The Marriage Bargain

Chapter 3

It was Rachel, my best friend at the door. She stood there with a big smile on her face. “Hey, Sophia! I haven't seen you in ages! How are you doing? How's life?”

For a moment, I was taken aback by her obliviousness to our situation, but I remembered that I never informed her about our situation, so it was very possible she never knew. “Rachel, what are you doing here?” I asked, trying to hide my frustration.

“I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by to say hi,” she said, still smiling. “I brought over some cookies I baked yesterday. I thought we could… You know, catch up, and share some laughs, maybe discuss our love interests.”

I sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. I was happy to see my friend, but I didn't have the energy to deal with her right now.

“Rachel, we're kind of in the middle of a crisis here,” I said, trying to hint at our situation.

But Rachel just laughed. “Oh, Sophia, you're always so dramatic! What's going on? Did you finally get tired of working multiple jobs and decide to take a break?”

I felt a surge of anger at her words, but I knew she didn't mean to be insensitive. She just didn't know what was going on, and that was probably my fault because I never told her.

“Rachel, we're facing eviction,” I said bluntly. “We're two weeks away from being homeless. And to make matters worse, Mr. Jenkins just threatened us again today.”

Rachel's smile faltered, and she looked at me with concern. “Oh, Sophia, I had no idea. I'm so sorry. What can I do to help?”

I shook my head, feeling a lump form in my throat. “There's nothing you can do, Rachel. We're just trying to figure out what to do next. Unless you know where we can get a house for free, there is nothing you can do.”

Just then, Mom let out a loud gasp and clutched her chest. “Sophia, my chest.”

My heart racing, I rushed to her side. “Mom, what's the matter? Please breathe… Breath!”

Rachel looked on in shock, unsure of what to do. She was so confused that she just stood there, watch.

“Call 911!” I yelled at her. “We need an ambulance!”

Rachel quickly pulled out her phone and dialed the number, her hands shaking as she tried pushing each number.

“Come on you f*****g phone, work!” Rachel yelled as her phone started acting up.

As we waited for the ambulance to arrive, I held my mom's hand, feeling helpless and scared. Furthermore, my mom had a fierce grip on her chest, and she could no longer breathe properly. She gasped severally trying to breathe, but her breath kept on failing.

“Mom, please don't leave me,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “I can't lose you too.”

Mom looked at me with a weak smile. “I'm so proud of you, Sophia. You're strong and capable. You'll get through this. But promise me one thing…"

I nodded, eager to do anything to make her feel better.

“Promise me you'll take care of Jack,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “He needs you, Sophia. Don't let anything happen to him.”

I nodded again, feeling a surge of determination. “I promise, Mom. I'll take care of him. I won't let anything happen to him.” Tears rolling down my cheeks.

“Mom… Please you aren't leaving me, ok? We are in this together… Please mom, I beg of you, don't leave me.” I said, as moms breath kept on failing.

Soon, mother became unconscious, and could hardly breathe. The 911 were not forthcoming, and my mothers' health was deprecating quickly. I could feel life slipping out of her each passing second, and a part of me bore witness that she was not going to make it.

“What's wrong with mom?” Jack said, not really understanding what was going on.

I looked at Jacks innocent face, and I melted instantly. How was I supposed to tell him that we were on the verge of becoming orphans, and there was little to nothing his heroic big sister could do about it? Jack had always thought that there was nothing couldn't handle, and as long as I was by his side, he'd always be fine. However, I didn't feel much of a hero right now.

I felt lost, pain, desperation, every negative feeling that could lead someone into depression, and I couldn't do anything about it. My little brother clung unto my arm, with tears gathering in his eyes.

“Is mom going to be alright?” He asked.

I looked at Jack, and was once again speechless. I knew there were chances of mom not surviving, and those chances were supposedly on the higher side. However, I had to remain positive for my little brother.

“Don't worry Jack, moms going to be fine… I promise.” My voice was laced with uncertainty, and my conscience pricked me because I knew I was lying.

My mother was falling into a coma, and if the paramedics did not arrive soon, mother was going to die.

“Oh f**k. Why isn't the ambulance coming?” Rachel asked angrily.

“How the hell should I know?” I said, with tears rolling down my cheeks. Moms breath slowed down the more, and I couldn't think straight. The more moms condition became critical, the more confused I was, and the more frustrated I was.

“Firstly, it was the devastation caused by my fathers' absence, next it was the eviction letter handed to us by Mr. Jenkins, and now, it's… This? Why the hell is life this f*****g unfair? And why me? Why this family?" I said to myself as tears profusely rolled down my cheeks.

Rachel sensed my pain, and began comforting me, and kept on being positive.

“Don't worry Sophia… Your mother would live, it's all going to be fine. The ambulance would be here any minute now, and your moms' life would be saved.” Rachel said.

Did she just say 'any minute' each second felt like decades, and she wanted me to wait minutes? Oh, Christ!... Is this how it all ends? Would my mother die… Now?