Marriage of Secrets

Goodbye feelings

Karla hated the hospital so much. She hated the beeping Holta Monitor, and the smell of strong drugs. Her mind never left the hot guy she saw that day. How can someone handsome be so cruel! D*mn! She knew that she was in shambles.

“Are you fine?” Her mum noticed her unusual silence. She faked a smile and nodded, before pouring her a glass of water.

“Water?” She asked.

“I never said I was thirsty, Karla” her mother said. “Is something bothering you?”

Karla drank the cup of water herself, before dropping back the cup of water.

“Nothing is bothering me, mama. I just feel a bit tired,” Karla lied, hoping her mum would stop with the questions. The lady did, but her next sentence caused Karla shock.

“Gabriel…have you called him yet?” Her eyes went to her mum. “He said he will help with some money, right? Did you remind him of it?”

“O…yes. That’s true,” Karla ran her hand down her hair. “But, mother, can we forget Gabriel for now? He has a lot going on in his life and I don’t think relying on him is the best idea. He can barely pay his monthly rent.”

“There is something you aren’t telling me, Karla,” her mother frowned.

“Mama, could we not talk about this again? Gabriel is trying already. Three thousand dollars is too much for him to handle…”

“Gabriel is your fiancé.” Her mum grabbed her arm.

“If he can’t afford three thousand, at least he can try to help you borrow it. You can’t just sit down here and mumble to yourself all the time. You always do everything yourself!”

Karla looked away from her mother. Perhaps her mum was right. Gabriel was a man of tactics. He could help her out that week if life favored them.

“Fine, I will call him,” she told her mother, before dialing his number.

“Baby,” she said in smiles.

“Karla, It’s been a while,” he admitted.

“It really has,” she confessed. “I do not want to trouble you or anything. If you cannot help, it’s fine.”

“Karla, what is wrong?” He asked.

“Well…I…it’s mum. She was rushed to the hospital this afternoon.”

“What?! How come?!” Gabriel’s voice was more worried than shocked.

“The same news,” she explained.

“This serious! I did not realize it got worse. Do not beat yourself up too much, baby,” he promised.

“I am handling it well,” she lied. “All I need is 3000 dollars for her surgery. I was hoping there is someone that could lend us that.”

There was silence at his end. Karla felt her stomach churn as her deepest fear unraveled. This was all pointless. Gabriel was struggling like her.

“You know what, forget it. I don’t realize why I am telling you this. You have your own issues to face and…”

“Give me a week,” his voice finally sounded.

“Gabriel, my mother doesn’t have a week. She is in a life and death situation right now. No one knows how long she can survive this,” Karla was in tears, “It is the heart we are talking about, baby. Not the brain, the heart!”

“Three thousand is a lot of money, Karla. Where could I possibly get that in a few days? I can only guarantee you next week of success. It would be delusional if we think the money will fall from nowhere by this weekend.” Gabriel spilled facts.

Karla felt her throat scratch and she cleared it. Her mum's hands softly caressed hers, telling her to calm down. Karla couldn’t.

“I love you, baby,” Gabriel’s voice said at the other end.

“Love you too,” Karla nodded before hanging up.

“So how was it?” Her mother was enthusiastic. “Will he get the money this week?”

“He said he will try,” Karla informed.

“I told you he will help. He always helps, my love. He is the man you cherished with all your heart! He is the Gabriel we all know.” Her mum was overly excited. Karla threw her a quick smile.

“Let me get your prescriptions from the pharmacy,” she told her mum.

“Alright,“ her mum waved her off. “I do not mind staying here anyway. I have been here my whole life.”

Karla face turned to her mother. Confusion morphed it.

“What do you mean? How long have you been sick?” Karla sounded passive aggressive.

“You don’t have to know Karla,” her mum looked crafty. “Just get the money and help me out here.” Karla threw her mum one last look and left. She loved her mum, yes! But there were some things about her mother that didn't add up. Why was she suddenly amused by the hospital? Karla walked down the hospital hallway, holding her purse in her hands. The other patients were moving about their business, buckling up the emotions within. There was a crying child clinging to her mother. Karla blinked back her tears recalling the love of a mother.

“What can I get for you?” The pharmacist asked as she walked into the store. Karla gave her the doctor’s handwritten note. It was written so illegibly that she hadn’t bothered to read it herself. Like voodoo, the pharmacist figured it out and typed something in her system.

“That’s 1000.99 dollars,” the pharmacist informed her without bothering to eye her.

”Huh?!“ Karla was confused. What use was the 99 cents?

“Is it necessary to pay the 99 cents?” Karla questioned.

“Yes ma’am. The 99 cents is for good cause. We compile the funds and donate them to orphans under our care,” the pharmacist smiled before stretching her hand.“Card or Cash?”

Karla opened her purse and brought out all her lifelong savings. Well, there goes her 1000 dollars. Her mum’s medication was beginning to run out, and they needed to refill it.

“This should do,” the pharmacist counted the money on a currency counter. She walked into the store, and took out two small drug packets.

“Expensive but worth it,” the pharmacist said. “500 dollars each. Ensure you follow the doctor’s instructions and don‘t overdose your mother,” the pharmacist advised. Karla felt her mind was gonna explode at that moment. 500 dollars for this tiny pills. O! Goodness! What has the world come to!

“I am afraid 3k is a lot, Karla. But I am really trying my love,” She received a text from Gabriel.

“It isn’t 3k anymore. We need four thousand because I bought mum drugs…” She typed on her keyboard before erasing the text.

Alright! Enough was enough! She couldn’t bear this anymore! She took out the business card Anderson offered her and gazed at it. This was ridiculous. Was she really doing this? Her heart hated what she was about to go, and her gut feeling blared No!

“Smart,” his deep voice said when he picked up the call. It was obvious he already had her number. What a stalker!

“I am only doing this for my mother and…”

“Consider her cured. Send me the address of the hospital, I have better plans for you,” the guy told her.

“O…okay.” She agreed without hesitation, and the call went dead. She sighed and pressed her phone against her chest. This might not end well, will it?

“I am sorry,” she apologized to herself. “I know this is wrong but…I have to do this.”