Desperate
1178 Words
“What do you mean? what happened?” My heart began to pound, my hands began to shake.
“She has been rushed to the hospital, please hurry!”
“Is she okay?” I gripped my phone tightly, hoping for a good reply
“It doesn’t look good, they said…”
“I’m on my way! hold on!” I interrupted without hearing any other word from her. There was no need when I could rush to the hospital.
I shot up from the chair, took my handbag, and dashed for the door, my heart pounding heavily.
“Where are you going?” Elio asked from outside the room, In front of the door where he had been standing since my phone buzzed, but my head was too busy to respond.
What if something bad has happened to my mum? Now that I’m almost close to getting everything settled for her treatment and surgery.
I quickly passed him and didn’t look back. The urgency clawed at me, pushing me to run faster.
AT THE HOSPITAL
When I arrived at the hospital, my mind raced with fear for my mother. I sprinted through the sliding doors, spotting Janet and Anita, my little cousin waiting near the reception desk, their faces pale and tear-streaked.
“Anita!” I rushed over and hugged her and I turned to Janet
“Janet, where is she? Is she okay” That’s all I wanted to hear to be a little calm.
“They took her to the emergency ward”
“What do we do, the doctor said we need to pay our previous debt” Anita
“Yes, we need to settle the previous bill before they can proceed with the surgery, she needs immediate surgery”
“Where is she? Take me to her!“ I snapped
We got to the ward and I saw my mum, lying down unconscious. I sat beside her on the bed.
A doctor came in immediately “Oh there you are Ms Ginevra”
I quickly stood up
“Doctor, what’s going to happen now?” I asked as I approached him
“Your mother needs surgery immediately, but we need to settle her outstanding debts first and also make a deposit for the surgery, she’s in a critical state”
“How much do we need sir?” I asked, my heart sinking.
“Forty thousand euros and a deposit of thirty-five thousand euros for the surgery” his tone serious
“Without that payment, we can’t proceed” he added as he proceeded to where my mum was lying unconscious, examining her.
That's a very impossible amount of money for me right now, my only hope and solution is to accept the contract and get half of the payment, well I thought.
I dashed out of the ward, running as fast as I could, breathing and panting heavily.
“Where are you going!?” Janet called when I ran past them at the reception.
“I’ll be back!” I glanced back and replied.
AT THE PENTHOUSE
Rushing back to the penthouse, I fought the wave of dread that washed over me. I had to convince Elio to help, but I couldn’t afford to tell him about my mother’s illness, not yet.
I saw Elio sitting in the garden, looking over some documents. He looked up at me as I came closer.
“I need to talk to you,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady
“Spit it out then” he replied, his sharp eyes narrowing “Make it quick, I don’t have all day”
I began
“Uhm, I’ve thought about your proposal” My heart was pounding, and I started playing with my fingers.
“I’m willing to accept the contract”
Elio raised his eyebrow, tugging a smirk at the corners of his lips.
“You’re quick to decide. What made you change your mind?”
“I just realized I don’t need to waste time on this kind of opportunity, you know… the funds that come with the contract” I hesitated, the lie forming on my lips.
He leaned back, arms crossed
“And what makes you think you deserve such a huge amount of money? You’re not a charity case”
I clenched my fists, I was becoming impatient, can we settle this already and I get the money?
He fell silent for a while, and studied me for a moment, his piercing blue eyes evaluating me.
“There is a paper to sign, and after that, the funds will…”
“A paper?” My eyes opened wide as I interrupted
“Yes a paper, got a problem with that?” He leaned forward, packing the documents on the table together.
“Okay, where? So I can sign already”
“Hold on” he flipped through the documents and brought out a sheet of paper.
“Here” he handed the sheet of paper to me, i sat down quietly opposite him
“Take your time, read through it carefully before signing…”
“Pen?” I gestured with my hands. I signed the paper and returned it to him. Waiting patiently to hear about the money
I waited for him to sign before I could ask him anything else
He dropped the pen and heaved a sigh
“All done”
“My girlfriend, oh fake girlfriend” he smirked, putting the documents together
“What about the money?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“Oh the funds, it’ll be available in a week or two, depending on your commitment”
“What!” I exclaimed
“You can wait for it, can’t you?” He asked
“What if I can’t wait?, what if it’s urgent” I pressed, desperation exuding into my voice.
“Urgent? Are we talking about something else here?”
“ you didn’t sound urgent the other time” he replied coldly
“You’ll be sure to get your money in a week?”
“Seriously? That wasn’t the agreement, young man!“ I retorted, have I been deceived?
This must be a joke, two weeks?
I muttered to myself
“Agreement? Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t owe you anything, stick to the plan, this is business, not personal “ he snapped, standing up suddenly.
As he walked away, my heart sank. What is going on here? I thought I had found a solution but it seems I was still stranded. I had accepted the contract without fully understanding the consequences.
My phone suddenly buzzed with a message
It was from Janet
“Your mum is in the theater, they took her already for the surgery”
I dialed her number immediately
“What do you mean, how did that happen?”
“I don’t know, Anita and I are here waiting till the surgery is over”
“I don’t know about the details now” she responded
I quickly stood up from the chair
“I’m on my way!”
- Writer
