HER ARRANGED MARRIAGE

"Hey Mom, it's me, Eli, how are you doing?" Elisa's tired voice greeted her as she placed her bags on the empty table beside her mother's bed. She looked at her unconscious mother's pale face and the many IVs she was attached to. "I know you can hear me even if you can't talk right now," she held her cold hands in hers, blinking back tears like her eyes always do every time she visits "I'm fine Mom" she lied, she was everything but fine. "The doctors said you were getting better, and you would be fine in no time. I hope so. I'm looking forward to eating your cookies and baked goodies. I haven't tasted them in forever, but I know they will taste just as delicious as they used to, so wake up soon alright?" she continued, telling her mother how much she had missed her and the things she had been up to, leaving out the bad parts, like the fact that she had just lost one of her jobs after passing out due to exhaustion. "Elisa, you are here already," Sandra, the doctor in charge of Elisa's mum's ward walked in, in the company of an intern doctor. She went over to check the machines that the patients were connected to while explaining things to the intern before standing beside Elisa. "Dr. Sandra, thank you for always taking care of my mother". Elisa bowed, feeling grateful. "It's my job, and you don't have to thank me," Dr Sandra patted her shoulder with a smile "When you are done here, please stop by my office," she added before exiting the ward. Elisa sat down beside her mother for a little while longer, holding and caressing her hands softly, picturing a day she would get to see her mother's bright and beautiful smile once again, and when it was time for her to leave she kissed her mother goodbye, promising to come to check on her the following day. "Come in and sit down, Elisa," Dr. Sandra gestured to her "You look even more tired today, how will you take care of your mother if you break down now?" she scolded worriedly. "I'm fine doctor, how is she doing? Is there any improvement?" The doctor sighed and took out an envelope, passing it to Elisa. "I'm afraid she's not, there has been no improvement whatsoever, and now the medical boards have increased the bills for life support patients", she explained with a sad smile. "It's either we remove her from life support or you get yourself in more debt, Elisa. But I'm hoping you won't choose the latter. You are already this exhausted, and I'm sure your parents wouldn't want such a tiresome life for you." Elisa's heart dropped, her world was crumbling before her and she had no control over it. Uncontrolled tears gushed out, soaking her tired face, her shoulders trembled as she broke down. What would she do now? It was too late to give up now, she just couldn't bring herself to abandon her mother, the only relative she was left with, but she couldn't afford to keep her also. "What should I do now? I can't give up on her, she's all I have left" she cried. "You don't have a choice at this point, Elisa. You look so stressed no one would believe you are still in your mid-twenties. Plus, the new bill is twice the price it was. You've tried your best, your mom knows that" Dr. Sandra comforted "Have I? I don't think I have. There is something more that could be done. I don't want to lose my Mom". She sobbed "Why don't you go and think about it? Tell me your decision tomorrow, alright? But remember to put yourself first, alright?" Elisa left the hospital feeling even heavier than when she came in. Her mom was all she had, she was what kept her going, she was everything to her ,and now she is about to lose her support system. Upon getting home, she noticed a note lying under her door and picked it up. As she read the note her face went pale and the energy drained from her body. Fresh tears cascaded down her face, her hands trembled in fear and dread. She was done with this time. Nobody will save her. Where would she get such huge money in a month? When did a hundred thousand become tens of millions? Her blurry eyes scanned over the note again and again, reading the words written in rough handwriting, she willed herself not to believe anything written in the note, but the warnings she got from her best friend about loan sharks chose now as the time to return. 'Borrowing money from those illegal groups is dangerous, Eli, not even the police would be able to help you when they start. You lend from the bank instead. ' 'I should have listened, but then the bank wouldn't have given me without collateral ' Your loan interest has increased to ten million, you are to pay it back within a month, or you will be sold to a brothel to pay back your debt. "I need a savior. I can't do it anymore. I don't want to lose my mum, I don't want to get sold to the brothel, please." "Please, whoever can hear me, please" she sobbed, burying her face into her curled-up knees. Her old phone chirped, bringing it to her ear, "Hello" she replied groggily to the voice on the other side of the phone, not bothering to check the caller ID. "Elisa, your rent is six months, and you haven't attempted to pay me a dime since then." "I will pay you, please give me some time." "You said that last month," the homeowner bit back. "I know things haven't been easy for you lately, and neither has it been for anyone. I have six kids to take care of all alone and I need the money" "Just a little more time, please" Elisa begged. "I have been patient enough with you and I can't wait any longer. You are to vacate the apartment in twenty hours."