"Yes, Ms. Peyton and I will advise you to bring that in quickly before we can commence your mother's operation because if not, I'm afraid..." he shakes his head disapprovingly.
"Is there nothing else you can do, maybe we could get some drugs". I pleaded with an already messed up head. Where on earth was I supposed to get such an amount of money from? I don't have any nuclear or extended family whom I can run to. It's just me, my brother, and my mother in this world, and the small job I got at TIMES. Yes, that's the name of the restaurant I worked at. And I make just $450 every month which is used for household expenses and my mother's drugs, which usually take half of the money.
"Unless you want your mother to die. She has passed the stage of taking drugs. It needs an operation, Miss Peyton. If you would excuse me now, I have some other patients to attend to". With that, he excused himself and went out of the door. When he was outside, he motioned for me to step out. I left the place with a broken heart. Where was I supposed to get such an amount of money from? "Can I at least see my mother"? I asked in a pleading voice, with my hands folded together in front of my mouth. "She is in the IUC. You should deposit some amount of money and then we can figure out something later". He said and wave me off. I saw him taking a turn on his left until he was no longer in sight. I took slow steps to where Nolan was sitting waiting for me. Immediately he saw me, he ran over to me and took my hands in his large ones. "How is mother? What did the doctor say?". He questioned with his eyes demanding answers. I was tired and could not explain much. "He says, we need to deposit $20000 for mother's operation and she will have just a few days to live if we don't get the money for her operation to commence ". I watch as Nolan passes his hands through his hair, throwing angry kicks at the wall in front of him. "What happens now Nora? Is mother going to die? Because we barely have such an amount of money". He crouched down in front of me, with his hands resting on my lap." no, nothing will happen to mother. She would get her operation and she would live longer". I assure him, but he had doubts on his face. "Where are you going to get such an amount of money from Nora?". He asked, with his eyes demanding answers. "Don't worry. I have some money saved up in the house and I would go plead with Ms.Madalyn to lend me some Money". I was not so sure about it., but I was going to try. If she will help me. Even though she always plays hard sometimes. I hope she'll be able to help me with this one. And the money I have been saving is not up to $5000. I was planning to get her a valentine's day gift for her and Nolan, coming the day after tomorrow, which is Friday and she was laying in a hospital bed helplessly "you know that would be nowhere close to $20000. He told me and that was true. "Just wait here and make sure to alert me of any information". I told him as I stood up, and arranged the hoodie on my body, and took the hood down which was covering my head. Nolan looked at me worriedly. "I would be fine, Nolan".
"Look after yourself and mother. I will be back before night falls". With that, I stomp out of the hospital. When I was outside of the white gates. I stopped a taxi that was passing by and told them to take me to TIMES. It was a famous restaurant in Chesdom. Every taxi driver should know about it.
I stepped out of the taxi and shoved a dollar note into the driver's hand and walked into the restaurant. It was quite filled today. All the tables were filled with people. The first person I could spot was Lilian. She is my colleague and the only person I vibe with most times although she acts as a brat sometimes. She saw the panicked look on my face and quickly ran over to me before I could make my way to her behind the counter. "Nora, what happened to you? Is everything okay with you?".
I fight the urge to let the tears that were sticking in my eyes fall. I took my hands off my hoodie and started to fiddle with them and I could notice her gaze on me., I told her what was going on with me. "It's my mother Lilian, she is at the city hospital and the doctor is demanding $20000 for an operation".
"20 what Nora?". She exclaimed at the top of her voice, making the few people that were close to us look in our direction. She noticed it too and brought down her tone. "Where are you going to get such an amount of money from?". She whispered, cleaning her hands with a white table napkin. "I don't know Lilian, I'm confused about where to get the money. I came here to plead with Ms. Madalyn if she could please help me with some money and when this is all over, I would work for her until the money is complete ''. My voice at this point was not clear enough as the tears had to override it. She looked around the restaurant as though to make sure no one was eavesdropping on us. She turns back to me after keeping the table napkin on the counter, she places her hands on either side of my shoulders.
"I'm so sorry about that Nora, I wish I could be of help," she told me looking at me in the face and I know she would have if she had the means. "It's fine Lilian. Is Ms. Madalyn around?". She removed her hands from my shoulder and gave me a weird look. "Uhmm. I'm sorry Nora, Ms.Madalyn is not in Chesdom, she traveled and would only be coming back by month end ". She explained feeling bad. And I just had to let the tears that I have been fighting to fall. "What am I supposed to do now?" I slumped down to the floor, not minding if the floor was clean or not. "I understand what you are going through, however, you don't have to act like this, just get up". She said, trying to take me up from the floor. If only she understood.
"Are you two okay in there?". A smoky Male voice sounded behind us.