethan.”
“I don’t care what happens to me, I just want him to live.”
Margret walked over and hugged her, but Bella didn’t hug her back; she just stood there.
- Writer
