ARIANA
FIVE YEARS LATER:
It's been 5 years. I couldn't say life was perfect. But it was better than what I went through. With the money Ronny offered me, I was able to rent a place and open a home bakery. It wasn't much back then. Sometimes, I slept after eating scraps that the visitors left behind.
A year later, my bakery started making enough so that I got to buy things for myself. I was able to buy a small apartment. Since I wanted to stay hidden from Enzo and his associates, I couldn't take my money out from anywhere. Or he would have known where I was living.
My home didn't have much. A single mattress, a few dishes, a mini fridge, some plants and an oven. It was more than enough for me to live a peaceful life.
I was carrying the donuts to the front when suddenly, my vision went dark again. With a loud gasp, I sat down on the ground, where I was. I learned this trick after wasting so much food. “Rina! Are you alright?” It was Tina's concerned voice that made me sigh in relief.
“It's the same. Headache and blank vision.” I informed her as she helped me up after taking the tray of donuts from me. The place was rented but it was a good deal since the place was trash when I took it. No one wanted that place. That's why, I got it cheaper. Maybe, parting with Enzo was good for me.
“Why don't you visit the hospital? I told you. This can be very serious. These black vision attacks are happening very often now. It's the third one since morning, Rina.” Tina replied in a low tone as she helped me on a chair.
After a few minutes, I started seeing the faint light. “I went to the hospital. They took some samples for the tests. I have an appointment for today. I was just finishing up so I could visit the hospital when this happened.” I replied to her, rubbing my eyes.
“Then you should go, Rina. I will take care of your bakery until you come back.” Tina spoke in a low tone.
I made a friend in the village. She had farms where she grew veggies and herbs and fruits. I helped her harvest and she helped me with the bakery sometimes. I had hired a few college students to help me out with the bakery.
“Alright, I'll get going now. I will be back in an hour or so.” I replied as I grabbed my stuff. She nodded at me then hugged me. I stepped out of the bakery then went to the bus stand.
Half an hour later, I was at the hospital. It wasn't as big as the city hospital, but it was good. My name was called soon. I went inside and impatiently waited for the doctor to tell me my results. She was reading my file. “Miss Rina! Do you have anyone in your family?” She asked and my heart instantly started pounding against my rib cage.
“No! I am an orphan. I don't have any family. Why? Is everything okay with my tests?” I asked, feeling nervous all of a sudden.
The tests she gave me, somehow, I managed to get them all done without getting out of the village but I spent all my savings on those tests. The last bits of savings I had left, were for the treatments. At least, I hoped it would cover the treatment.
“There is no other way to tell you this, miss Rina. I have checked all your test results. I was hoping you would have someone by your side when I broke the news to you. But this can't be helped.” She was constantly giving me Long, and unwanted speech. I didn't need that.
“Just tell me what the fuck is wrong with my body. I need to know. And I can handle anything.” Frustrated, I growled at her in anger. She sighed and nodded her head.
“Miss Rina, you have a tumor in your brain. Very close to your optic nerves, hence the blank vision attacks.” My breath hitched when I heard that. I didn't even know how to react to that news.
“And the abdominal plain and longer menstruation?” I asked, curiously.
“I was getting to that. Have you ever had an abortion?” She asked me calmly. Biting my lower lip, I nodded my head.
“About five years ago. I had an abortion. Why?” I asked. Fear was gripping my heart. And it was near to stopping on its own.
“I'm sorry to inform you that you also have uterus cancer as well.” She informed me and that's when I couldn't hold my tears.
“How?” Was the only word I could speak.
“I can't say much. But as far as I can tell, a piece of placenta or maybe some fragments of your baby was left inside your body. In short, they didn't completely clean up your body and in five years, you ignored the signs that your body was giving you. Now, it has developed cancerous cells in your womb.” I covered my mouth with my hand and tried not to sob so loudly.
“You don't have to worry. We have cures that we can start working on. I can give you the exact amount of the whole treatment. I can tell you that it's not at a very early age but it can be cured.” she spoke as she placed a pamphlet in front of me.
I read through it and realized, that I couldn't afford to cure myself. Staring at that piece of paper, I started laughing while my tears poured down like a sad raining season. “Even if I sell my apartment and everything I own, I still can't have enough to go through a month’s treatment. And here it says, I'll need to be consistent with the treatment for at least six months. How ironic.” I couldn't stop myself from crying.
I stood up with my file and walked away. I could say that my fate wasn't done fucking my life. When I thought everything was getting better for me, my life fucked me up again with not just one, but two types of cancers.
Despite having the money, I couldn't get the treatment because I never wanted to see Enzo again. Partly, he was the reason my life was fucked up yet again. The sky cried with me. Grey clouds were pouring down non stop. I fell on the ground and I screamed so loudly. As if there was no one left in heavens to listen to my prayers, my requests. “Why me? Why? What have I ever done for the heavens to be plotting against me?” people were staring at me but I didn't care. How could I care after everything I had been through.