The Unexpected News

Lola entered the passcode to her mini humble abode, an apartment she shares with her brother. She unlocked the door with a satisfying click. Stepping inside, she shed her shoes and wearily made her way to the cozy living space. Collapsing onto the sofa, she released a heavy sigh, feeling utterly drained.

Her eyes surrendered to the weight on her eyelids, closing involuntarily. Her body felt feeble, her system exhausted. Overwhelmed by it all, her capable mind sought solace in slumber. Without bothering to retreat to her bedroom, she simply craved immediate rest.

As the slumber gently embraced her, she found solace in the tranquil darkness. Her breath had steadied, her heart no longer raced, and her veins and arteries no longer throbbed with haste. Serenity enveloped her subconscious, beckoning her to linger in its embrace.

"Lola, hey." A gentle and persistent tapping sensation graced her forearm, waking her up to see her brother. "You must be utterly exhausted, you should go sleep in your room. " her brother, James, remarked with a compassionate gaze as he observed her peaceful repose.

"Hey, James. I'm feeling utterly exhausted. I'll head inside to rest now," she confides, her voice barely above a whisper. "How about you, are your medications proving effective?" She asked James and rose to her feet. She gently touched his forehead with the inside of her palm.

James reassured her, "Not really, Lola. I still feel so weak and my appetite is low. I can't keep food down so I've just been resting and hydrating. But don't worry about me right now, we can talk when you wake up. You should go rest."

Lola gently assured her brother, "If you're still feeling unwell when I wake up, we'll need to head to the hospital for a check-up. It's been a week, so the flu should have cleared by now." With a comforting pat on his arm, she made her way to her room. Concerned for him, she knew she needed to rest properly after working tirelessly through the night as a bartender. Seeing Max twice in less than twelve hours had taken a toll on her mental well-being.

So Lola was physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. 

Max embodied a stubborn wound, a wound that continued to ache deeply. A scar she longed to no longer affect her the way it still did.

When she sighted her meticulously made bed, a creation of James, she grinned and leisurely leaped into its embrace. And in the blink of an eye, she found herself awakening from a blissful five-hour slumber.

Lola let out a yawn as she opened her eyes, lying there for a while, gazing up at the pristine ceiling. Her mind drifted to Max and his alluring proposal. The harsh reality was that Lola was facing financial struggles. James had recently graduated from high school but was reluctant to pursue further education. He expressed his desire to contribute to the household expenses by finding a job. This decision weighed heavily on Lola, as she was his sole support system.

They never had the chance to meet their fathers as their mother was known as a true free spirit, a whore. She was a professional in the community, a woman who lived life on her own terms as a prostitute. Both James and she were born out of wedlock, but this difference in their paternal lineage never once weakened the bond between siblings. This is why she carries a sense of remorse, unable to provide more for her brother. Their mother eloped with a man, leaving them drowning in debt. The journey to reach this point in life has been a grueling battle, but now they find themselves in a place where there is a bit of stability.

When Max flung those fat figures at her as if they were mere trinkets, a part of her that had always yearned to shower her brother with everything and protect him felt a twinge of temptation. Her resolute spirit wavered in uncertainty. Momentarily thrown off balance, her mind swiftly calculated the transformative power that the sum of money held. It could wipe away their debts in an instant, pave the way for her brother to pursue his education with confidence and peace of mind, and enable her to provide him with a more secure and comfortable abode.

It would completely transform their poor lives.

However, Lola was anything but that; she remained unmoved by the illusion of a better life offered by a callous man.

No, She adamantly clings to her personal convictions that anything that appears too good to be true should not be trusted, particularly when it involves Max Donovan. 

She should steer clear of him at all costs.

Lola arose from her slumber, stretched her arms above her head, and exited her room. She encountered James nestled on the couch, enveloped in a blanket, engrossed in a show on his mobile device. A smile graced her lips, evoking memories of a bygone era when she would return from school to find him engrossed in his animated programs during their youth. Those moments encapsulated both the joys and sorrows of their shared past.

Why must the good memories be tainted by the bad ones?

Lola asked her brother as she sat by his legs and patted it, "James, how are you?" 

James moved to sit up with a small smile, and answered, "No difference, Lola." His answer made her worry spike back up. 

"But the thought of returning to the hospital scares me. Lola, I can't bear it," James confessed, and Lola understands his apprehension all too well. His fragile immune system leaves him vulnerable to frequent illnesses, and lacking health insurance only complicates matters further. Their financial constraints often force them into a cycle of hospital visits, a precarious dance with their limited resources.

"I know James, I know. But you can't continue like this." Lola grabbed his hand and gently patted it. 

James, with a confident smile, reassured his sister, "It's just the flu. I'll be fine soon. Don't worry. I'll stay indoors till I feel better." He tells her, but the worry is still written all over his face. 

Lola replied in a stern voice, "Two more days. If you don't feel better, we're going. No excuses, James."

James replied with a firm nod. 

They spent the rest of the day watching a show together and finding comfort in each other's company. 

Three days had swiftly flown by, and Lola was delighted not to encounter Max lurking around her workplace anymore. She felt relieved to be free of his presence. Things were going well; James was improving, and her job had become less taxing since the bar's manager had hired additional bartenders to alleviate the workload pressure.

"Lola," a colleague called to inform her that there was a call for her on the phone. Typically, they stored their phones in the changing room, so calls through the office phone were reserved for emergencies or important matters involving friends or family. 

She expressed gratitude to her coworker in the form of words and made her way across the room to respond to the call in private. Upon picking up the phone, she was greeted by an unfamiliar voice. 

"Sorry, who is this?" She questioned. 

"This is Nurse Carlos from The Central General Hospital. Are you Lola Reynolds?" The male voice asked her. 

"Yes." Her heart quickened its rhythm at the mere whisper of her name. 

"Your brother, James Reynolds, was brought in some minutes ago. Your attention is needed as his guardian." The nurse informed her. 

With a shaky voice, she asked, "Please can you tell me what happened to him?" 

The nurse replied, "When you come down to the hospital, the doctor will explain everything you need to know. But I assure you that it wasn't an accident"

"Okay, I'm on my way right now." She terminated the call and hurried to the manager's office to request an immediate leave for the remainder of the day.

In a short span, she swiftly hopped into a taxi headed for the general hospital. Her heart raced with trepidation, unable to fathom what might have transpired.

Her three days of serene tranquility were abruptly shattered. The universe seemed relentless in denying her and her brother a moment of peace. It was a relentless onslaught, one after the other. She should have foreseen it, should have anticipated its arrival.

Upon arrival at the towering hospital building, Lola swiftly entered after settling the cab fare in cash. Approaching the reception, she briefed the attending nurses who promptly guided her to the Emergency Room. 

When she stepped into the Emergency room, she scanned the area for her brother and immediately spotted him in a deep slumber on the hospital bed, connected to an IV drip. Panic surged within her chest, constricting her breath. 

"James…" She cried. He was looking pale, a stark contrast to his earlier vibrant self. As she reached out to touch his hand, she sensed the searing heat emanating from his skin.

She glanced around for a nurse or a doctor, it was then she saw a male doctor approaching her. "What's going on?"

"Are you Mr James's sister?" The doctor inquired and she nodded. 

"Good, I'm Doctor Grey." The physician extended his hand for a handshake, and Lola reciprocated, introducing herself as well.

"What's wrong with my brother?"

The doctor informed, "We are conducting tests on your brother that will yield results within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. It's a Complete Blood Count test. However, the preliminary blood count analysis revealed an elevated level of Lymphocytes.". 

Lola was confused by the doctor's explanation, so she asked, "What do you mean by his Lymphocytes are high?" 

The doctor proceeded to explain, "Lymphocytes are a form of white blood cells when elevated above the usual levels along with symptoms, could indicate a potentially serious condition. This is why we are conducting a comprehensive blood analysis to detect how high it is." 

"Something serious like what, doctor?" Lola asked, unsettled. 

"Miss Lola, the result will determine what's wrong with your brother, let's wait for that." The doctor said calmly. 

Lola pleaded, "Doctor Grey, James is the only one I have left in this world. I need to be prepared for the worst even though it's not what I wish for. So please, tell me what you think could be wrong with my brother?"

The doctor exhaled deeply, but obliged her request, "I'm sorry Miss Lola, there'

s a high chance that your brother has leukemia. The cancer of the blood." 

And Lola's world fell apart.