#Chapter 8# Night of hopes

"Thanks, Dr. Antonio. I don't know what I would have done without you." My mom said

"It's okay, Mrs. Degla. I would do anything for Tara." Dr. Antonio said, warmly.

After my father's death, no one has ever treated me like a daughter except him. He always asks about my health every day and night. He just got me another doctor who would be coming from China every Saturday to check on me since Dr. Stella wasn't reliable enough to look after me.

"So, Tara, your new cardiologist's name is Dr. Gabby. She is sure better than Dr. Stella. Feel free with her, and don't hesitate to reach me if you have any complaints about her." Dr. Antonio said, placing his hand around my shoulder.

I felt happy and satisfied. It was as if a heavy load was lifted off my mind. I could not imagine myself with Anna's mom. "Fastest way to die." I thought, smiling.

My mom saw Dr. Antonio off. I went into my room and saw that it was scattered. I turned my face to the left side of my room and saw Pinky lying innocently on the couch.

"Pinky, did you do this?" I asked her. She continued staring at me innocently.

"I know you did this. Because no one is here in this room with you. Is this what Asher asked you to do to me? Answer me and stop looking at me." I shouted at her.

She looked at me fearfully and meowed.

"Oh! I must have frightened her. I hurriedly picked her up from the couch and petted her, singing.

I wasn't used to keeping pets. Asher gave her to me to always keep me company and avoid making me feel depressed and lonely. I named her after my lost doll, Pinky.

When I was 5 years old, my father bought me a doll. She was beautiful. She was a talking doll, which is why I loved her so much. Whenever I have no one to talk to, whenever my dad has cardiac arrest and is rushed to the hospital by my mom, whenever my mom cries, the doll is always there for me. She recited every word I said. I would carry her, place her on my lap, and start talking to her. Each time she repeats my statements, I feel like she is a human and that she also feels what I'm going through.

I cried a lot the day she got lost. My mom and I were at a market when we heard gunshots. People started to run. My mom carried me and also took to her heels. I was with my doll on that fateful day. My mom was struggling to enter a nearby hotel for safety when a moving bus grabbed my doll with its door handle.

"Mom!! Pinky!!" I said, calling my mother's attention.

"Tara dear, we have to run for safety. I'll get you a new doll." She told me.

After the uproar, I started to cry for Pinky. I didn't eat for a day, and I also fell sick. My dad consoled me and promised to bring Pinky back. The day my father was supposed to bring Pinky back to me was the day he left the world. Since then, my world has fallen apart.

"Tara, are you alright?" My mom asked as she entered my room and met me, looking lost in thought.

"I'm fine, mom." I replied to her.

"No, you don't," she retorted back.

"I was just thinking about how the new doctor would be. That's all, mom." I lied. 

"It's okay, my dear. I'm sure you would love the new cardiologist. Arrange your room before sleeping. I guess it's Pinky's handwork." HI, Pinky." She said this, leaving the room.

I hate lying to my mom. But what could I do? If I told her I was thinking of Dad, she might go into a sober mood for two days.

My phone rang out.

"It's Asher." I said, smiling.

"Hey babe." His deep and masculine voice came through the phone.

"Hi, love," I replied, smiling.

"How are you doing tonight? Why aren't you asleep yet?" He asked. 

"Well, I was supposed to be asleep, but your kitten gave me an assignment to do." I said, moving around the room.

"What's that?" He said this with food in his mouth.

"She scattered my room, and after realizing that she had done what was wrong, she sat quietly, looking like a guilty child pleading to be forgiven." I retorted. 

Asher burst into a hot laugh.

"Not funny." I said I was almost angry.

"You need to see the way my room looks. She even poured out my powder." I continued. 

"Babe, it's okay. But come to think of it, why do you think I gave her to you in the first place? Any idea?" He asked. 

"Hmmmm... To keep me company. You said so yourself." I replied. 

"Yeah, I did. But that's not the main reason." He said it, giggling.

"Then what!" I barked out loudly.

"Hmmmmm.... The main reason is so that she can stress you a little bit and prevent you from thinking of things that will spoil your mood. She is actually there to represent me." He said.

"Wow! Thanks Asher. You're the best. Hey, but know that if she does it again, I'll leave her out in the cold." I said jokingly. 

"You wouldn't dare." He said. 

We both laughed.

"Good night, babe. See you tomorrow at school. I love you." He said this, ending the conversation.

"Good night, lover boy." I then hung up the phone.

I carried Pinky and danced around the house happily. I looked out of the window and saw the moon smiling at me. I smiled back.

"What a beautiful night. A night full of hopes." I soliloquised. 

I arranged my room and dashed into the bathroom for a nighttime shower. I sang my favorite song as the water from the shower came down on my body. I came out after thirty minutes.

"I'm so sorry, Pinky. Good night." I said this as I saw her asleep after waiting endlessly for my return from the bathroom.

I switched off the lights and put on the lamp beside my bed. As I lay on my bed, I looked through the window and saw a shadow of someone walking past.

"Who was that?"