Chapter twenty-six

Xoey's POV

It wasn't long until Aunt Carrie returned. She brought some clothes and food she said the maid prepared.

"Dianna why don't you go home. You'll be exhausted" she tried to convince Dianna but she refused

"I'm not leaving my mom here.I want to be here when she wakes up"

Aunt Carrie sighed heavily and said- "I can see you just won a peagent. You look like you could use a bath and a change of clothes. We don't won't Ms Beauty to be smelly. Do we? Xoey don't you agree?"

I looked at both of them empty headed and answer" Yes.Dianna please get a bath"

With that, Dianna got a bath in the bathroom attached to my mom' s hospital room and changed her clothes.

"That's a good girl" she coaxed " Xoey why don't you get a bath too"

Why I nodded she didn't argue with me.

She brought out two plastic bowls filled with boiled rice, baked chicken simmering in stock and brought out another bowl filled with salad.

She toke two plastic plates and spoons from the big lunch box and gave each of us a fair share.

She folded and packed Dianna's clothes in her bag and kept the cheque in her chair while she paced about the room.

How were we going to get money to pay mom's bills.I didn't want to burden Aunt with our problems too.

Once the doctor brings the results I'll pay and find some means to earn money.

I didn't hear Dianna calling me until she shook me.

"Won't you eat?" She asked clearing her plate and dumping it into the lunch bag"you've been staring into space for a long time"

Before I could finish my food, Aunt Carrie got a call so she left. As I cleared my plate,the doctor walked and told me to go to the laboratory where I should make payments and after, my moms results will  be given to me.

I told Dianna I'll be back so she should stay with mom until Aunt Carrie returns.

I followed the doctor from the hallway- with patients being admitted and nurses running here and there- to the laboratory department. There were people sitting in chairs

A woman behind a counter told us to wait. The doctor left and I sat beside a plump woman who was holding a file.

When she called my name I scurried to the counter.

" You must be Xoey?" She asked me,referring from the files.

"Yes ma'am"

" All payments should be made to the  cashier" she told me and pointed to the woman behind a big glass house.

After I made payments- which weren't too expensive, she told me where to go.

  I went to a room where tiny bottles containing blood where arranged orderly in a plastic crates. Two doctors were looking at something in the microscope. I was given my mother's lab test result and returned back to my mom's room.

Aunt Carrie was sitting on the chair while Dianna was in my place.

"I've got mom's lab result" I announced.Dianna stood up from my chair and moved next to me.Aunt Carrie remained in her seat.

" Announce the results"

My hands were trembling with fear as I tore the envelope apart.

I inhaled some breath and straightened the neatly folded paper

After I read the test results.

My eyes were flooded with tears and slowly they began to roll down my cheeks. I was happy that mom was fine.

"Well?" Aunt asked, widening her eyes.

"What does it say" Dianna shouted but I could sense the eagerness in her voice.

" It says mom is fine, at least"

"Thank God" Dianna screamed

" She's all right" Aunt Carrie said and looked at my mom.

We all stayed at the hospital by mom's side throughout the night.

It was 12:00am according to the clock in the room when I woke up. It was very cold and the windows of the the room opened letting chilled air into the room.

I closed them and drew the curtains apart and stared into the sky.

The sight was beautiful with all the stars twinklingin the sky.

" Beautiful right?" Dianna asked as she rubbed her eyes.

"Mmhh" I responded

" I think I'm going to have a serious ache on my shoulders" she said, pressing her shoulders and making a sneered face.

I laughed at her little joke but I think she wasn't joking. She joined me by the window and we both stared into the sky.

" How I wish mom could have seen this" Dianna said without taking her eyes of the sky.

" Me too"

I heard my mother breathing sharply again and it drew our attention. We walked to mom as she laid in bed.

I gasped in horror and covered my mouth with my hands. Dianna was standing there frozen. I knew she was frightened too.

My mother's eyes were opened widely and she had trippled in size- her face and feet were swollen.Eventhough she had oxygen on her, I could see breathing was very difficult for her.

" Dianna get a nurse" I ordered her as she run out of the room.

I sat on the edge of the bed and whispered to mom-" You'll be fine mom"

I held her hands in mine as tears fell from my eyes.Dianna came in with a nurse who checked my mom's oxygen.

" The oxygen run out, we'll need a refill" She told us while staring at my mother worriedly" I'll call a doctor to come here now and I'll bring another oxygen replacement"

She run out of the room and a few minutes later she came in with a huge cylinder containing oxygen. She quickly replaced it and talked to us.

" The doctor will be here soon so please be patient"

Be patient. It's my mom your telling me to be patient about where she is dying. But I didnt't say that and she left.

Dianna was still weeping and I was too. Aunt Carrie was soundly asleep in one of the chairs.

We had to wait for while for a doctor to return with a nurse. He didn't ask us what our names were, he just got to work.

He inserted a special syringe into my mom's lungs and drew out some pale liquid akin to water into a plastic container. I heard my mother bawling as he performed this procedure.

After several litres of water been drawn from my mother's lungs he told the nurse to take it to the laboratory to perform tests on it and he talked us.

" Her body accumulated a lot of fluids thus making her puffy. She'll be fine. I'll bring the results to you once it's ready.I'm doctor Griffin by the way" He shook hands with me and left.

It took an hour for them to remove the fluids from my mom's lungs.

Dianna and I sat on the opposite edges of bed and stared at mom who was now awake.

"Xoey. Dianna. I'm I fine" she said in a struggling, rough tone.

I wiped my face with my hands and answered" We don't know yet mom"

"I'll be fine " She took each of our hand in hers.

I felt so relieved to see her awake.

Suddenly, my lungs were on fire and I began to cough. Another asthmatic attack. Breathing was very difficult for me and I felt dizzy.

"Xoey!"shrieked Dianna

"Xoey! Dianna help her"mom said weakly.

Before Dianna could get into my backback for my inhaler, I collasped to the floor and blacked out.

I shielded my face to block the light coming from the bulb above. I studied my surrondings and noticed I was another room.

"Xoey!" Dianna rushed to me, taking my hand in hers.

"I'm fine. I don't need to be here"

"You have to be sis, you fainted from an asthmatic attack. If the doctors hadn't been here on time, you would have died" She announced.

"Where's mom.Is she fine?" I asked firmly

"Chillax sis, she's fine. She's still at the room with aunt"

I exhaled the air I didn't know I was holding.

A doctor walked in and asked me how I was. After a bargain between us - that I was fine - he finally let me go and see my mom.

Aunt Carrie was asleep beside her and mom too was asleep. Doctor Griffin came in with the test results and left.

Aunt Carrie woke up and as soon as she saw the envelope in my hands, she said "Well what does it say"

"Open it sis" Dianna said forcefully.

This time I knew something bad would come from it and nothing good will.

After the blood and the bloating, I'm sure something was  definetely wrong.

My hands shook badly this time and when I tore the envelope apart and read the results, I was right.

I knew nothing good would come from it.

" It says- it says -" I didn't even know if I could find the courage to speak but I did" it says mom has been diagnosed with Chronic kidney disease stage four"

With the announcement over, Dianna covered her hands with her mouth and staggered back. She would have fallen if Aunt Carrie hadn't caught her.

I could almost feel the pain she is feeling now. The woman you loved with all your heart is going to die. Although I don't know the amount of years she has left.

The doctor walked in and when he saw the scene before his eyes he said: " I'm very sorry for what your mom I going through. Please may I talk to you"

I walked to him.

"In my office please"

I cleaned my face with a tissue and follwed him to his office.

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I was so sad writing this chapter. I hope you like it. ❤. Vote. Comment. Share.