ARIANA
When I got back to the bakery, it was almost time to close it down for the night. The customers had left already. Workers were cleaning up while Tina was busy on her laptop. I walked toward the table she was on, barely dragging myself. As I threw myself on the chair, she looked up at me. “What happened? What did the doctor say?” She asked me, closing her laptop but not completely.
I grabbed the beer can she had opened for herself and downed the whole thing in one go. For a moment, she was stunned to see that side of me. It's true that I haven't touched alcohol much in my life. But that day, I missed the feeling of scotch in my mouth. “That I have two types of cancers and the complete cure for both is way too expensive for me. Even if I spent everything I have, I still won't be able to get better.” I told her the whole story in one breath.
“Wait! What? Cancers. As in plural?” She asked me, a surprised look covered her face.
“Yes. A tumor in my brain and something that's rotting my uterus. It's not too late but still, late enough for me not to be able to afford the cure.” I replied, tears flowing freely from my eyes.
“Anyways, enough about me. What did you want to talk about urgently? I received about a few dozen texts from you when I was at the hospital. What's wrong?” I asked her as I was finally done telling her about my fucked up life.
“Oh yeah!” She spoke as she opened her laptop again and turned the screen to me. My eyes widened when I looked at the screen. My heart was pounding against my rib cage.
“Who is this man? He is literally willing to pay a fortune for anyone who can tell them where you live.” I saw a live ad running across social media. I licked my lips that suddenly went dry.
I sighed because I knew there was no way I could lie to her anymore. Besides, Tina was my best friend. “He is my asshole husband. He is the reason why I am fighting with two types of cancers. That bastard is the reason for all the bad things in my life.” I was honest with her. And with that, I told her the tale I never told anyone in the past five years.
“Oh my god, Rina. If he is this rich, why don't you just call him and ask for money? He might be an asshole but he would pay for your treatments, won't he?” After listening to everything I just told her about myself, she had nothing much to say but to contact Enzo.
“Did you even listen to what I say to you? I am hiding here, away from him. I would rather die but see his face again. It's better to suffer with cancer but suffer by his side.” I growled at her angrily. Without sparing her another glance, I walked away, leaving the keys for one of my workers. I was just too tired to bother closing up myself that day.