Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The nurses couldn't allow me to stay with them in the theatre, and I guess it was for my good. I was quietly seated behind the theatre door. It was like a flash, and I began to recollect the incident between the random guy at my workplace and myself. “Besides, that's all I could do to save my mum. I still haven't. I only used what I had to get what I wanted. None of us was forced, anyway!”I kept mumbling to myself in my plight to oppress the sense of guilt that had already befallen me. It got to a point that I didn't know how I began to cry. I could notice that hot tears were gushing down from my eyes. I had no handkerchief with me, all I could do was wipe the tears with my bare hand.“Young lady, you need not cheer up. Be of good cheer. Your mum is undergoing dialysis now. And in a short while, she would be good again. All you will do for her now is to pray for her. You've done your part, let we, the nurses, do ours and leave the rest for God!”A male nurse who was among the nurses in the emergency room whispered to me in a lovely tone. He would've concluded that I was crying because of my Mum's health conditions. Well, that's true, but not just that. I know her condition made me sell myself so cheaply, but I was only crying because of how I painted my image. I was gazing at his eyeballs as he drew closer to hug me as was gently caress my shoulder. It was a consolidation, but I preferred to be alone. To all his kind gestures, I was only nodding my head, so he wouldn't think that I was taking his kindness for granted. Just as he left, I realized that I'd not eaten since morning and Mama would need something when she woke up, so I left the hospital and headed home.

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“Bro, that babe was good. I enjoyed every second I spent with her”.“Why won't you say so? I know you even now. But for clarity, is that why you wasted a whopping one thousand dollars? Floyd couldn't allow Lucifer to conclude his report before interrupting with a harsh tone.“You need to hear me out. I would tell you that she isn't the whore you called her.” Lucifer commented, sounding all innocent.“Fuck you, bro! You're just spending extravagantly because you have it” Floyd growled.“Wow! “Lucifer whispered, demonstrating his exclamation. He could be seen as he kept his wife wide open.“What's that look all about?” Floyd implored, holding himself from smiling. For a few seconds, Lucifer never uttered a word.“Speak up man! You pissed me up. We could've used the money for something better.” Calm down Floyd. What else do you want to do with the money? The girl is worth the money, for Christ's sake.” Lucifer replied, sounding more friendly and realistic.“I've heard you. But it's too oblivious that at your age, and the experience you've had in life, you still felt something for this random street girl.” Floyd complained.“That's Floyd, what are you saying about the case concerning my company? I need to make some corrections and get things right. Lucifer shunned Floyd's topic and introduced him.“You're not playing that prank on me tonight. We already discussed that at the bar. We're concluding the case of that girl.” Floyd replied, insisting on finishing the discussion about Clara. Counting on his inquisitiveness, Lucifer said.“In that case, I'm done discussing that. Let it be that I wasted money.” After breathing in and out, he continued. “But I enjoyed my stay with her. Are you satisfied now?” That sounds fairer, though I'm yet to believe the last line.”Floyd replied with a more friendly tone.************************While I was quietly seated at home thinking of what to do next, I heard a knock on the door. Just for me to open the door I saw Lisa standing behind it. I welcomed and ushered him into the house. Just as she finished asking about my mom's health condition, and getting the response from me, she wore a strange expression on her face.“What's that all about, Lisa? I know you know, but don't judge me!” I commanded authoritatively, since I was already being judged by my conscience.“But you went too extreme, Clara. How could you?” Clara asked, sounding more innocent than the Clara I used to know. But unfortunately, her words and actions couldn't add or subtract anything from my emotions.“Could you provide the money for me?” I questioned her sternly since she was trying to make me feel guilty.“That's not the best you could do. Remember, it's in the terms and conditions of our company. What if it pops up?” She asked, drawing my attention to what might ensue when my company opens my page.“Anyway, I'm not regretting it. My mum is all I have. And I can lose the job to keep her alive…” What about your image? She intruded.“Which image will I have as an orphan if I lose the only backbone I have? Will you be my mother? If they are why you're here, I'm sorry, I can't succumb to whichever thing you have in mind.” I growled since she was gradually overshadowing my emotions.“I'm sorry, Clara. I didn't mean to cause more harm. Just that…” Don't tell me that, Lisa!” I shunned her just to make her pause as I was already tearing up! She drew closer and hugged me, and I also noticed that tears were dropping from her eyes.“It's okay Clara! I apologize for the whole thing. I'm ashamed that I couldn't help when I was supposed to.” She whispered with a cracked voice."It's okay Lisa! I'm here for you. …She continued as we continued to nurse each other. After a few seconds of speechlessness in the room, we cleaned our tears. She waited for me as I freshened up, and then we went to the hospital to stay with Mummy.