Chapter 1
1216 Words
Talia Everhart POV.
I ran behind the nurse and doctors as they pushed the stretcher where my son lay. He had another seizure after he got bullied by his peers at school…again!
“Please help him,” I yelled, devastated behind them as tears blinded my vision.
They pushed him into the ward, where the Emergency Operation Ward was written boldly. I stood, pacing and biting my fingers, gnawing anxiously on each.
“He'll be fine.” I muttered under my breath, “We've been through this.” I whispered lies to myself, knowing fully well his condition can worsen at any slight chance.
I squeezed my chest, biting my lips to calm my arching heart and to prevent the tears that threatened to fall. My phone buzzed a couple of times; however, my head was too preoccupied to take in any calls. Still pacing, with my work clothes and strangers passed by, their whispers filling the silent white walls, but I ignored them.
“They don't matter,” I told myself.
“Hang in there, Ethan,” I turned to the ward, A huge glass obstructing me. “Be strong for mommy.”
Soon, Doctor Wade walked out. Notwithstanding any chance, I sprang to my feet. “Doctor, what is his condition?” My eyes went wild waiting anxiously for his reply while grabbing his jacket.
Dr Wade took out his glasses, wiped them off, and put them back, his expression solemn as he tried to hide it with a faint smile.
“His condition has gotten to its last stage.” My stomach dropped to the floor.
My ears rang as he continued, but I couldn't hear him.
“My fears have finally come true,” the words slipped unconsciously out of my mouth. The tears that I fought back rolled freely into my lips, tasting of salt.
“Hey, hey..” Dr Wade called out, his hands on my shoulders. I lifted my puffy eyes to his. “It's not over yet, Talia,” he said
“There's still one possible solution left,” he reassuringly brought back an impending smile.
“I've told you that Ethan is going to be alright, there's no need to cry,” his thumbs rubbed my tears away.
Dr Wade has been Ethan's pediatrician ever since his diagnosis of Leukemia at birth, and for ever since, five years, he has been taking care of him.
I nodded slightly and wiped my tears away, “How is Ethan now?” My voice cracked.
Dr Wade straightened his back and pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose. “You know...” he began, his warm expression shifting, “If it were to be in my place, I would have helped you out.” he paused as I stared at him.
“We will take measures and see that your son lives again; however, some amount is required,” he stopped.
I bit my lips again, my phone buzzing continued, but I ignored it.
“How much is it? I softly asked through my weak voice.
“It's thirty grand. And that's the discount,” he said while staring at me.
My head spiraled with thoughts on how to get the money. I already owed them a couple of grand for helping my son.
Suddenly, a nurse burst out of the ward, running to the doctor, “Doctor, there's an emergency, he's convulsing.”
Doctor Wade ran with the nurse. I trailed behind them but was stopped by another nurse.
My phone kept buzzing in my pocket, and in frustration, I picked up.
“What?!” I half yelled without checking the caller ID.
“You're Fired, Talia!” My boss flared at the other side.
My pupil dilated at the sound of his voice, “What, no, no. You can't fire me.” My voice cracked again. “I need this job.”
“I only gave you thirty minutes, and you took 3 damn hours. Do you think this supermarket is going to run by itself?” He yelled again, fuming.
“You can't do that to me, sir, how are we….”
I stopped mid-sentence, with eyes closed, calming myself, “I'm sorry, I am late, but my son's school called and….” I stuttered.
“I don't give a damn about your son's school, you're fired, Talia,” he said, about to hang up when I said
“Can I have my pay then?” I asked, “It's the end of the month, so can I…”
“How much do you owe me? Five thousand dollars?” He paused mockingly, “I'm taking your salary for it."
“No, no, you can't do that,” I cried out. “My Mom needs her medications and my son…”
He hung up.
I let the phone slide onto the white marble floor, and it crashed. Tears flowed like a river as I stood numb, everything moving in a blur.
“There's nothing I can do.”
“I have no one to turn to.” These depressing thoughts crept up on me. Then the whispers began again.
“Isn't the lady who comes here every time?” I heard one passing nurse say.
“She is. Heard her son's condition has worsened and needs a huge amount of money for the operation,” another whispered.
The first nurse asked, “If she wants money, she knows how to get it. She is a p********e after all.”
“Rumors say she sleeps with men for some cash, and that's how she got her son.”
They continued with their gossip but deviated from it.
It was useless to tell them the truth after all. How can I tell them that Ethan's dad left me for another woman? He betrayed me and is nothing but a brute.
Let them believe what they want.
Dr Wade stormed out of the ward, and I yelled at him, “Doctor…”
“He is fine now, but we've stopped the treatments. It's policy”
“Why would you do that? Do you want my son to die?” I cried out, scratching his jacket.
Doctor Wade held onto me, “I've talked with a few people, and they said I should go on with the operation, on one condition.”
“I'll do anything, just name it,” a smile finally stretched across my face.
But Doctor Wade shook his head, “If you don't, they'll take your son away from you. We ran some tests and found him malnourished and had several cuts and bruises all over him.”
I scowled my face, “They won't take him away. I fed him, those cuts were self-inflicted… I tried to stop him.”
“Get the point, Talia!” Dr Wade cut me off.
“All we need to continue this operation is your husband's Signature. It also shows a sign that Ethan is in good hands, and the child services won't take him away from you.”
My scowl deepened, and I frowned, “I can take care of my own child, Doctor. If you want a signature, I will sign the papers.” I raised my voice in resoluteness.
“Your son will die.”
- Writer
