Episode 10
1243 Words
Episode 10
Between Life and Death
The hospital smelled of medicine, fear, and silence.
Didi sat outside the emergency ward with trembling hands while doctors and nurses moved in and out quickly. Her heart refused to calm down.
Everything happened too fast.
One moment, she was returning home after quitting the housemaid job…
The next moment, her mother was lying unconscious in a hospital.
A nurse walked past them quickly.
“Please, nurse,” Didi stopped her immediately. “How is my mother?”
“Are you the patient’s relative?”
“Yes.”
“The doctor is still attending to her.”
Didi nodded weakly.
Beside her, Aunty Bose placed a hand on her shoulder gently.
“She’ll be fine.”
But Didi could see uncertainty in the woman’s eyes.
Minutes felt like hours.
Finally, a doctor walked out of the ward holding a file.
“Who is related to Mrs…?” He checked the paper briefly. “Mrs. Grace?”
Didi stood up immediately.
“I’m her daughter.”
The doctor looked serious.
“She’s very weak.”
Fear gripped Didi’s chest instantly.
“What happened to her?”
“She has been neglecting her health for a long time. Severe stress, weakness, poor feeding, and untreated illness.”
Didi looked down painfully.
Everything the doctor mentioned sounded like their entire life story.
“She needs proper treatment immediately,” the doctor continued. “And some medical tests.”
Didi swallowed nervously.
“How much will it cost?”
The doctor mentioned an amount.
Didi’s heart nearly stopped.
That money was impossible for her.
Completely impossible.
“Doctor…” her voice shook slightly. “Can treatment start first? I’ll find the money somehow.”
The doctor sighed softly.
“We’ll do what we can for now, but payment is important.”
After he left, Didi sat down slowly like her strength had disappeared.
“How will I get that kind of money?” she whispered.
Aunty Bose looked helpless too.
“We’ll think of something.”
But Didi already knew the truth.
They had nobody to help them.
No relatives.
No savings.
No miracle waiting somewhere.
That night, Mama was transferred to a small hospital room.
Didi sat beside her quietly while machines beeped softly around them.
Her mother looked smaller somehow.
Weaker.
Fragile.
Didi held her hand carefully.
“You promised nothing would happen to you,” she whispered tearfully.
Mama slowly opened her eyes.
“Didi…”
“Mama!”
A weak smile appeared on her mother’s face.
“You’re crying again.”
“How can I not cry?”
Mama squeezed her hand weakly.
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.”
For some seconds, silence filled the room.
Then Mama spoke softly again.
“You look tired.”
Didi forced a smile. “I’m okay.”
But she was far from okay.
She had no job.
No money.
No idea what tomorrow would look like.
And now hospital bills were waiting.
The next morning, Didi left the hospital early to search for money.
She visited everywhere she could think of.
Some people promised to help later.
Some ignored her completely.
Others simply said:
“Sorry.”
By afternoon, hunger and exhaustion already overwhelmed her, but she kept moving.
At one point, she stopped outside a supermarket trying to gather strength.
A black car suddenly parked nearby.
A young man stepped out wearing a clean white shirt and dark sunglasses.
He looked rich and confident — the type of person whose problems probably disappeared with money.
Didi looked away immediately.
People like him belonged to another world.
As she turned to leave, a little girl accidentally ran into her.
“Ouch!”
“I’m sorry!” Didi said quickly.
The little girl looked up at her and smiled.
“It’s okay.”
The rich young man walked over immediately.
“Sophie, be careful.”
Then his eyes moved toward Didi briefly.
For a second, their eyes met.
Didi quickly looked down and walked away immediately.
She didn’t notice the man watching her for a few extra seconds before entering the supermarket with the child.
By evening, Didi finally returned to the hospital empty-handed.
Mama was asleep.
A nurse stopped her immediately.
“You need to make payment at the front desk.”
Didi nodded weakly.
“I’ll try tomorrow.”
The nurse sighed sympathetically.
“You should hurry.”
That night, Didi sat alone outside the hospital building staring into the darkness.
Everything felt heavy.
She thought about the housemaid job she lost.
Maybe she should have endured the insults longer.
Maybe quitting was a mistake.
At least they would still have income.
Tears rolled down her cheeks slowly.
“I’m trying, Mama,” she whispered painfully to herself. “I’m trying so hard.”
Suddenly, her phone rang.
It was Amaka.
“Didi! I’ve been calling you since.”
Didi wiped her tears quickly before answering.
“Hello.”
“You sound strange. What happened?”
Didi hesitated before explaining everything quietly.
“My God…” Amaka whispered in shock. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Disturb me? Didi, you’re my friend!”
Didi finally broke down crying again.
“I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Amaka became quiet for a moment.
“I don’t have much money right now,” she said sadly, “but I’ll send the little I have.”
“Thank you.”
“And please stay strong.”
After the call ended, Didi stared at the hospital building again.
Strong.
People kept telling her to stay strong.
But nobody understood how tired she truly was inside.
The following morning, Mama suddenly became worse again.
Nurses rushed around quickly while Didi stood outside shaking with fear.
“Doctor, what’s happening?” she asked anxiously.
“We’re trying to stabilize her.”
Didi’s breathing became uneven immediately.
For some terrifying minutes, all she heard were hurried footsteps and medical instructions.
Then finally, things became calm again.
A doctor stepped outside.
“She’s stable for now.”
Didi almost collapsed from relief.
“Can I see her?”
“Yes.”
Inside the room, Mama looked exhausted.
When she saw Didi, she forced another weak smile.
“You haven’t eaten,” Mama said immediately.
Even in this condition, she was still worrying about her daughter.
Didi held her hand tightly.
“You need to get better first.”
Mama looked at her quietly for a long moment before speaking softly.
“If anything happens to me—”
“Stop saying that!”
Mama sighed weakly.
“You must continue living your life.”
Tears filled Didi’s eyes instantly.
“You’re not leaving me.”
Mama didn’t reply.
The silence scared Didi more than words.
That evening, while Didi stood at the hospital reception asking for more time to complete payment, someone suddenly walked into the building.
Tall.
Calm.
Dressed neatly in a dark suit.
The nurses greeted him respectfully as he passed.
Didi barely looked at him at first.
Until she realized something.
It was the same rich man she saw near the supermarket the previous day.
He stopped walking immediately after noticing her too.
For a brief moment, confusion crossed his face — like he recognized her.
Didi quickly looked away, embarrassed by her worn clothes and tired appearance.
But before she could move…
The man slowly walked toward her.
- Writer
