Rosalie coughed slightly as she walked out of the house, the morning sun greeting her. She looked around for her daughter and saw her twirling on the grass, dancing to a song she was humming.
Rosalie smiled. "Alyssa," She called out "I'm off to work," Rosalie said. Work meant cleaning stalls and shops, the only thing she could do to provide for them.
Alyssa looked up at her mother and ran over with a smile on her face. "Can I come with you today?" Alyssa asked as she approached her mother.
"Not today," Rosalie said. "You're too short and clumsy. You won't be able to help. Besides, it's Miss Turner's shop today, and she doesn't like you."
"I don't like her," Alyssa said. Rosalie could only laugh.
"I don't want you working yet, Alyssa," Rosalie said, patting her head. "Let me do all the work and provide for us. When you grow up, maybe you can help then."
"Okay," Alyssa said. Rosalie smiled and turned around. Alyssa watched her mother walk away. She had only taken a few steps before Alyssa saw her fall to the ground.
Alyssa's eyes widened, and she ran over to her mother, who was lying on the ground. She knelt down next to her. "Mommy?" Alyssa questioned, looking at her mother's face. Rosalie didn't respond. Panic made the little girl's heart race.
"Mommy! Mommy, what... Mommy!" Alyssa shook her mother's shoulders but didn't get a response. "Mommy!!!" Alyssa screamed, tears running down her face.
"Al—Alyssa..." A weak voice said, and Alyssa looked to see her mother's eyes slightly open. Her mouth was open, attempting to speak.
"Mommy, why...?" Alyssa trailed off.
Tears flowed from Rosalie's eyes. "I'm sorry, my baby. I didn't think it would be so soon. I—I don't want to leave you. I'm sorry that I never did anything for you..."
"Mommy, what are you saying?" Alyssa asked, crying. "Are you sick?"
"Please be a good girl, sweetheart. Don't steal or lie or fight with others. Please just do what is right. I love you, and I will always—always be with you..." Rosalie said.
"Mommy..." Alyssa sobbed.
"I don't want to leave you. Please...please forgive me for this," Rosalie said, raising her hand to hold Alyssa's cheek. "You made a promise, remember. Don't use magic in front of others, and don't steal—"
Rosalie began to cough again, much more violently this time. She coughed so hard it scared Alyssa, who didn't know what to do. Rosalie started coughing out blood, and Alyssa nearly screamed.
"Mommy, stay still. I can heal you. I have magic," Alyssa said, as if remembering it just now. She closed her eyes and rubbed her hands together. A second later, her hand was glowing, emitting a yellowish-white light of mist that seemed to be moving. Rosalie was still coughing, and every single cough felt like a knife piercing through Alyssa's heart
'Come on! This stupid thing, come on!' Alyssa yelled in her head. She concentrated as hard as she could. She could heal her. She could do it. The white light of mist began to grow bigger and slowly moved closer to Rosalie. The light touched her, but as soon as it did, it was gone.
"No!" Alyssa yelled, opening her eyes. It wouldn't work; healing only worked for physical wounds, not illnesses.
"Alyssa..." Rosalie said, only to begin coughing again.
"I'll get a physician. I'll get somebody, Mommy. Just wait here. I will come back. I'm coming," Alyssa said, getting up. "I'm coming," she said again, turning around and beginning to run away. "I'll get a physician! I'm coming!"
Rosalie could only watch with a blurry gaze as Alyssa ran away. "I'm sorry..." She said. She didn't know her condition had gotten this bad. The physician said she would be fine for now. Rosalie had already been planning to take Alyssa to an orphanage before she died. She wished she could spend more time with her daughter. She really did...
******
Alyssa ran through the busy streets of Basilisk, desperation growing with every step. She couldn't find a physician's house, and everyone she asked either told her to get lost or gave her wrong directions. Barefoot and out of breath, Alyssa continued her search.
"Please, please, please," she murmured, turning into a new street. A sign caught her eye: "Physician in." She couldn't read but managed to recognize the words. She ran to the door, knocking loudly.
"Coming!" a male voice called from inside. The door opened to reveal a tall, skinny man with a large mustache way too long for his face. He looked down at Alyssa. "What do you want, girl?"
Alyssa explained, tears in her eyes. "My mother is sick. She's coughing out blood, and I think she's going to die. Please, come treat her."
The man snorted. "Do you have money to pay?"
Alyssa hesitated. "I don't have money with me, but my mother surely has. She will pay you, sir, please just come with me."
The man tried closing the door. "Sorry, kid. My rules are half payment before I treat anyone. Go find another physician."
Alyssa yelled, pushing the door open, attracting the attention of passersby. "She's dying!"
The man looked down at her. "Do you think I care? You don't have any money, and I'm looking for money. I treat the sick for money, so get out of my sight. Find another physician."
"Most physicians are out of town this period. Will she be able to find one?" a woman asked her husband, who had stopped to watch the scene.
"I don't think so," he replied. "Mark is away, and so is Mr. Chucks."
A bystander chimed in, "She should know that nobody would waste their time treating a woman with no money."
Alyssa was helpless. "Please, just save my mommy. I don't want her to die..."
The man pushed her away, and she fell to the ground. "If you want me to save your precious mommy, pay me two silver coins."
The crowd murmured in shock, taken aback by the physician's demand of two silver coins. The amount was exorbitant, and the onlookers couldn't believe the physician's audacity. Whispers of disapproval and dismay spread through the crowd, with some people shaking their heads or voicing their discontent.
"He's got to be kidding!"
"Two silver coins? That's outrageous!"
"Does he think she's made of money?"
The crowd's reaction only added to Alyssa's desperation and frustration, making her realize that she had to act fast to save her mother.
Alyssa got up, determination in her eyes. "I'll be back," she said, turning away. She ran towards the market, knowing what she had to do to get the money. "I know I promised mommy, but it's for you," she thought, resigned to stealing.
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Please be patient. It is a romance story but every good character has a past. Please continue reading! ^^