A Turn For Bad

"Doctor William, please tell me, how is the state of my daughter?"

The Doctor's face was laced with kindness meeting my tears filled once as he began to explain the gravity of my daughter's condition.

"Um... ma'am, your daughter is out of danger for now. However, her chronic blood cancer disease has progressed to the point where her body is no longer producing enough red blood cells. This is causing the fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath she has been experiencing."

"But Doc, you told me when she was discharged that she can manage for the main time... I thought she would be better for now." I could feel the tears in my eyes drop, the thought of losing my last hope got me shivering, it was something no one could bear.

"Yes, ma'am. But it seems something must have triggered the disease to have a chronic effect on her again."

Yes, something did, I couldn't help but blame it on that man, if we hadn't come across him, things wouldn't have turned bad.

"Doc, I...I need my daughter's health back to normal. I can't bear to see her go through so much pain anymore."

"Don't worry ma'am, I believe your daughter will survive this. The good news is that we can help manage her cancer with blood transfusions for now," Dr. William explained. "However, it's crucial that we act quickly. Her body needs healthy red blood cells to deliver oxygen to her organs, and without them, her condition will only worsen."

"Another transfusion?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Taken aback, my feet went cold knowing how hard it was to get a suitable donor to march her blood. "How quickly can we do the transfusion?"

"We should start the process as soon as possible. She has only one week grace and after that, I can't guarantee her safety anymore and that may lead to an increase in her kidney failure."

"Increase... in kidney failure?" My stuttering voice was clear to everyone that I was getting choked on my own fears. I knew he had to tell me the truth. I was so afraid it might turn out that way. What if no blood that marches her was not found? No. No negative thoughts. I chastised myself. But couldn't help the fear.

"Yes, ma'am. I've already spoken with the blood bank, and I hope we will have a compatible match soon."

"Doc. please do everything possible. I want her to feel better, I want her to get back to life."

"All we need to do is keep praying hard, Ma'am, and I'm sure she will get through this." He spoke in a reassuring voice. "Excuse me, I have to go ahead now. When something comes up I will inform you immediately."

"Thank you, Doctor."

As the doctor departed, I could feel the trials of tears down my eyes. Why is there always darkness at the end of the tunnel when I believed I would see a glimmer of light?

With the tears heavy in my eyes I reached out towards her sitting by her bedside.

The soft hum of the ventilator and the gentle whoosh of the oxygen tank rhymed with the frantic beating of my heart as I reached out to touch her.

Mustering the courage to calm myself and tell her to remain strong for mummy, my throat went stiff and in the end, the bursting of my tears filled the room.

"No, no, Olivia that is not the solution at the moment. Crying is not good at all for the child's health." There was a sudden voice by the doorway and there came Georgina with a sad look on her face.

"You came," I muttered wiping the tears in my eyes.

"I was surprised to hear her condition went critical again. I mean she was just discharged last week. Good thing you were able to get to the hospital before the worst could happen to her." She was looking pitifully into my eyes.

"Oh, my poor friend," Gina's arms went around me. "Shhh. Please don't cry anymore. She would be alright?" She encouraged, wiping the tears from my eyes.

"The doctor said she needs an emergency blood transfusion or else it will lead to kidney failure. What will I tell Felix again?"

Gina was reaching out for my trembling hands. "Oh dear, don't even think of blaming yourself again. Nothing is your fault. You had not wished for this to happen."

"Is it possible not to blame myself? A lot of his money has gone into the medication of the child. I've imposed what is not his responsibility on him."

"Don't take it that way. He promised to take care of you, taking care of you includes your child. Felix has been fulfilling his promises. I'm sure he understands you."

"You don't understand me Gina," I was so bitter. I know Gina was trying to reason me into the situation but the truth was still the truth. Taking care of another man's child is not what every man can be endure to do especially at this point where everything is crumbing.

It has been six years since I met Felix and we two had been in a relationship. It all started after I survived an accident.

It was a rough afternoon and I was helping Aunt Margaret in her small restaurant when an order came. "Hurry, Olivia, if you miss this order bear it in mind I have nothing to buy you any more medicine." Her voice was harsh on me that day.

Making good sales in the small province was like a hit on the rock so most of our earnings were made by delivering food outside the province to companies where some of the workers order for our food.

Good thing most of them loved our food because it was mainly of local dishes.

However, even though they order these dishes, our competitors are always quick to poach our customers offering them their mouth-watering dishes if we fail to deliver on time.

They usually use their silver tongue to win them over to buy their own dishes often disparaging our local food as unhealthy in the process, nevertheless, our customers were still our customers.

When the earnings are made it goes into the school fees of her children; I lived like an added burden to them with the four-month-old child in my womb.

It was in this rush to deliver the ordered food when everything suddenly felt like a blur in my eyes. By the time I recovered myself, I was already in the hospital and was told I got hit by a car.

'My...my baby,' I shuddered reaching for my stomach as if the accident could have removed that part of my body.

"We thank God for saving your life. Good thing nothing bad happened to the baby. Please relax." The doctor said.

It was then I felt my breath normal but then my relief was not complete. How will pay for the hospital bills? Who had hit me, why didn't the police catch the pervert?

"Ma'am, we need to get the contact of your husband so we can inform him what happened." The doctor said.

"I'm not married," I blurted.

"Okay. We can call your boyfriend instead." He said getting me annoyed with the ache that ravaged my body.

Does it mean I have no other family member he can suggest for me to call?! Oh less I forget, I was an orphan now living with my aunty after getting pregnant on a prom party night.

I had managed to get myself drunk that night when I couldn't take the cruelty of the world on me anymore when I was trying to prove to them I was not as weak as they thought of me. It was after that night I realized I'm stupid and weak as they always say.

I've always been that bad luck to myself.

"I don't have a boyfriend," I told the doctor and I could see his surprised gaze on me.

No one would find it pleasant to see a woman pregnant with no husband or boyfriend. "Actually, I live with my aunty, and calling them is not an option," I said believing I cleared the air for him to understand.

"I'm so sorry miss, this had to happen to you miss." That was when I finally took notice of a man who had been standing a distance away, listening to my conversation with the doctor.

"This is..."

The doctor was about to introduce him when he cut him off and said, "I'm Felix. I'm... the one that got you hit by a car."

"Where is she?!" Was the next I heard and the door flung open revealing my aunty with a raged filled eyes. Beside her was Georgina who had been the only friend that could endure my bad luck.