CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3

ACCIDENT OR LUCK

"Mummy, did you know why the doctor asked Daddy to wait behind?" Viola asked curiously.

Hiding her pains behind a struggling smile, her mother stared at her, holding her hands. She said, "I'm sure it's nothing to be worried about, my princess. I'm fine now, right? So let me say he just called to give him more prescriptions for the drugs I need to take!" Viola nodded in agreement to her mother's convincing words.

"Good evening, doctor." Mr. Gomez was greeted immediately as he entered the office.

"Thank God you're here, Mr. Gomez." The doctor said and breathed heavily.

"Y-yes, doctor," Mr. Gomez stammered.

Mr. Gomez's heart raced and pounded as he thought of what could make the doctor ask him to come to the office.

"Doctor, thank you for helping in stabilizing my wife's condition."

"Oh, no need for that, Mr. Gomez; that is part of my job description. More reason why I called your attention."The doctor said it coldly.

"The test results conducted on your wife reveal that she needs surgery to be done in the next six months. I know that it will cost you a lot, but she needs it to stay alive." He added.

Mr. Gomez puts his head down, lost in thoughts of how harsh life is treating him.

Mrs. Laura Gomez has been his pillar of support. He can do anything to save her life.

"Doctor, is it an organ transplant that she needs? I'm ready to donate any of my organs to her, please. Just tell me what we need for her to stay alive!" He said with all nervousness.

"Calm down, Mr. Gomez. She doesn't need an organ transplant for now, but a major surgery."

"Hmmmmm." Mr. Gomez breathed heavily before saying,

"How much are we talking about, doctor?" He asked with a shaking voice in a low tone. He was sweating even in an office with an air conditioner.

"2.5 million dollars. That's what you need for the surgery to be successfully done. I believe a period of six months should be enough for you to come up with the money."

"Welcome Dad! What took you so long?"

Viola wasted no time in asking as soon as her father stepped in.

"I'm fine, princess. I stumbled upon one of my old school friends at the park; that's why I delayed a bit." He answered coldly.

He had to cover with a lie to keep away from answering further questions from her.

His wife gazed at him; she could tell from his expression that he was hiding something from the little girl.

"Dad, is everything okay? You've been acting cold since mom got back from the hospital." Viola asked after observing her father's mood for the past three days.

He hasn't been himself.

"Viola, I believe you're no longer a small kid. I love and admire your wisdom. Your mom and I love you so much."

"Dad, you haven't answered my question. Is it about mom's health? Is that what is getting you worried lately?"

Her father wasn't quick to answer. He stared at her intently for some seconds.

"Dad, you're scaring me! Is mom going to die?"

"Nooo. God forbid that, princess. Your mom would never die. She will live!"

He huffed and said,

"It's just that the doctor said your mom needs surgery to be done in the next six months. And that would cost us about 2.5 million dollars." He explained.

"Dad, do you have any means of raising that money?" Viola asked calmly after some minutes of silence.

"For now, I can only say 'our hope is on God." Her father answered with so much confidence.

"I have a suggestion, Dad."

"I'll drop out of school. Then you can use my school fees and add to the one you have. Dad, mom's health is more precious to me than any other thing."

Viola never ceased to amaze her father by her sense of humor; her reasoning was way above that of a normal fifteen-year-old child, which always gives him a reason to smile amidst struggles.

"God, thank you for giving the best wife and such a smart daughter." He'll always say it whenever he's alone.

"No, Viola. I can never allow you to do that! That is never an option! Your education is paramount as well." Her father objected

"Daad!***"

"Enough! Viola," his low tone was suddenly becoming high, scaring Viola to remain silent.

They were still discussing when they were interrupted by Mrs. Laura's persistent cough in the living room.

"Sorry, mum!" Viola's thin voice echoed as they rushed to check on her.

"Viola, take," her father took out some money from his pocket and gave it to her.

"Please, rush and get drugs for her at the nearest pharmacy!"

The poor girl took the money and ran down the street for the sake of her mother.

With her feeble knees and tired legs, she stopped racing and walked gently, drenched in thoughts about her mother's wellbeing.

A day After

"Where am I? What am I doing here? Why am I dressed in hospital clothes?"

Viola asked as she woke up to see herself laying on a hospital bed, with two strange faces standing before her: a man in white—certainly the doctor—and a chubby woman that looked excessively rich.

"Oh, she's awake! Doctor, she's awake!" The woman exclaimed joyfully.

Viola looked around but couldn't find any familiar faces. "Who are you? And***"

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I'm Mrs. Vera Vans. I ran into you with my car yesterday in the late hours, so I had to rush you to the nearest hospital to seek medical attention," the woman explained.

"Ah! My mother! Has she taken her drugs? Has my father..."

"Relax, sweetheart; everyone is fine." The doctor said with a faint smile.

They both looked at each other, wondering what the girl was talking about.

The last thing Viola could remember was when she was running a helter skelter to get drugs for her mother.

Worried and drenched with the cruelty of life on her family, she wasn't too careful when crossing the road and accidentally got hit by a speeding vehicle.

"Doctor, did my parents know that I'm here?"

"Ummmm. No, my dear. But you'll soon be discharged in the next two hours. Then you can get home and see your parents."

"Hmmmm." Viola huffed.

"Viola, this is the perfect opportunity for you to help your mother. This woman looks rich, and I'm sure she might need the services of a maid in her house. Mum, Dad, I'm sorry. I know you're worried right now, looking for me. But please permit me to do this. I believe this accident is God's plan."she sai

to herself in silence, while stirring at the woman.

"I'm not going home." Viola finally voiced out.