Chapter 1

The sound of her feet stomping the ground drew everyone's attention, but she cared less.

Her hair swung to the back, dancing to the tune of the wind, as her hands marched back and forth.

Her breath was uneven, as she opened her mouth a little to aid her respiration. All eyes were on her, as she dashed out immediately.

Murmurs began to set in, and everyone was wondering why she ran that way. Having no one to give them an answer, they soon forgot about the 'running girl'.

"Please, where is my mom?" She asked the nurse she met outside, breathing loudly, waiting for a response from the nurse.

"Uh, go inside there. The doctor will show you her ward," the nurse replied.

Even though that was not the answer she sought, she nodded and went in.

Just as she entered, she found her father entering a room, which she guessed was her mother's ward.

"Father!" She yelled, running after him. He turned to see who was calling him and found his daughter running towards him.

He tried to hide the pain he was feeling, but his daughter noticed it.

"Father, what is wrong? What happened to mom?" She asked, impatiently waiting for a reply.

Each time he tried to reply to her, words failed him, and he would be unable to say anything.

Seeing his daughter's curiosity, he could not break the news to her. It was hard for him to say it, so he led her inside the ward.

"How is mom? Is she alright? Was the operation successful?" She asked, trying to sound positive.

She found the cloth covering her mother, reaching her face. She refused to accept that what she thought at first, was true.

"Why is the cloth over mom's face? She…she is okay, right, dad? Dad, tell me. What is happening?" She said, looking at her father for answers.

Her father shook his head. He needed to say it. He too, was shocked when he received a call from the hospital, and so, he was not surprised to see the shocked expression that was written all over her face.

Who would have thought that the woman they met yesterday, smiling and rejoicing, would be lying on the hospital bed, lifeless and cold…

"I'm sorry, Rachael. Your m..mo.. mother is…is dead," he said, stuttering in his words, as he managed to summon the courage to say those words.

Suddenly, her knees became weak, she found herself slowly falling on her knees. Just when she thought that her mother would get out of the hospital, and they could finally be together.

She turned slowly to her mother, carefully removing the cloth that covered her face.

Her mother's enchanting face now looked pale. She could not hold back the tears as she let them stream down.

"Mother, no!" She yelled, hugging the stiff body, crying on her, as though she was going to wake up.

Her father could not watch her like that, so he walked towards her, and held her tight, as she cried on him.

All the money they had was used up for her surgical operation, and now, they were left with nothing. Losing both the money and the wife.

He wondered how he would raise money to pay his debts and send his children to school.

There was nothing they could do, she was gone. Forever.

In their little home, they sat in so many grievances, silently mourning the deceased. Many thoughts ran through their minds, and neither of them said anything to anyone.

Her father pondered on how he would break the second bad news to her. He thought it would work out, and now his daughters would have to pay for his actions.

Soon, the twins, Jane and Judy arrived home, from school, looking displeased.

The 15-year-old twins sensed that something was wrong, as the air felt heavy, and suffocating. Their faces were all gloomy, and no smiles could be seen on their faces.

"Dad? Sister Rachael? What's wrong? Why do your faces hold so much grief?" Jane asked, concerned about their expression.

No one said a word to them, and the silence continued to reign until Judy spoke up.

"Could you tell us what the matter is? I do not like this mood." She ran to her father's side, "Dad, what is wrong? Where is Mommy? You said she was going to come home today."

Hearing this made their father's heartbreak again. He had promised to bring their mother home, but he failed to. All he brought now was a bad news.

"Jane, Judy. Mom is...Is gone," he said, gritting his teeth afterward. The twins opened their mouths wide, unable to utter a single word.

"What?" They both yelled at the same time.

Things were beginning to get hard on them, and Rachael could not return to school. Her sisters complained about paying their tuition fees, and her father had nothing on him.

She used her tuition fee to pay for her sisters, so they could go back to school, without her father's knowledge.

She was doing the dishes while trying to prepare something for them to eat since they did not eat the other night.

She lazily arranged the plates, and sat on the kitchen stool, reminiscing her memories with her mother. She remembered how they cooked together and had fun.

A tear rolled down her cheeks, and she wiped it off with her thumb. Her father walked in and asked to discuss something with her.

"Rachael, I'm sorry. I know things didn't turn out well, and…you..your siblings—"

He stuttered, trying to find the right words to use, but he was unable to.

"Your siblings were given a letter that if they fail to complete their tuition fee, they will be sent out of school. I don't know what to do at this point, I cannot borrow any more money, because the debt is too high," he said, lowering his head to think.

"You don't have to worry, father. I have paid their tuition fee, already."