"I am fine, but what I am mostly worried about now is my daughter." She pressed on.
"Ashlyn?" she asked as though she was not aware that Ashlyn was her daughterwas talking about and she bobbed sadly. Her mind has been bothered about her for some time and the burden she felt that her daughter was carrying, was way too bigger than her. Ashlyn explained to her, her fears of she not ever having a life of her own all because of her and that is something she will not be happy with.
"I now understand where you are coming from. You know, everyone will wish to have a daughter like your Ashlyn, who is so devoted and loves her mother so passionately. she can do anything for you and you ought to be happy that you have someone like her you know." she muttered slowly with a smile.
"I am happy for sure but don't want to be a burden to her as she is too young for all these. My daughter does nothing like the girls of her age and she is always thinking about ways to cure me or get me some good clothes and food but she does none of these for herself. I feel bothered."
Ashlyn was thinking more of her child than the sickness that was eating her up from inside to outside. Her worries were so many but her health was a minor priority for her. The doctor came inside with a nurse that was assigned to take care of Ashlyn, and seeing her condition, he wrote done something before using his hands to check her eye color properly.
"How are you feeling now? Do you feel pains anywhere?" The doctor questioned but Ashlyn shook her head, she said that she was just feeling dizzy.
"It is normal because the sickness is slowly wanting to take over your system by getting you to sleep and eventually make you not wake up again." Giving attention to what the doctor was saying, she, told the doctor that her friend will not die now. The doctor seeing how emotional she was, told her that he was going to do his best to save her friend but first the deposit had to be made so that the surgery can commence rapidly.
"Doctor, please I have been meaning to come to your office to talk to you. But since you are here, it is better to ask you my question at once."
"Sure you go ahead, I am listening."
Ashlyn was confused and dumbfounded about what her friend was so eager to ask and when she saw that she had the doctor's full attention, she asked,
"Can't we pay the half payment and you commence with the surgery doctor? I can go around and sell some things while we raise some money." She added and Ashlyn being in shock, held her friend's dress in more unrest as she wondered what she was talking about.
"I am sorry miss but it is the hospital's policy, not mine. The deposit has to be made first before the surgery can begin."
"Thank you, doctor," Ashlyn said in her attempt to cut off the conversation.
"You are welcome. Now, if there is nothing more, I will like to go and attend to some other patients who need me." The doctor uttered politely before stepping out of the room and with a questionable gaze, Ashlyn, turned to she like she wanted to squeeze her neck off or something.
"What?" she inquired all innocent.
The day was almost getting over and Blaze' mood was almost ruined by the scandal that she had almost caused for him outside his office some few moments back. His day had begun well but due to the fact that she could not resist his charms, she was always behind her with her nagging attitude and no brains.
"Is everything well arranged?" Blaze asked after dialing the number and with the confirmation being given to him, he was smiling from molar to molar.
"Perfect then. Nothing can stop me now." He said getting ready to leave the office. She had noticed how extra-happy her boss was that day and she was in wondering why he was like that. It was very unlike him but that day he was very very excited.
"Could the company have gotten a new contract?" She asked in confusion as the company has a record of throwing a party whenever there was one. Heaving a deep sigh, she jerked her shoulders and smiled too because rare were days like that when they got to see him showcase his beautiful smile like that with his handsomeness coming out in all its splendor.
"Hey, I am back." Her voice was being heard from the door entrance just as she made her way into the ward and her mom felt happy to see her, she was all happy knowing that her better half was back.
"Where have you been sunshine? I was getting worried." she uttered but Ashlyn, giving her mom a kiss and turning her gape to her, greeted her with a smile on her face, and let out,
"Mom, I am sorry for making you worried about me but I had to go out to see if I could up against some money for your surgery."
"You did not have to do that sweetheart, I am finding just having you by me so do not worry yourself about a thing." Her mother responded but that was not sufficient for her to give attention to as she knew that her mother was only doing that to make her feel okay.
"Momma, you need to be fine and that is what is most important right now. Here this is what you asked me to be for you and look at how fresh and sweet they are." She informed her mom and her who was seated there with a smile all through the process, she heaved out a huge sigh with her lips letting out the words of her mouth as she said,
"Oh my goodness, Ashlyn, you are blessed with a daughter like this. How I wish that my kids can grow up to be just as talented and respectful as her as well."
"Your children too are good okay. They are just small but they will be big eventually someday and give you all that your heart desires." She said to her as she handed her bowl of fruits with her usual smile.
"I pray God hears you, my dear," She muttered.
"He will for sure," she confirmed.
There was some satisfaction but her heart was still boiling with anger over what her boss had asked of her. It was so diminishing and dirty that she found it hard to even breathe. Taking a look at her daughter while they eat, she could tell that she was not fine though she was doing her best to hide it. Not wanting to ask her before her, she waited for her to leave before asking her what the matter was and why she was not like she use to be although she could already guess what the answer will be.
"Ashlyn dear, I will be leaving now and will be back tomorrow morning when my kids must have gone to school. I need to rush back home and make something for them to eat before they come back." Hey informed her and she completely understood everything, she nodded her head in acceptance, while telling her to take care of herself and her family.
She hugged her and with her hands taping her on the shoulder, she told her to be strong and to also take care of her mother like she is doing and she responded positively to her. As soon as her back was no longer seen at the door, her mother called out her name and the next thing she asked was what the matter was and why she looked so down but her words were stuck inside her mouth.
She was done with her job and she had already called she to know her location. Things were getting tight for her but she had to help her friend in her little way to keep her from breaking down with depression. She has gotten into a fight with her boyfriend, simply because she had explained to him that she needed to help her friend stay at the hospital with her mother while she goes to do some side hustle but he had taken that so badly that he had even threatened to break up with her. How unrealistic can she be?
"Are you okay dear? What seems to be the problem?" she questioned in fright as she thought that something tragic had taken place but when she explained the situation to her, she breathed on some air before apologizing for being the reason why she was having problems with her man.
"You can just go clubbing with your man, I will look for an alternative to look after my mom," she whispered with a heavy heart but you not liking her reasoning, told her to cut it out.
"I gave you my word so I am standing by it no matter what." she insisted but you told her not to be mad at her because she was only looking out for the well-being of her relationship, she told her not to bother because he was an animal to ask her to abandon a sick person just to follow him to the club.
"Thank you, okay."
"For what?"
"For standing by me and for not letting me down." her tone was already changing and she telling her not to dare cry because she was going to flog her terribly, she made her start laughing at her predicament.
"That is what I like to hear, the sound of laugher so never change it okay?"
"Okay friend. Thanks still."
"You are a welcome sweetheart. I will be there shortly and say hi to our Ashlyn." she let out before hanging up the phone. The profound sigh that she had let out, made her whole body vibrate. She was not in a position to make anyone have problems in their relationship and with the way things were, she prayed that the problem between him and her, does not escalate to something too serious.
Twisting her cranium around, she was now supposed to tell her mom about her side hustle for that night and it was supposed to be something explicit if not she was not going to be believed. Not even for once.
"I am sorry mom, but I have to do this, or else, I won't be able to pay for your bills." The pressure that she was feeling inside, was too hard for her to handle and with the way that things were going, she could barely face her mother due to too much guilt.
She went back into the room and when her mother saw her, she called her to come to sit by her and to tell her whether the boss had scolded her for coming late to work that day.
"If he did I can go see him and explain everything to him," Her mother grumbled but her, widening her eyes in surprise, laughed out the laughter that was already on the verge of coming out of her mouth.
"Are you seriously saying this momma? You were practically lifeless yesterday when I came back home. Do you at least know that?" She inquired leaving her mother in confusion.
"Well that was yesterday and today I am much stronger than yesterday. Or do you want to check it out?" Her mother inquired giving her that teaser stare which only ended up making her crack up some more and that was the Ashlyn that she loved to see. The one who never let's life challenges get to her no matter what.