The Marriage Bargain

Chapter 4

“I can't believe this is happening,” I said, feeling like I was in a nightmare. “My mom, the only parent I had now, is lying on the floor, struggling to breathe. I feel like I'm losing her, and I don't know how to save her.”

Rachel tried to comfort me. “Sophia, I'm so sorry. I know how much your mom means to you. But we need to stay calm and think clearly. Currently, our priority should be making sure she gets to the hospital in time”

As we waited for the ambulance to show up, I kept on thinking about what would happen if my mother didn't make it. “What would happen if she dies Rachel….what would she expect me to do without her?”

Rachel tried to reassure me. “Sophia, don't think like that. Your mom will be fine. We just need to get her to the hospital and let the doctors take care of her.”

Soon the ambulance arrived, and instead of overflowing joy, I felt a mix of emotions as the paramedics rushed my mom away. “I'm relieved she's getting help, but I'm also scared of what might happen next.”

As we followed the ambulance to the hospital, Rachel tried to comfort me. “Don't worry Sophia, moms going to be fine.”

Rachel's words were reassuring, but not too reassuring. I still felt that anxiety in me, hoping, and praying that mom would survive. However, I tried hard not to show my pain so that Jack wouldn't feel discouraged.

This was the decisive moment, and anything can happen now. This was the moment I would figure out whether my mother was going to live or die, and that alone took every form of happiness or Joy.

Furthermore, I paced around aimlessly, still confused, and unsure of what might happen next. Rachel on the other hand, tried her best to calm me down, but I was adamant. All I wanted to hear at that moment was my mother was alive, and well, and anything aside from that would only damage me more.

However, when the doctor came out to talk to me, my fears were confirmed. “Your mom is stable, but she needs to stay here for observation. And there's a problem — her insurance doesn't cover the cost of her treatment. And the hospital bills will be costly.”

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. “How am I supposed to pay for my mom's treatment? I'm already struggling to make ends meet.”

Rachel took my hand. “We'll figure something out, Sophia. We'll find a way to pay for your mom's treatment. But first, let's focus on getting your mom better.”

“How much are we talking about here doc?” I asked.

“Well, we are looking at an estimate of fifty million dollars…. And that's not even the whole bill.” The doctor replied.

I nearly suffered from a heart attack hearing those words, but I managed to control myself.

“Fifty what?!” I exclaimed.

“You see, your mother's case is very complex. We've been able to stabilize her just like I said, but it's only temporary. She is suffering from an odd heart disease, couple with the fact she is also having high blood pressure. Look, we can't just do a regular heart transplant because if we do, whatever damaged her heart before would damage the new one….” The doctor explained.

“… So we have to find out what exactly is wrong with her, and cure her before the heart transplant. Now the problem is, keeping her alive with a heart damaged heart is not easy, so we'd be needing more advance equipments, so that's why it's so expensive.” He added.

The doctor's words made me wonder if mom could survive at this rate. How were they supposed to keep someone who has a damaged heart, and high blood pressure alive?

As we walked out of the hospital, I felt a sense of uncertainty. “How are we going to pay for my mom's treatment? And what if she doesn't make it?”

Rachel tried to reassure me. “Sophia, we'll figure something out. We'll find a way to pay for your mom's treatment. And as for your mom, she's going to be fine. She's strong and capable, just like you.”

But as we walked back to our apartment, I felt like I was walking into a nightmare. The eviction notice was still on the table, and I knew we had to be out in two weeks.

“How am I supposed to pay for my mom's treatment and find a new place to live? I feel like I'm drowning, and I don't know how to keep my head above water.”

Rachel tried to comfort me. “Sophia, we'll figure something out. We'll find a way to pay for your mom's treatment, and we'll find a new place to live. But first, let's focus on getting your mom better.”

As we walked into the apartment, Jack looked up at me with tears in his eyes. “Is mom going to be alright, Sophia?”

I looked at him, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I don't know, Jack. I'm trying my best, but I don't know if it's going to be enough.”

Rachel tried to reassure me. “Sophia, you're doing your best, and that's all anyone can ask for. We'll get through this together.”

But as I looked around the apartment, I felt a sense of despair. “How am I supposed to do it? I don't even have a college certificate, how am I supposed to get a well-paid job? And I feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.”

And then, I heard a knock at the door. It was Mr. Jenkins, our landlord. “You're still behind on rent, Sophia. You need to pay up, or you're out.”

I felt a surge of anger, but I knew I couldn't afford to antagonize him. “I know, Mr. Jenkins. I will pay as soon as I can.”

But as I looked at him, I felt a sense of desperation. “How am I supposed to pay the rent, my mom's hospital bills, and find a new place to live? I feel like I'm trapped, and I don't know how to escape.”

And then, I heard a voice behind me. “Sophia, I think I can help you out.”

I turned to see Rachel standing there, a determined look on her face. “What do you mean?” I asked, feeling a glimmer of hope.

“I have an idea,” she said. “But you have to trust me.”

What was this idea going to be? Was it really going to help my family? Oh Christ, will I survive all this challenges?