Jasmine Collapsed
1405 Words
I was seated in the lounge, holding a cup of coffee that had already gone cold in my hands.
The lounge was quiet, too quiet for a place inside a powerful company where people were always moving, always whispering, always rushing. I sat with my legs crossed, my back straight, doing exactly what I had been trained to do. Observe. Stay alert. Be present.
Yet my mind was nowhere near the company.
It was with Jasmine.
I had barely taken two sips of the coffee when my phone rang.
The moment I saw my sister’s name on the screen, my heart dropped.
Janet.
Fear crawled up my spine so fast I felt dizzy. Janet never called during the day unless something was wrong. She knew how strict my job was. She knew I could not pick calls casually.
My fingers trembled as I answered.
“Hey, sister,” I said quickly, trying to sound calm.
Her breathing was uneven on the other end.
“Anna,” she said, her voice shaking. “You have to rush back.”
The words hit me like a slap.
I sprang up from my seat so fast the coffee nearly spilled. People around glanced at me, startled.
“What is it?” I asked, already knowing something was terribly wrong.
“It’s Jasmine,” Janet said, and then her voice broke. “Her fever has worsened again. She fainted in school. Her teacher called me. I rushed there immediately.”
The world tilted.
I grabbed the back of the chair to steady myself.
“Where are you now?” I asked, my voice barely steady.
“We are on our way to the hospital,” she replied. “Please hurry.”
“What hospital?” I demanded.
She told me immediately.
I did not wait another second.
I turned and rushed toward the exit, my footsteps echoing sharply against the marble floor. My heart pounded so loudly it felt like it might burst out of my chest. Jasmine. My baby. My little girl who smiled even when she was sick, who apologized whenever she coughed too loudly.
As I reached the entrance, I heard someone calling my name.
“Miss Anna. Miss Anna.”
I turned sharply.
It was the assistant.
He jogged toward me, confusion written all over his face. “Where are you going? You are on duty.”
“I have an emergency,” I said breathlessly. “Please inform CEO Zyane that I will not be around today.”
His eyes widened. “You cannot just leave like this.”
“I know,” I replied, my voice tight. “But I have no choice.”
“Miss Anna,” he tried again, lowering his voice. “This could cost you your job.”
“I understand,” I said firmly, even though my chest felt like it was collapsing. “Please tell him.”
He opened his mouth as if to argue, but I had already turned away.
I rushed out of the building and waved down the first cab I saw.
I could not afford to take Zyane’s car.
No matter how urgent this was, taking his car without permission would end everything instantly. Leaving my duty was already bad enough. Using his car would be unforgivable.
The taxi screeched to a stop.
“Hospital,” I said as I climbed in, giving the name quickly. “Please, as fast as you can.”
The driver nodded and drove off.
The city blurred past the windows as my thoughts spiraled out of control.
What if it was worse this time.
What if she did not wake up.
What if I was too late.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.
Please. Please be okay.
When we arrived, I threw money at the driver without waiting for change and ran inside.
The smell of antiseptic hit me immediately.
Hospitals always smelled the same. Cold. Sterile. Unforgiving.
My eyes scanned the emergency area frantically.
Then I saw her.
Janet was sitting on one of the benches, her face buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking.
“Janet,” I called.
She looked up, her eyes red and swollen.
She stood and rushed toward me, throwing her arms around me tightly.
I hugged her back, holding her as she cried against my shoulder.
“I was so scared,” she sobbed. “She just collapsed. One minute she was fine, the next she was on the floor.”
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, though my own voice trembled. “She’s strong. She always is.”
But fear still wrapped around my heart like chains.
We pulled apart just as the doctor stepped out.
I rushed forward immediately.
“Doctor,” I said urgently. “How is she?”
The doctor sighed, his expression serious.
“Her sickness is worsening,” he said. “Her body is not responding to medication anymore.”
My knees nearly gave out.
“When are you going to prepare the money for the surgery?” he continued. “If you do not have the full amount, you can make a deposit first.”
My mind went blank.
Money.
Of course.
That word haunted me more than any diagnosis.
“How much is the deposit?” I asked weakly.
He told me the amount.
It felt like he had punched me in the stomach.
Even the deposit was far beyond what we had.
“I’m not dead,” I thought bitterly. “But this situation might kill me.”
I swallowed hard.
Even the money for the deposit was impossible right now.
At least my pay this month would cover almost the deposit . Almost.
But it was not yet month end.
I pressed my lips together, thinking rapidly.
Maybe I could ask for my pay early.
Maybe I could explain.
Maybe someone would listen.
My thoughts immediately went to one person.
The chairwoman.
Zyane’s mother.
She was the one who had hired me. The one who had insisted on my presence. The one who had looked at me with sharp eyes and said I was exactly what her son needed.
I took out my phone with trembling fingers.
This was a risk.
But Jasmine’s life mattered more than my pride.
More than my fear.
I stepped aside, took a deep breath, and dialed her number.
As the phone rang, my heart pounded painfully in my chest.
Please pick up.
Please.
The call connected.
“Hello,” she said.
I swallowed hard.
“Good afternoon, ma’am,” I said. “This is Anna.”
There was a pause.
“Yes, Anna,” she replied. “What is it?”
My voice shook despite my effort to remain composed.
“I apologize for calling like this,” I said. “But I am facing an emergency.”
“What kind of emergency?” she asked, her tone turning sharp.
“It concerns my daughter,” I said quietly. “She collapsed today and has been admitted to the hospital. The doctors say she needs surgery.”
Silence filled the line.
I could hear my own breathing.
“And the money?” she asked slowly.
“We do not have enough,” I admitted. “I was hoping… I was hoping to request my salary in advance. I will accept any deductions or conditions.”
Another pause.
My heart sank deeper with every second.
“You left your duty today,” she said calmly.
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied. “I informed the assistant.”
“You understand the consequences,” she said.
“Yes,” I whispered.
She sighed.
“Send me the hospital details,” she said finally.
Hope flickered inside me.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said quickly.
“We will talk soon,” she added before ending the call.
I lowered the phone slowly, my hands shaking.
Janet watched me anxiously.
“What did she say?” she asked.
“I don’t know yet,” I replied honestly. “But at least she listened.”
We sat together in silence, waiting.
Waiting for news.
Waiting for hope.
Waiting for a miracle.
And as I stared down the hallway leading to my daughter’s room, I realized something painfully clear.
No matter how dangerous Zane’s world was.
No matter how cold or powerful he seemed.
I would do anything.
Anything.
To save my child.
- Writer
