JUST ONE NIGHT

"Is she going to die?"

That was the question Isabella received when she reached home to meet her sister studying at the dining table. 

The question made her question herself about her elder sister, who was sick.

Isabella had kissed her sister when she arrived home and after a short conversation, Mia asked that challenging question. 

Therefore, Isabella felt threatened by those words. It was more like asking her if she was going to let her sister die.

After a moment of silence and telling herself that she won't let that happen, she turned to her sister and sat across from her at the table.

"No." With raised eyebrows and an adamant face, Isabella answered.

"Never will I let that. Yes, Hannah is very sick but she... isn't going to leave us. I'll find a way, and make sure she comes back to us, join us at the table again and laugh with us. She isn't going to die." Even after her response to her younger sister, Isabella was vague. She didn't know how she was going to do what she just mentioned but she already had something in mind.

"I trust you, Isabella," Mia uttered after seeing the expression on her sister's face.

Life had been hard for the three sisters ever since their parents abandoned them.

Hannah was the first daughter, who had been the one to take care of her siblings since she turned sixteen, and for twelve years she had been a mother and father to her sisters.

Sadly, there were changes in her, she became weak and left all responsibilities on her sister, Isabella who was the second child.

Isabella at first, thought her sister, Hannah was being cruel and taking back all she had done for them but it turned out that their sister was actually suffering from a deadly sickness.

She had stage three cancer. Hannah had known about her sickness but as she couldn't do anything about it, she didn't treat herself as early as possible.

The woman had sacrificed a lot for them and the love she had shown to them was priceless, so now it was their turn to show their priceless love.

However, Isabella didn't want her sister, Mia to contribute. She believed that Mia was still too young to start working or thinking about how to survive, which was why Isabella came up with a way to raise the money for her sister's medical bills.

Isabella trusted that after the surgery, her sister would be fine and back to normal but the problem was the money she didn't have.

She had planned to find a rich man to sleep with. She believed that was the only and fastest way. The money she'd raise from that would help her with the expenses.

Isabella had reached the bank for a loan but unfortunately, her previous loan hadn't been settled, making her settle on her decision to sell her dignity.

She had also lost her job by stealing from her boss as she was keen to help her family, thus, she became desperate. Although her job couldn't help her raise the expenses. 

She knew she couldn't find a job that would offer so much for her, so losing her innocence was the only way she could think of.

However, the only thing remaining was her action.

"Thank you." Tightening her grip against her sister's hand, Isabella said. "You should visit her too, she'd be glad to see you too," Isabella added. Mia nodded in agreement. 

Mia had visited the hospital two days ago, though.

"But you lost your job," Mia stated, bringing the topic back to life. She was the last child and the youngest. She was seventeen and a third-year student in high school. Although her sisters were too poor to afford her school fees, she attended the best school.

"I know, just don't worry too much. There's a way out." Isabella's belief in her mission was thick, so she was confident.

With that, she stood up and went to pack their clothes on the rope outside.

Mia watched her sister leave the room. Her attention was taken by the notification she got on her phone. It was a message from her friend showing her a picture of a post about her dating the popular heartbreaker in school. 

It was shocking to Mia because she didn't even know who he was, so how could she be dating him?

After pondering about why and the possibilities, she stopped. Mia would question his actions when she got to school, perhaps it was a mistake.

At that moment, Isabella found her way in only for Mia to approach her about getting a job.

At first, Isabella refused, thinking it would affect her sister's education but eventually, she relented, awakening a happy side of Mia as the girl had always wanted to help her sisters but they never gave her a chance to.

"Thank you, Isabella, a lot!" She pushed forward and wrapped her sister before kissing her cheek. "You are sweaty, go and have your bath, I'll do this," Mia insisted on folding the clothes Isabella brought in.

With that, Isabella stood up and went to her room. They had separate rooms, even though the house was small and void of everything needed.

Someone would see her naked soon. That thought came to her mind as she undressed, causing her to sigh. Not just anyone, but a man. And not by mistake but to take something from her in return for money.

Isabella knew it was wrong to sleep with someone she didn't know. She never wished to go through that means of getting money but at that moment, it was a life-and-death situation. 

She needed her sister, and couldn't watch her sister die.

The sun always rises just before Isabella's window and she loves to face the window when asleep. Her problems couldn't even make her fall deeply asleep so the moment she felt the sun, she rose out of bed to realize that it was another day of suffering and nurturing her hopes.

Today she was going to get a man above her and not just a man, a very rich man.

Isabella called her friend to lend her some money, she couldn't trek all around the area looking for a man. She expected her friend to yell about how much she owed her but to her surprise, her friend offered to help which made Isabella a little bit happy.

Sadly, her happiness came so fast after realizing she'd get a little amount of money in her account. The moment that thought hit her mind, Isabella frowned and stared into space for a while before leaving her state of sorrow.

She then walked to the living room to see that her sister had prepared breakfast for her, which was the leftovers from last night.

She needed to get that money so that she could buy meat and some healthy meals for her sisters. They ate nothing but rice.

Mia had left for school, she was a senior and had a position in school as she was one intelligent student.

Isabella entered the bathroom only to think about what she was planning to do that night, soon she felt this feeling of fear because her move to get money was getting closer. 

She burst into tears when she remembered how her family had suffered. "I have to make this sacrifice because I love you," she covered her face and the water reigned on her. Her sister had sacrificed her health, she had to sacrifice her innocence. It was all for one and one for all.

As she knew that even if she decided to work, she wouldn't find a good-paying job because of her educational qualifications. Finding a job was hard that was why she had to...just one night... with a very rich man.