Listening to Mr. Lowes words, the scholarship program she lost, almost forgotten due to the condition she met Mama liya earlier, came back to her and made her feel more hurt.
She dropped to the ground, weeping silently. The village doctor seeing this felt lost, not knowing what to do.
After an hour of crying, all alone now. She stared blankly, her eyes devoid of any emotions.
At that moment, all she wanted was to go away from all these troubles. She always wished for a simple life but guess life wasn't ready to grant her that or what?
Shifting her gaze from the wall to her grandma, Jane moved closer to Mama Liya. Staring at her beautiful sleeping figure, she felt a sudden surge of hope in her and wiping her warm tears with the back of her arm, she promised.
" I will try my best to not let you down grandma."
Jane stood up and went to Mr. Lowes house. Knocking on his door, she heard a voice.
" Who is it?"
"Jane."
Came her reply to the voice. The door was opened and stepping inside, she saw the village doctor mixing some chemicals together.
"Sit."
He said, but Jane not in the mood jumped to the chase.
"Mr. Lowes, I really need to know how dangerous the situation is, and also I really need your help.
" I need a job, so I can raise some money and go to the city to get help from some of our family members."
Not moving his eyes from the chemicals, he hummed.
"Am sorry, but I don't think there is any job available for a seventeen years old girl right now. I wish I can help you but am not capable enough.
He paused to look straight in her eyes and continued,
" The situation is clearly like a ticking bomb. Am not sure, but at least for now, she should be able to live for three months before going to coma and the rest I can't say."
Jane tried to hid her emotions but that didn't go unnoticed by the village doctor. Now, getting to know she doesn't have more time, she has to do something as soon as possible.
She bade good bye and left to Mart place, hoping he could help with anything. Getting there, she met him outside.
Mart sensed the presence of someone and turned around and saw Jane with her swollen eyes. He ran towards her and hugged her.
Her walls of pretence broke immediately, maybe that hug was just what Jane needed after all but it actually funny.
After she meticulously tried to hid her pains, making her look fine except for the swollen eyes, only to let everything out just because of a hug!
Jane went into another round of weeping. Mart, who was confused about everything stared at her with an uncertain emotions. Seeing her cries reducing, he patted her back and asked her,
" What's up with you Jane, don't tell me it is still about the scholarship program?"
She heaved.
" No, it a b out t m a ma liya."
"Shhhhh, just calm down and stop heaving ok. Now tell me what is wrong?"
Calming herself down, she voiced out, '" Her cancer is getting more critical Mart, she only has three months left, and I don't know what to do anymore. Please, help me in anyway you can.
" I really need to go to the city, cause that's the only solution I can think of."
Mart sighed. " So, the city is only the way out now?"
"Yes." Came her weak reply.
"Honestly, I don't know how I can help you but let's go to Viva and Mabel's place, maybe they can help."
"Okay." she replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
When they got to Viva and Mabel's place, the situation turned out the same. Sighing in frustration, Mart asked Jane,
" Isn't there anything you can do at all?"
She shaked her head negatively.
" Am really sorry Jane, you know if we can, we would have help you but we aren't capable. "
Mabel, feeling sorry for her friend uttered.
Viva added, " Yeah sure, we will. What are friends for anyway but right now, am afraid it not possible."
Not able to withstand Jane's sorrowful and hopeless expression, Mart frowned.
" Jane, I will give u my own Scholarship. Don't worry about the name, you need it more than I do."
Staring at him unbelievable, she disagreed.
"No! I can't take that. It too much please, we will talk things out okay. "
He chuckled. "Jane, you need it more than I do. That's the bitter truth."
"No I can't! This is your hard work. You can't give it to me just because I need it. Don't worry, I will be fine."
"Jane, just listen to me."
Mart held Jane shoulders, staring right into her deep chocolate eyes he continued,
" Take this, you need it and don't argue with me! Please."
Jane couldn't believe what Mart said, whilst Viva and Mabel just crossed their hands and stared at the amazing scene in front of them.
Well, Jane finally gave in.
Viva and Mabel contributed three thousand naira for her, just for her to be able to take at least a little cash with her to the city.
It was decided Jane will travel alone, because there wasn't much time left and also the scholarship program will take about two weeks to bring the students to the city.
Feeling so happy about her dream finally coming through, though not in a way she wanted but at least, everything didn't later go to waste.
Mira not aware about anything, was enjoying the feeling of achieving things she wanted so easily. Mart on the other hand altered his name and changed it to Jane's name.
Mama liya's health was getting better, even though her days are numbered. She still believed a miracle will happen.
.
~~~~~~~~
A night before Jane will leave the village.
Jane and Mart sat outside Mart's house, both staring at the blue sky. She blinked her eyes.
" Honestly, I don't know how to thank you. You have done alot for me, things I didn't thought you would."
Jane smiled and turned to Mart. Then, she continued,
" You always amazed me, whenever I thought am alone, you just show up and save me. I can't even count how many times you have helped me, even though it not comfortable with you.
" I just wish, I could pay you back for every good thing you have done for me."
" You know Jane, seriously you don't have to. Am happy to make you happy, but perhaps I think, I will need one thing from you."
Mart sessed and asked.
Jane raised her brow.
"What? Tell me, I will do anything. Don't you know the gravity of what you have done for me? Please go on."
He smiled.
Changing his smiling expression into a serious one.
" Don't forget me Jane."
Seeing his different expression and hearing his serious tone, her smile died down to be replaced by a curious expression.
'" I won't I promise, but what's with the heavy atmosphere?"
Laughing sweetly, he uttered, "Just don't forget me."
She hummed.
" I won't forget you. "
She said in a sweet funny tone, making Mart to rolled his eyes.
"But seriously, I will miss you for real this time." She added.
"Me too." He hugged her.
"Me three."
"Me four."
Viva and Mabel uttered, surprising Jane and Mart.
" Wow! you guys are here early." Jane said happily.
"Yep, we decided to just pop out of nowhere." Answered Viva.
"Yeah." Mabel chirped in with a grin.
"Awwwwn, I will really miss you guys."
"Jane baby, we will miss you more." Her friends chirped together.
Spending her last days with her friends, the four best friends went to different part of the village to have fun and create more memories.
~~~~~~~~~~
What will happen next???
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The Halfling.
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