章)ALIYA TORRES
Panic. Fear.
That was on way to put how I felt when the doctor informed me that my mothers heart failure condition was getting worse.
I dont understand, she was taking her meds, she was doing the exercises being recommended but why was this happening?
She needed surgery asap and the medical insurance covered a small potion of the bill, I had to somehow pay the rest.
I paced across the sparkling white tile like a mad woman, running my hands in my hair.
I didnt have that much money and at the same time I couldnt ignore the fact that mom needed surgery.
The smell of medicines and ammonia only made me feel queasy. The rush of nurses moving past me heightened my nerves. I was a mess, I had dried tears on my cheeks, I didnt know where to go, what to do.
"Aliya", Rays voice brought me back from my trance.
He was standing just by the doorway dressed in a navy blue shirt and some black jeans. I raised my eyes to glance at him, tears falling from my eyes again.
Within one swift move he had me in his arms and I sobbed horribly.
"S-she needs surgery...am not sure Ill be able to pay for it", I cried holding onto his shirt in my knotted fists.
Actually I was a hundred percent sure I couldnt afford to pay for it. My measley savings were not enough not even close enough to the actual amount needed.
"Am here to help. Karen is going to have that surgery and she is going to pull through this",Ray assured kissing the top of my head.
Realization dawned on me on what he meant and I pushed his chest back wiping the tears with the back of my palms.
"I cant let you pay for it", I said looking him in the eyes.
I knew he was more than capable to pay for it but how would I ever repay him? It was taking advantage of him! What would his parents say when they heard about it?
Rays parents werent exactly a big fan of me. To them, I was the girl pulling their son back from fulfilling his dreams.
"Aliya this is not the time to be stubborn. Karen is my family. You are my family",he persisted, coming close to me and holding my cheek again.
"I-I cant",my voice croaked,"Ill find another way"
I would call moms dad, even though he wanted nothing to do with us.
"What other way? You are going to work four other jobs to get the money? Ali, you cant keep doing this to yourself. You are already tired as it, you are not eating well, just let me take care of you for once"
His thumbs brushed my cheek wiping away my tears and I sobbed the more falling into his arms again.
He was my support. I dont know what I was doing hugging him but I needed something to hold onto. I knew straight away that by saying nothing, Ray knew I had accepted his help.
Was I a hundred percent sure I had accepted his help?
Few minutes of standing, crying in his arms drowned every last bit of energy I had left. Ray instructed me to sit by while he got us coffee and ask the receptionist about the remaining costs.
I sat on the fluffy and comfy grey couch biting my fingernails as I looked around at other family members waiting to hear news of their loved ones just like I was.
The last time I had been here, I had tried to act strong for my mom while my dad was in the ICU having had suffered third degree burns.
I hated hospitals. I still hate hospitals. They were a constant reminder of the pain I felt having watched my dad draw his last breath.
"Ms Aliya Torres?" The middle aged doctor from earlier stood infront of me and I immediately got off from the couch.
"Yes? Is she okay?"
"Your mother is stable for now and I believe we can perform the surgery right away with your consent ofcourse",he said instructing the nurse next to him to give me the clipboard.
I glanced at the document on the clipboard reading it.
"I dont understand. I still havent cleared the bill yet"
I knew that the surgery would have happened either way but I didnt want for it to happen without me clearing the bill yet.
The doctor grinned nodding in affirmation that,
"You dont have to worry about the bills. They have all been cleared as I have been told"
"What? I-I didnt... Ray?" I questioned.
"Maam if you would please sign the document?" The nurse asked and I took the pen signing it.
The doctor left after informing me that I would prepare for the surgery and it would begin in few minutes.
I stood there aghast, wondering how fast Ray had got the money.
Speak of the devil, there he was walking towards me with two plastic cups of coffee in his hands.
"One for you and one for me",he muttered and I peered at him questioningly.
"Thank you", I whispered taking the coffee off his hand.
"What? For the coffee? Its no big deal",he mused modestly.
It was a big deal for me. The surgery was going to save my mothers life.
"I owe you, Ray. Rest assured Ill pay it all back"
"Pay what back?" He asked, his brow rising in a way that screamed I-dont-know-what-you-are-talking-about.
"The bills, Ray. I know you paid for the medical bills. I dont how you have done it so fast, but thank you", I patted his shoulder taking a sip of the warm coffee.
The coffee still tasted bitter and even in my wrecked state I disliked coffee.
He cleared his throat loudly,"I went to the coffee machine, Ali. I didnt clear the bill"
I choked on the coffee spitting the liquid right back in my cup. It was disgusting to do so but the shock of hearing Raymond say he didnt clear the bills couldnt allow my mouth to hold anything at the moment.
"What? Then who did?" I asked out loud.
"I dont know. A well wisher?Someone who wanted to help?"Ray hinted and my brows furrowed in confusion.
"What well wisher? No one knows us. The only guy who knows us wants nothing to do with us!" I hissed panicking.
I was grateful for whoever it was that paid the bills but the fact that I didnt know who it was ate my nerves horribly.
What if it was someone who wanted something else in return?
Or what if it was one of those people like loan sharks, lending you money and then coming back for it without warning.
It couldnt have been my grandfather. He wanted nothing to do with mom or me. He hated my mother after she married a poor man. He disowned her and more so he lived far away from San Francisco.
"Ali, we should worry about that later, the important thing is that Karen gets better"
Yeah, that was the first priority, that mom got better.
The heart surgery went on for approximately five hours and in those five hours, I slept, I got worried, I talked to Ray,I played games on my phone to calm myself down then I slept again.
It was the longest five hours of my life. The doctor came out of the operating room telling me that it was okay to see her after she had been transferred to her own room.
Thanks to God, the surgery was a success. I was the first to see my mom.
I stood outside her room taking a deep breath and pushing the door open.
She lay calmly on the bed, her chest heaving up and down as the machines beeped showing her vitals.
There were running tubes in her mouth and nose helping her breath.
I grabbed the chair at the furthest end bringing it closer to her bedside and sitting on it.
I grabbed her left hand, holding it dearly with both hands.
"Am glad you are okay. Dont ever do that to me again", I said my throat full and tears stinging my eyes,"I-I cant lose you too, mom. You are my center, my everything", I cried hard.
She stirred in her sleep and I watched as her eyes fluttered open. The lights in the room illuminated on her face making her skin glow.
A smile formed on her lips.
"Ali",she said weakly and I nodded my head quickly trying to tell her am here, mom and Ill never leave you.
"Shh-you dont have to say anything. You are alright and thats what matters", I said dearly.
The next few minutes went on with me talking about anything that came to mind. I talked about how I disliked the guy who refused to give me a job last week because he thought just because I had an Indian and a mexican name, I was an Indian.
He was a freaking racist and even if I was an Indian would he not employ me? And if I were Mexican, what was wrong with that?
I also told her some knock knock jokes like,
Knock knock. Whos there? Irish Stew. Irish Stew who? Irish Stew in the name of the law.
Get it?
It was only after she fell asleep did I walk out of the room. I went to the waiting room to find Ray cooped up on the couch.
"How is she?" He asked.
"Doing better. Shes asleep right now but you can see her tomorrow. I thought you went home. You need to get some rest", I hinted.
"No, am fine. Besides who knew that hospital lounge chairs were this comfy?"
"I can tell you are lying you know. Go home"
"Okay but call me if anything comes up",he stood up,"Goodnight mittens"
And he left. I made my way to the receptionist before she packed her things and left.
"Karen Torres. Can you please check for me her remaining bills?"
She looked annoyed at first but she did it anyway.
"All her bills are cleared, maam", she said checking her computer.
"Can I ask by whom?"
"Am not authorized to tell you that, maam",she said quickly but I was not going to give up easy.
"Is it possible to make an exception? See my mother was at the verge of death and had this person not helped us, I would be-I just-", I pretended to cry,"I dont know what I would have done without my-my mother. Please. I just want to say thank you, its not everyday someone generous stops in your way. My sick mother would want to say thanks too"
"Okay. Okay",she said. She seemed touch but my little performance.
She tinkered with a few buttons until she read the name on the computer screen.
"Mr Ethan Carter, paid the bills"
"T-thanks", I stuttered moving away from her.
Carter.
Ethan Carter.
The guy that got me fired.
The guy that I poured wasabi on, yesterday.
The guy that called an ambulance for me.
That Ethan Carter?
I went back to my moms room, seating on the metallic chair dumbfounded.
Why would he pay for my mothers bills after everything? I was shocked but then again I was angry that I owes him money.
Money that would take an entire lifetime for me to pay!
Was it pity? Is it the reason why he paid for my mothers bills?
How could I forget I saw him today standing on my own porch? What was he even doing there?
Thoughts raced in my mind as to why Ethan Carter would help me? Nevertheless I was no charity case and whatever game he was playing, I was going to end it.
I didnt like the feeling of owing him money. An arrogant bastard such as himself.
I would find him and by Gods will, I would pay him every last cent I owed him.