Chapter 80: Save my mom
1028words
Scarlett has been gone for just two weeks, and it seems like it has been up to a year already. Sitting behind my polished desk, I tried my best to concentrate, to try not to remember her for a second, but it's so hard. Scarlett is one woman I can never let go of, no matter how hard I try. She will always be a part of me.
Just then, the telephone rang, jolting me out of my thoughts. I picked up the call, and my secretary told me Alexandra was looking for me.
'Yeah, let her in," I said, putting down the telephone.
Almost immediately, the door burst open, startling me as Alexandra rushed in.
'Hey, who is after you?" I asked, jumping up.
She threw herself to my feet, sobbing. 'I need your help, Gabriel. You really have to help me."
I held her up, staring at her desperate, teary eyes. 'What's the problem? Is anyone after you?" I asked.
She shook her head, more tears rolling down her cheeks. 'Its…it's my mom," she choked on her words. 'My mom is dying, Gabriel. Please save her."
'How? What happened to her?"
'She… she is sick. We need money for the surgery. I don't want my mom to die, Gabriel. The thought is killing me. Your mom said I could come to you."
'Just relax, okay? Nothing is going to happen to your mom," I assured her. 'How much do you need for the bills?" I asked, picking up my phone from the desk.
'The… the bill is too expensive," she cried. 'The doctor said we have to pay half for the treatment to commence."
'Alex, how much do you need?"
'It's a lot."
A frustrated sigh escaped my lips. 'Come on, let's go to the hospital," I said, picking up my car keys.
'You'll go with me?"
Without another word, I grabbed her hand, leading her out of my office.
Some minutes later, we were at the hospital, and she showed me to the doctor's office. I got details on her mom's condition, and the bills.
'Where can I settle that?" I asked the doctor.
'In the cashier's office," the doctor responded. 'Can you locate the office?"
'Sure, I will find my way. Thank you, doctor," I left his office, meeting Alexandra in the waiting hall.
'What did he say?" she asked, rushing over to me.
'Do you know the cashier's office?" I asked her, and she nodded, her hands trembling. 'Just relax," I said as she led the way to the cashier's office.
***
'Do you mind taking a walk?" I asked Alexandra after the bill payment. 'She has been pacing back and forth ever since her mom was transferred to the theater.
'My mom," she said, her eyes darting to the theater room.
'She will be fine. Come on," I said, and we went out, taking a walk down the street. 'How long has your mom been sick? Why did it had to take long before you come to me?" I asked, taking hold of her cold hands.
She sniffed, wiping her tears. 'A month," she whispered. 'I couldn't think straight. If your mom hadn't called to tell me to go to you, I still wouldn't have."
'I'm so sorry, okay?"
'Maybe I didn't want you to see me like this," she mumbled, glancing at me.
'Like what?" I looked at her, our eyes meeting.
'Nothing," she looked away. 'Thank you. I owe you a lot."
'You owe me nothing," I smiled, squeezing her hand. 'What are friends for?"
'Friends?" a surprised sound escaped her lips.
'Oh," I mumbled. 'I didn't know you no longer consider me a friend," I said as we sat on a bench along the street.
'No, that's not what I meant," she said, locking eyes with me. 'I was the one who thought you no longer considered me a friend. You wouldn't have seen my face again if I wasn't desperate, to be honest."
'And why is that?"
'It hurts seeing you, you know?" her voice faltered. 'It hurts knowing fully well we were no longer the close friends we used to be. When I said your mom was the one forcing our relationship, I was lying. I thought I could have you if she pressures you into it, but unfortunately, that didn't work out. The whole hospital transfer was my idea. I thought when you were far away from that woman, you would learn to love me instead. I'm deeply sorry, Gabriel. I went too far," she explained, tears filling her eyes.
'It's okay," I said. 'The past is gone now. So, what do you care for? Have you eaten?"
'I'm not hungry. Thank you."
'Let's go to that café over there, let's get some snacks," I said, standing.
'You don't have to. Besides, you need to go back to the office. I will be fine now," she stood up. 'Moreover, I want you to know that I will pay you the money once my mom is out of the hospital."
'I never borrowed you money," I declared. 'I only paid my aunt's hospital bills, so there's no need for you to pay me back. Can we go now?"
The following day, I went to meet Alexandra in the hospital, but I was told she hadn't shown up since the time of her mother's surgery. The last time I was here, I had left her in front of the hospital when she insisted I go back to the office. What could be wrong now?
Entering my car, I sped to her house. 'Alex!" I banged on the door, but there was no answer. When I burst the door open, the living room was a mess. Broken TV, disorganized couches, and broken vases all lay on the floor. 'Alex!" I shouted, running upstairs. When I stormed into her room, she was gagged up, and tied to a chair at a corner. 'Damn it!" I rushed over to her, dried blood stains on her forehead, and arm, her head slumped back against the chair. 'Alex, can you hear me?" I asked while untying her from the chair. 'Alex!"
