Caroline POV
My whole world crumbled immediately as I held the tiny body of my unconscious daughter close to myself.
Leonard only looked at us and hissed out loud and then walked up the stairs not even minding the critical condition which he has put his daughter into.
I wept in pain as I lifted her up and then ran to where he normally drops the car key once he gets home but it was nowhere to be found, when I couldn't find it, I dashed outside while still holding my daughter very tight to myself.
I kept on running and running towards the direction of the hospital since there were no taxis in sight.
But luckily for me, I sighted one from afar and started running towards it, I flagged it down and it stopped I entered then told him the name of the hospital.
"Sir, please drive faster than this, my daughter is gradually dying and I don't want to lose her, please step on the ignition and drive faster than this, I beg you with everything that you hold dear" I said as I pleaded desperately with the driver, even though he was actually driving way above the appropriate speed limit.
Five minutes later, we reached the hospital and I opened the door of the car and then dashed into the building with the speed of lightning totally forgetting to pay the driver.
"Nurse! Nurse!! Nurse!!! Please help me, it is an emergency!!!!!!!" I shouted immediately after I got to the reception.
The nurses available quickly carried her from my hands and called the doctor who told them to take her to the operating room.
I watched from the window as the doctor and the nurses were battling really hard to save the life of my daughter.
I kept on crying and also praying to God to please spare my daughter's life because she's all I have left in this lonely and sad world of mine.
(An Hour Later)
Roughly about one hour later, the doctor came out while sweating profusely, I immediately rushed up to him and started bombarding him with loads of questions.
"Doctor, please how is my daughter doing now? Hope she's now okay and feeling better. Can I see her now? Huh?
"Madam, please one question at a time, your daughter is now okay all thanks to God, you were so lucky that you brought her in here on time because if you would have been five minutes late, she would have been dead by now" The doctor explained to me.
"Oh my God!!!!" I exclaimed loudly in shock as I couldn't believe the news that I was hearing.
"We struggled and luckily for us, we were able to remove all the pieces of the broken vase that were stuck in her stuck but she has lost a great amount of blood" He informed.
"What are we still waiting for doctor, what are we waiting for, am giving her my blood, what is the use of my blood if I can't give it to my daughter when she is in great need of it" I stated.
"Okay, come with me madam, let me have your blood tested" The doctor said as he led me to his office while I gladly followed him.
(A few Minutes Later)
I came out of his office looking so gloomy, why God!!! I thought as I sighed loudly, I can't even donate my blood to my own daughter, what is the meaning of all this?
"Madam, it is okay, your daughter is going to be alright, your blood not matching hers doesn't signify the end of the world you know, she's going to be okay, you are not the first mother whose blood doesn't match with that of her children, just look at the brighter side, there is still hope, she's going to be okay" He assured me.
"You are so good with words doctor but how will we get the donor?" I asked him.
"Don't worry yourself about that madam, am going to try my possible best to get the best match with your daughter as soon as possible, she will soon be on her two feet running around happily like the child she is" He assured me and I was grateful for that.
His voice sounded very familiar but that is not the issue on the ground right now, my daughter is fighting for her life, and am powerless as a mother.
"Thank you very much doctor, am very grateful, I hope that's all and she's doing perfectly okay apart from the issue about the donation of blood?" I asked him.
"Yes, she's okay for now but…" He paused while looking at me.
"But what doc? What? What is wrong with my daughter? Is she still alive?" I asked as fear was clearly written all over my face.
"Yes, of course, madam, she's still alive, the operation was a successful one and we give thanks to God but she happened to slip into a coma," The doctor said as he dropped the bombshell on me.
Immediately my whole world suddenly went blank as I slid boneless to the floor, I couldn't think straight again, I was myself anymore, I was lost and confused than I started laughing hysterically.
"No! It can't be, my baby can't be in a coma, she's a strong girl, ha! Ha!! Ha!!! This certainly is the greatest joke of the century" Just then I started reasoning everything, coma!
Then I screamed out loud "NOOOO!!!!!!".
"Madam, please calm down" The doctor pleaded with me.
"No, don't, don't tell me to calm down, don't you dare, how can my daughter, my healthy and lively angel be lying in there unconscious and I can't do anything to get her out of it, am totally helpless, am a shame to motherhood, am a failure," I said as I wailed uncontrollably.
"Madam, no you are not, you are the best mother that any child can possibly ask for, everything would come back to normal, and your daughter would soon be running around the house" The doctor assured obviously trying to console me.
"No, I don't deserve that title, why can't I do anything to help my daughter who's just lying down on that bed and can't even be able to lift her limbs, she can't even open her eyes, my daughter is a very lively child so it is very hard for me to just stay put and watch her lying helplessly like that, it's totally heartbreaking," I said as I continue to wail more loudly.
"It's okay ma'am, everything would be okay and come back to normal" He assured me.
"I have heard you doctor, and am very grateful for all your kind and encouraging words, it has really helped in lifting my soul a little, thanks, I have to go home, I will be back in a jiffy, I have to go and get some useful things that I and my daughter might need" I replied.
"Okay, that is good, erm!! Madam, I have been wanting to ask you this question but I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable my curiosity just had to get the best of me" He stated.
"Okay? Go ahead" I urged him.
"What are the causes of the bruises that are all over your face?" He asked and truth to be told I was caught off guard.
"Erm, nothing much, I fell from the stairs but I was able to have myself treated, I would be back" I said as I covered everything up with a lie and stood up then left the hospital.
I exhaled deeply in relief as I was a little bit away from the inquisitive doctor.
Immediately I reached outside, I met the taxi driver who was still waiting for me.
"Oh!! Am so sorry, am sorry, please don't be annoyed at me, I didn't mean to leave you hanging like this" I begged the driver.
"It is nothing ma'am, I actually felt sorry for you and your daughter, that is why I had decided to help you fully in any way that I can" He said.
"Thank you so much, sir, but what about your family?" I asked him because I don't want to be selfish and deprive him of the right of being with his family.
"Madam, about my family, I had already called and informed my wife about everything that happened and she actually was the one who told me to stay with you guys" He replied.
"Wow, that's so thoughtful of her, please send my regards to her, am so grateful" I appreciated it because sincerely I wasn't expecting this much from him.
"No mention, she would be informed" He stated.
"Thank you so much sir, can you please take me to my house, I need to bring something back to the hospital?" I requested.
"It's okay ma'am, of course, it will be my pleasure, and ma'am about your daughter, how is she doing now?" He asked.
"She's now doing fine, thanks for your care and concern towards my daughter and me" I replied.
"No mention madam, and am very happy that I was able to be of help no matter how little it may be" He said.
"Never, you call all that you did for me little of course it's a great help and assistance that you have given me" I said as we walked over to his car.
I stared at him in amazement and shook my head both in pity and sadness, how could a total stranger be so caring towards me and my daughter to the extent of even depriving himself of sleep and good rest after a hectic day of work whereas her father behaves as though we don't exist, he doesn't even care if we are dead or alive.
How could a reasonable father risk the life of his daughter and behaved as if she is not his biological daughter, my only prayer is that my daughter comes out from the hospital hale and hearty.
He drove for about 20 minutes, then he got to my house, I got down from the car and told him to wait for him and that I would be back in a jiffy.
I walked into the house and then headed upstairs straight into my room. I opened the drawer that was next to my bed and took all the cash that was in there.
'What if the money won't be enough for all the expenses that I was going to make?' I thought then I took along with me 2 of my credit cards and walked out of my room.
I was about to walk down the stairs when I decided to go into Leonard's room to see what he is up to. I gently opened the door as quietly as I could.
I peeped in and there he was sleeping away while his only daughter is dying, I stared at him as he stretched himself properly and started snoring very loudly.
I just can't believe what I was seeing, I just can't believe my eyes, he was here sleeping comfortably, spreading himself on the bed and even snoring very loudly while his only daughter in lying unconscious on the hospital bed fighting for her life.
Sometimes, I wonder what exactly it was that I had committed that warranty him to hate me so much, I would have managed and tried coping with it as I have always done but why extend the hate towards my daughter?
I thought as I walked down the stairs very slowly in tears and held my chest because my heart was hurting so badly and I felt so broken, I held the barricade with my other free hand for support because I might just fall down the stair at this rate.
I walked out of the house and went towards the gate and opened it and met the taxi driver waiting outside his car patiently for me.
"Am really sorry for keeping you waiting" I apologized.
"It's nothing ma'am, the important thing is that you are here now, please enter the car and let us go back to the hospital" He replied.
"Okay" I responded as I quickly entered the taxi while the driver drove as fast as he could back to the hospital.
When I glanced through my phone, the time was now already past 3 am, gosh, I can't believe this. When we got to the hospital gate, I got down from the car and dipped my hand into my purse and brought out some money, and then stretched it out to him.
"No ma'am, please don't worry about the payment, how on earth do you expect me to ask you to pay me when your daughter is in such a critical condition, in fact, am very happy that I was able to be of help to you, no matter how little it may seem and moreover, the only payment that I need from you is for your daughter to get better, that all, don't worry," He said as he bluntly refused the money.
I was shocked as I stared at myself in awe, how could a stranger be this kind to my daughter, I never knew that nice people like him still exists in this world.
"Thank you very much sir, I never expected this much from you, and am very grateful for all you have done both for me and my daughter, and may the good Lord bless you, but please just take this as a token of my appreciation, don't count it as any payment because I am not paying you for the service that you rendered because you have done more than enough for me, but am giving it to you because my daughter would have asked me to give it to you".
I said as I brought out a total amount of $5,000 and gave it to him. He counted the money and shook his head, please don't say no, please don't, I stared at him as I prayed silently within me.
"But ma'am, this money that you are giving to me is too much and I can't accept it," He said as he stretched the money back to me, but I pushed it back to him and said to him.
"Nothing is too much for all you have done for me sir, absolutely nothing and if I were to pay you back for all the help that you have rendered to me, I won't be able to pay you back because my daughter is worth more than any wealth in the world, I would gladly give up all my riches for her sake, thanks once again, I have to go in now, bye and my regards to your family," I said as I headed into the hospital.
"Thank you very much, ma'am, bye and take good care of yourself and your daughter," He said as he hopped into his car and drove off. I would never forget him in a hurry.
I quickly rushed into the building and went straight towards the receptionist but she wasn't available, just then she showed up and started saying.
"Excuse me, madam, how may I be of help to you?
"I need you to direct me to the office of the doctor who was in charge of my daughter's operation" I replied.
"Okay, let me check the last operations that were conducted," She said as she started operating her computer.
"How old is your daughter?" She asked.
"Eight years" I replied.
"Okay, she goes by the name Scarlett Rivera, right?" She asked.
"Yes" "It was Dr. Evans that led the operation, you will have to take the elevator to the second floor, the door by your left has his name on it so it will be easy for you to spot" She said as she pointed her fingers towards the elevator.
"Thank you" I appreciated as I followed her directions and luckily for me, I was able to locate his office successfully, I knocked at the door and entered when I heard a faint reply.
"Oh, ma'am, you are back," He said.
"Yes, doctor, and how's my daughter doing now?" I asked as I was too anxious to start any conversation with him.
"She's fine now and stable even though she hasn't woken up yet" He replied.
"Okay, what about the issue of the blood transfusion?' I asked.
"Yes, someone had already volunteered to donate and fortunately for you, the person's blood matches that of your daughter, so we have already carried out the transfusion while you were away and it was a successful one" The doctor replied, I was so happy and equally surprised at the same time.
"Oh my goodness! That's a piece of very great news, please can I please know the person who just gave my daughter a second shot at life? Who is that person so that I can thank the person for saving the life of my daughter" I said in a rush as I felt a wave of happiness gush through me.
"Am sorry madam, I would have loved to tell you who the person was but the person prefers to stay anonymous" He stated.
"Oh!" I mouthed, why won't the person want to be known? I thought to myself.
"That's bad but it's okay the person has done more than enough for me Anyways, thank you, so can I see my daughter now?" I asked the doctor.
"No ma'am, you won't be able to see her, you need to allow her to rest, you can come see her tomorrow, by that time, her body would have become more stabilized by then" He said.
I was sad because I wanted to see and hold my daughter but it's okay since everything that I am doing is for the good of her health.
"So doctor, am meeting the receptionist for the hospital bill, right?" I asked.
"Yes Madam, you have to meet the receptionist for that" He replied.
"Okay no problem, thank you very much doctor, I don't even think that I can be able you enough for all these good things that you have done for my daughter and me" I appreciated.
"No problem, madam, let's give all thanks to God instead" He replied almost immediately.
We discussed for a while then I left his office to ask about the hospital bill then I sorted everything out.
(The Following Morning)
I hurriedly entered the ward where my daughter was and she indeed looked healthier than yesterday.
I cried as I held her little fingers between my hands.
"Baby, please wake up, mommy misses you so much, please wake up, I want to see you playing and shouting again, you aren't like this, my baby is a very troublesome girl, baby please wake up for mommy, wake up and disturb me like you always do and I promise never to complain, please" I cried as I placed my head on the hospital bed beside her.
I didn't know when I fell asleep it was until I felt a hand rubbing my hair, I jerked in surprise, and alas! It was my baby, smiling weakly at me while rubbing my face.
"Baby, how are you doing? Are you now feeling, okay? Do you want to eat anything?" I rushed the questions at her, she chuckled cutely and said.
"Mom, when would you learn to ask one question at a time?".
"When we leave this place, I will try, so are you hungry?" I asked.
She nodded her head positively in reply. I quickly rushed to a nearby restaurant where they make good food and bought some for her with water and a banana milk drink with some fruits.
After she was done eating, I cleared her table and sat down with her on the bed, while holding and rubbing her hands affectionately.
"Baby, how are you now feeling?" I asked again.
"Well Mommy, am now feeling fine" she replied as she smiled at me again but this time it was brighter than the first one.
"Hope you aren't feeling any pains anywhere? I asked, I just want to make sure that my baby is fine as she claims.
"Yes Mom, the pains are subsiding" Thank God.
"But Mommy, I don't want to go back to that house with you" She said.
"And why?" I asked in confusion.
"Because Dad is a monster!!!!!
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Sorry for delivering this chapter late. Work has been very hectic for me. PLease bare with me. I will make sure to be posting anytime I have the chance.
Please don't leave my story.