She is Awake

***Victoria***

Outside the night was cool. It swallowed me up. There was no moon and only a handful of stars.

But the very darkness was strangely soothing and afforded an illustration of protection and

anonymity.

It was as if I could hide away— from the sudden revelation of my mother's sick ailment. The

shadows cast by the lines of little dark terraced houses seemed like a burrow down which I

could hurry to escape.

‘’Victoria!’’ Nate's Voice brought me back to reality.

‘’Oh! Nate, What's up.’’

‘’I have been looking for you around the hospital, I would have even called you but my phone is

also with you.’’

‘’I'm sorry about that, I just stepped out not too long— just to distract myself.’’

‘’We are all in this together, Mum is a strong woman, and I believe she will come out of this

stronger.’’ Nate reassured me.

‘’Andrew should be the one to stay over, you know we will have to go to work tomorrow.’’

‘’Yes, I will tell him as soon as we get inside, I'm sure he'll be glad to.’’ Nate smiled and held my

hand as we headed back to the ward, where my mum was admitted.

Esther and Andrew were sitting close to the sick bed, staring at my mother's direction, seriously

hoping for a miracle to bring her back to consciousness.

‘’Esther, we need to get going, you know Nate and I have to prepare for work tomorrow and we

can't afford dozing off at work’’ I said with humor.

‘’But who will now stay with her, you know all of us can not go and leave her here all alone.’’

Esther responded.

‘’I know and that's why Andrew will be staying over.’’ I smiled as we both walked towards the

exit.

Cars passed, momentarily drenching us in the white light of their headlamps, as the three of us

walked briskly towards our house.

‘’I just opened my mail and saw that I have been sent a query.’’ Nate sounded bothered.

‘’You just need to go to work and answer your query, and it'll be fine.’’

‘’You don't understand— a lot of people has been laid off recently and I hope I have not been

included to the list.’’ Nate said as he brought out the key to open the door.

‘’I am tired already and have had enough bad news for the day, No more bad news okay?’’ I

said dolefully.

‘’Enough of the negative energy from you Nate. Just go and get a hot shower and sleep well.

Tomorrow is going to be a great day.’’ Esther said cheerfully.

‘’Esther Darling, we hope mum wakes up tomorrow but pending the time she wakes up, we will

be needing your help to help stay with her, because Andrew also needs to come home to rest—

this is not to burden you in anyway.’’ I pleaded.

‘’Oh! come on, you know I'd love to stay with her as well, Sarah is not just your mum, I see her

as mine too, so it's not a burden, I will remember her in my prayers tonight and I believe she will

wake up soon.’’

I knew she wouldn't say No, but I still had to ask. She is a selfless human, and could even give

you her eyes— all you have to do is ask.

‘’Okay then, Goodnight my dear friend, thanks for your words of encouragement.’’ I said as I

switched off the lamp in my bedside I heard her mumbling some words and I knew she's

definitely praying again.

—-------

Esther had offered to walk me down to the library before going to the hospital. She was in the

bathroom while I was getting dressed when I suddenly received a call from Andrew.

‘’Hello! What's Up Andrew.’’ I said with anxiety hoping to receive a positive response.

‘’Mum is awake Victoria.’’ He responded excitedly.

‘’She is awake! I shouted with an intense feeling of excitement calling the attention of Esther

and Nate as they both rushed into the room.

‘’Give her the phone let me speak with her.’’

‘’I am currently outside the ward, The Nurses asked me to excuse them, you will just have to

come over as soon as you can.’’ Andrew said.

‘’Don't worry, Esther will join you soon. You know Nate and I will be going to work, but we will

come over as soon as we return from work.

‘’No Problem.’’ Andrew said as he ended the call.

‘’Your prayers must have done wonders overnight.’’ I said to Esther.

‘’I am so happy right now but I have to leave you girls, I'm almost late for work.’’ Nate said as he

walked briskly out of my room.

‘’I told you she will wake up today, didn't I?’’ Esther said smiling.

‘’So, what are you feeling like now? a soothsayer?’’ I grinned openly.

‘’No, not a soothsayer but a Prophet.’’

‘’You wish.’’ I teased.

‘’I won't be able to follow you to the library anymore, I need to go to the Hospital.’’

‘’Aww! Thanks a lot that's so thoughtful of you, I'm also running late.’’ I hugged her and bade her

goodbye.

It’s a bright and sunny day, I could feel the freshness of the day, vehicles honking and

everyone's footsteps echoing over the pavements as they rushed to work— The news I have

just received already confirmed that It’s going to be a great day indeed.

‘’You seem happy this morning.’’ Meg said smiling as I walked into the library.

‘’It's nothing serious dear, it's just that My mum slumped and was unconscious yesterday, but I

received a call this morning telling me she's awake already, I can't wait to close from work and

go over to the hospital.’’ I responded.

‘’That’s great news,I'm happy for you.’’

‘’Thank you, so any major event today?’’

‘’Yes! Mr Grey donated fifty thousand dollars worth of books to this library shortly before he

died.’’

‘’What kind of books?’’

‘’We are going to find out soon enough— his office just called that his son will be here to deliver

them.’’

‘’Fifty thousand dollars? That's huge! This Mr Grey must be a billionaire, but it's so painful that

he is dead.’’

‘’Why did you say so?’’

‘’I would have loved to be the Billionaire's wife of course, if one is not born in a rich family one

should do everything possible to be rich.’’ I said as we both chuckled.

A fine young man walked into the library few hours later.

‘’Welcome, Mr Grey on behalf of the library we would like to express our sincere gratitude for

your most generous gift appreciate your generosity.’’ Meg welcomed the visitor cheerfully.

‘’I left them in shipping and receiving but I'm sure they'll be right up.’’ His expression firm.

There's something that seem so familiar about this man, he looked like the guy that proposed

marriage to Esther but I doubt it, what would a rich person like this want with Esther, I thought to

myself.

‘’If you don’t mind we would love to have your photograph while donating the books.’’

‘’Just make it fast please I have other places to be.’’

‘’Kindly sign these documents sir.’’ Meg handed him some documents.

He signed them in a hurry, took the photographs and left. I didn't see him smile for once, but

what do I care, that's his business, my phone screen flickered as a text message from Esther's

name appeared on the screen.

‘’Please come to the hospital as soon as you can, We are all here waiting for you.’’

I read the message out loud.

My mood changed, the excitement in me came to an abrupt end as I turned to Meg, Thank God

it's closing time already.

‘’I have to go now, it's about my mum. Something has happened to her’’ I said to Meg as I

rushed out of the library with my heart racing.