54 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Two days before

Blue River City's Medical Hospital

Under the warm rays of sunshine shining through the window of a clean well organized private room of the hospital laid a skinny woman. Her face was sunken and pale. Fine lines decorated beneath her eyes sprinkled with hues of purple. Her skin appeared dry while her lips were peeling. Nonetheless, she still acted full of life.

”Satele, you don't have to visit me here every day. I'm fine. This is nothing but a minor check-up. You don't have to worry about me. In a few days I'll be discharged from here.”

Satele momentarily paused from peeling apples and beamed at her mother. ”Mom, it's fine. The hospital is near my school anyway.”

Selene looked at her daughter and her eyes instantly moistened while she fumbled her fingers. ”I'm sorry, Satele. It's because I'm like this that you and Seth are suffering. You even borrowed money from your friends for my operation. It's because I have a weak heart that your father left us—”

”Mom!”

Satele abruptly stopped her mother from talking. She didn't want to remember about her father nor anything that would remind her of that man.

Sighing heavily, she dispersed the gloom welling beneath her eyes while she forced a smile and held her mother's hand.

”That's not true. And besides, you no longer have a weak heart, remember? The operation is successful. It's just… The doctor advises that you don't work until he says so. So wait until then, alright? I'm sure that you will be in top shape and can take care of us by then.”

She slowly stood up and brushed her mother's hair after she handed over the peeled apples for her mother to eat. ”In the meantime, allow us, your children, to take care of you…”

Selene's shoulders slightly shook while her lips formed a grateful smile, yet desolate tears ran from her downcast eyes and dripped steadily into her hospital gown.

----

After Satele visited her mother and talked with her mother's doctor, making sure that there was nothing wrong with her, she went home.

On the way, many thoughts ran through her mind like always.

Seth needed a laptop for his presentations and projects. Though he said that he didn't need one, but he can't always borrow his friend's laptop or go to computer shops until in the middle of the night to do his projects. And the groceries are running out. I also have to pay this month's bills and resupply my mother's medications. Not to mention my mother's monthly check up and the costly stay in that private hospital.

*sigh

Satele could only sigh at her current predicament. She was already doing night shift jobs after cla.s.s to supplement what little remained of her savings while her brother focused on his studies.

Meanwhile, during weekends, it was her little brother Seth who was doing part times jobs while she was busy doing house ch.o.r.es and catch up to her studies.

The only consolation she had was knowing that they have their own house now and didn't have to waste money paying rent and didn't have to endure being stuffed inside a small box. Though seventy percent of her so called borrowed money went to the house, and she had to lie about the fact that the house belong to them from her mother and little brother, she didn't regret it one bit.

I guess I have to look for a part-time job during weekends as well.

In truth, she still had enough money for them to live freely for a couple of years, but those were reserved for her mother's hospital bills and medicines and for emergency purpose only. All other reasons besides that, she had to take it from the money by doing part time jobs.

Satele continued walking down the path of that familiar route. She didn't want to take the bus going back home since she was also saving that money. Even though from the hospital to their house would take almost an hour to walk, she didn't mind. If possible, she wouldn't even eat three times a day so she could save for food expenses.

*sigh

Another heavy sigh escaped from her lips. However, she abruptly paused while her legs retraced her steps and stopped in front of an advertis.e.m.e.nt board on the side of the cobbled pathway.

She stared on that specific spot without blinking while her lips gradually curved in a smile. Her hands immediately s.n.a.t.c.hed that piece of add, afraid that if she waited a moment longer, someone would steal it away.

Her jolly mood was short lived however as from the corners of her eye she saw some thugs ganging up on a poor abandoned dog in the sidewalk.

She was not particularly fond of animals. If ever, she was slightly allergic to furry pets if she stayed ten minutes by their side.

Her eyes unblinkingly followed every action of those two boys while her hand, holding her phone, snapped pictures after pictures of the scene.