CHAPTER 6

She was rushed into an Intensive Care Unit but my sister and I were not allowed into the room. We sat down on the chairs in the waiting area, lingering until a doctor would see us about her condition. We knew she had end stage COPD but Mom never smoked nor took any drugs or did drugs. Her lungs should be healthy, but it just weren't. I hugged my little sister tightly. After two long hours and a half, a doctor came up to us. It was Doctor Summers. We recognized him from before and he recognized us too. 'Miss. Blackman's daughters, I'm afraid I have some bad news," he began. My heart stopped. My body went numb and I couldn't even stand on my own two feet. His facial expression was sad and full of pity as he looked down at us. Zenia looked up at him, tears flowing down her face. 'Oh God, what's wrong with our mother?" I asked, fearing the worst but hoping that it wasn't the worst. His mouth trembling to let the words fall out. Jasmine's POV My sister and I waited for the midnight bus to take us back home. The night was still, calm and quiet, well at least that was what it felt like to me because I became numb. ′Your mother's health is at a critical stage. There's nothing more we can do unless she gets that lung transplant. Without it, she'll only have three months to live, or less. I'm sorry' Those words were haunting me and hung on my shoulders like a piece of clothing I couldn't shake off. I had absolutely no idea on how I was going to be able to pay for my mother's lung transplant. A sum of ten thousand dollars, plus a surgical fee and the list fee. The given total was one hundred thousand dollars. I would have to hit the lottery to obtain that kind of money. I had to pay the bills and the rent at my apartment, supported and provided for my sister's education, put food on the table and provided for myself as well. It was all too much. I didn't know what to do or where to turn to. My mother was dying and there was nothing I could do to save her. I wouldn't be able come up with all that money in the space of three months or less. One hundred thousand dollars. The tears flooded my eyes again as we got onto the midnight bus and found a seat. Zenia's arms circled around my waist. 'It's going to be okay sis. We have to pray. That's all we can do for now," she comforted me with teary eyes. We loved our mother so much. She had been through everything with us since our first day on this earth and she did it all by herself. We had no relatives and no friends. It was only my mother, my sister and I. I wiped my tears away with the hem of my T-shirt. It was at that moment, I noticed what I was wearing. I did not have a chance to change into anything decent. I was wearing a worn out shorts and a plain T-shirt which was a bit over-sized for my fitting because it belonged to mom. I had on flip-flops on my feet, my pedicure was so horrible and it looked like it was done by a blind person. My hair was uncombed but I just couldn't be bothered. It was late and there weren't much people on the bus. When we got home, I threw myself on the couch. The same couch mom was sitting on before the incident. I cried again and right there, I fell asleep. I woke up to my phone ringing. My heart skipped several beats as I thought about my mom. What if it's the hospital with the awful news I would never be prepared to hear? I held the phone with trembling hands. My workplace number flashed on the screen. I heaved a sigh of relief. ″Miss. Blackman,″ his voice spoke from the other end. 'Yes Mr. Hollen," I answered but I couldn't understand why he was calling me. I looked at our wall clock; it showed 9:30 am. 9:30 am!!!!!!! 9:30 am!!!!! Holy shit, I overslept and I was already late for work. Oh dear God, I could be fired for this. Mr. Hollen doesn't tolerate things like this. 'Sir, I'm ....so ......sorry," I stuttered. I couldn't tell him I overslept, that wouldn't be something sensible to say to the world's strictest boss. ″Miss. Blackman,″ his voice spoke again. ‘Oh sweet God, he just repeated my name. I'm in big big trouble. I think I'm fired.' ″Why aren't you at your desk?″ I took a deep breath. 'Sir, my mom got sick last evening and I've been at the hospital with her. I came home late and I....I," I answered while already bracing myself for his response. At any moment, he would tell me that I was fired. ″Be here in one hour,″ he said and hung up. I exhaled my fear. I still had a job. I got up from the couch quick as lightening and ran towards the bathroom. I took the fastest shower performed by man and put on one of my formal work attire dresses. It was easier to get into a dress than a shirt and pants or skirt. I combed my hair and grabbed my makeup products, I would do my makeup on the bus. I took my house keys and ran out the door, locking it behind me.