Golden Sacrifice

Chapter 6

“Let us not waste another second; the wait is enough,” she added. Her eyes lingered on her brother's fragile form, she couldn't get away from his side.

“Doctor, I want to stay close to him until the transplant is done,” Alice said, her voice trembling slightly; her words were like a plea. The state of her brother is not convincing to her.

The doctor tried to calm Alice's frazzled nerves down. “Please go home and get some rest. You have done all that's expected of you; everything will be taken off. Let's have hope and be strong for him.”

Alice's voice was heavy with worry. “Are you sure my brother will be fine after the transplant?”

The doctor encouraged Alice, “You don't need to worry; you have been strong from the beginning, Alice. Be strong like you have always been.” He walked her to the car, and they left.

As they drove back home, Mrs. Milton reassured Alice, “He will be fine and get back on his feet soon, Alice.” As soon as they got to Mrs. Milton's residence, Alice drove straight home without delay. Her heart is heavy with worry. Since she doesn't have any business there anymore. Her mission to secure her brother's treatment is accomplished. Her only worry is for him to get back on his feet.

As soon as Alice got home, she didn't utter a word to Oliver. She took her dinner, retreated to her bed and ignored him. The silence between them was deafening.

Oliver finally gathered courage and broke the silence. “Where have you been since? I've been worried sick about you.”

Alice didn't utter a word, her heart heavy with worry about her brother. With a dismissive turn, she shut her eyes, trying to get some sleep. She left him lingering in his thoughts and guilt.

Oliver's gaze fell on Alice, the woman he called his wife, and how arrogantly and unfairly he treated her. “Can I make things right? How will she trust me?” Oliver whispered to himself a heartfelt question in the silence.

“What if she tries to get back at me? With how silent she's, after discovering my infidelity. It makes me scared day by day,” Oliver's mind raced differently with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

He wondered, “Even though Alice knew that's my nature, and she hated me so much for that. What exactly was her reason for agreeing to marry me? Moreover, her Stoic reactions towards me make me more scared. She has concealed my office bag from me for weeks now. How do I get to retrieve all the important documents in it?” Oliver's mind is messed up by Alice's behavior.

He didn't know where she goes each blessed day. “Where exactly does she go?” Oliver asked himself a question; he knew nothing about it. That made him feel more uneasy.

The next morning, Oliver got up earlier since he couldn't catch up on some sleep last night to prepare tea for Alice; that's what she enjoys every morning. He sought to appease her because he knew her love for that.

With a broad smile, Oliver greeted Alice immediately. He swung the door open and saw her awake. “Good morning, sweetheart. Your breakfast is ready,” Oliver said, and he dropped the tray containing the breakfast on the table adjacent to Alice.

She stared at him, her eyes still heavy with sleep. “Thank you," she said to him after a while of being silent. She walked past him and left to take her shower.

“Are you still around? Won't you go to the office today?” Alice inquired as she came back from having her shower and met Oliver still seated.

“I have a presentation I've been postponing because the documents needed for it are in my office bag. For weeks now I've not seen it; I can remember I brought it home the last time. Kindly give it to me if you're keeping it. It's very urgent, Alice,” Oliver said, his voice low with a plea. “Say something, please,” he said again.

Without saying a word, Alice rose from her seat, her movements slow and silent and she went downstairs.

Oliver's eyes welled up with joy as he was hoping she was going to get the bag. “I know she's keeping this bag,” Oliver whispered to himself as he sat waiting for her to bring it.

As the door swung open, Oliver's heart skipped out of anticipation. He stood there, his breath on hold, only waiting to see her holding the bag. Oliver stood there looking keenly, his eyes scanning Alice's hand, searching for a glimpse of his bag. His gaze drifted to a familiar part of his bag in her hand.

“Have it,” she said.

“Thank you so much,” Oliver said after he went through his bag and saw the documents he wanted. His face was full of smiles.

Oliver's eyes dropped, his voice very low and soft as he whispered, struggling to apologize, but the guilt and pride silenced him.

“You're welcome,” she responded, her voice tinged with a distraction because her mind was elsewhere.

She was preparing to go to the hospital to check up on her brother. The doctor promised to call her to update her about the outcome of the surgery. She waited last night but didn't hear from him. She needs to get there herself.

“Where are you headed, Alice?” Oliver asked, but she didn't say anything. Because her mind is focused on a pressing matter, his interrogation is not of the essence to her. Oliver was already late for his presentation; he hastened up and got dressed. He left home before her, but he still had anxiety written all over him as he left for the office.

Alice sat at the edge of the bed, with her mind racing with thoughts. She tried to dial the doctor's number, her fingers stumbling over the keypad as anxiety enveloped her.