Chapter thirty-one

Xoey's POV

After school,aunt picked Dianna and I from school and we paid a visit to mom at the hospital but the nurse told us that she went to see a dietician.

We waited for almost an hour and half until she returned.

"Xoey,Dianna,Carrie I didn't know that you had come" She hugged the three of us and returned to her place on the bed.

"Sharon what did the dietician say?"

Aunt Carrie asked.

"He told me that I should change my diet; I should ban myself from eating salt,soft drinks,red meat, foods containing lots of fat and sugar  and I should drink lots water.They all stress my kidneys "

"I'm glad to see you're fine" Aunt Carrie said."I have to go and pay your hospital bills I'll be back" She roamed through her bag and brought out her purse.

"You don't have to I have some money" Mom insisted but Aunt Carrie ignored her and walked out.

"Mom when is your treatment starting"I asked,plopping my bag on the chair.

"I'm not going through any treatment" She stated.

"What!!" Dianna and I cried.

"Mom you have to"Dianna pleaded.

"No.I've made up my mind.We don't have enough money and I'm not ready to make my sister bankrupt and I'm not ready to see my children leaving on the streets"

"Mom you won't" Dianna said sadly.

"Mom" I said rather scared beacuse I knew that she'd be mad."I got a job and starting tomorrow" I spilled the beans.

"You did what!"She yelled angrily.

"Mom I want to help"

"No Xoey you can't work yourself to death because of me"

"Mom" I took her hand in mine and I looked into her eyes."You have done the same for me so why can't I " I told her.

"Xoey I need you to focus on your learning.I don't know when I'll be discharged but when I am I'll return to my job,only of I'll be accepted"She heaved and sigh and let go of my hand.

"You have to go home now.It's late" She added.

"Ok mom,I'll see you tomorrow after work" I told her and she nodded.

Aunt Carrie arrived just in time.

"I've paid your bills" She announced.

Mom looked at her angrily but her voice was rather calm."I told you not to pay"

"I have to" She said."You've done a lot for me,this is my way of repaying you at least"

"I'll repay you" Mom added shyly.

"Nonsense Sharon" she spat."Thos is nothing compared to what you have done for me"

And it went on and on until mom finally accepted defeat.We said our goodbyes and went home with Aunt Carrie.

Dianna and I went to our bedrooms telling aunt that we had homework.

I began unloading my books from my bag when a piece of paper caught my attention.Ida's  number was written on it.She had given that to me at lunch.She told me to call her but I never did and now I feel guilty for betraying her by not talking to her and ignoring her.All because of my mom but who I'm I to disobey.And knowing her health condition now, I wouldn't try to ask her any further questions.

I moulded the paper into a ball and and threw it on the carpet.It rolled and landed under my bed. I didn't even bother to pick it up since I had better things to do.

I knew I should do my homework now since I'll be busy during the weekend.

I finished my homework in time and prepared my outfit for tomorrow. I decided on a black shirt,white jeans and my one and only black flats.

The leather was peeling of but that wouldn't be noticed until you looked really close.I went to Dianna's room to check on her.After knocking five times and didn't have a response,I went into her room to find out she wasn't there.

"Dianna?" I querried.No response.

"Dianna?" .No response.

My hands were shaking and fear was overcoming me.If anything happened to her I'll blame no one but myself.

I checked the bathroom and Dianna wasn't there.I was just about to leave when I heard bubbling noises coming from the bathtub.

I ran to it and I saw Dianna submerged in the pool of water in the bathtub.

"Dianna " I screamed.My two hands pulled her from the water.I stepped in the bathtub with her and took her weak and sulking body in my arms.

"Dianna" I called. I swiped my palm across her face and she opened her eyes.

"Dianna what were you thinking?" I scolded her.

She lifted her body from my arms and starred into my eyes.

"I want to die.I want to die! Let me die!"She shouted.

"No Dianna.Don't die,there's mom,me,aunt,and Beth and a whole lot of people who care about you out there that you'd hurt if you die" I spoke to her angrily ,trying to save her.

At least.

I continued"If you kill yourself Dianna you'll hurt mom....and me.....we love you sis"

"I'm sorry sis" She apologised.

I scoffed,angrily"You're sorry?,you were just committing suicide"

"I'm sorry sis,it's just that I'm depressed" She confessed.

"And is suicide the way to kill your depression,huh? I asked angrily.

I slapped her,so hard that I wish it got into her brains to give her some sense.

"Don't ever do that again" I yelled at her.

I got out of the bathtub and just when I was about yo leave,aunt,Beth and the maid came in.

"What's going on in here?" Aunt Carrie questioned.

"I think you should ask Dianna" I told her and walked out of the room.

I couldn't believe Dianna would do such a thing when she actually knows what situation we're in.

"Xoey wait" Bethany called,running to me.

I turned around to face her when she came to a halt.

"I'm really sorry for what ever is happening to you.Your mom and I'm really sorry that yout sister tried to commit....that your sister tried to commit...."

"I know "I said gently."Thank you"

"If you ever need me,I'll be in my room,don't ever hesitate to come to me" She blurted.

"I won't.Thank you" I thanked her before I left for my room.

I sat on my bed,still thinking about what happened to Dianna.Why would she?

I was snapped out of my thoughts by the knock on the door.

"Come in" I told whoever was at the door.

"Sis" Dianna walked in and stopped infront of the door,not daring to come to me.

"I'm sorry.I'm sorry.Double sorry.Triple sorry.If there was a bigger word for sorry,I'd say it".When she said that,I could hear the regret in her tone.

"It's okay.Come and sit down with me"I told her and she obeyed but maintained reasonable distant between us.

"I have decided to give out my money to support mom's treatment because I know mom needs it and we add our problems to aunt's and I'm still sorry for trying -" she blurted out,stopping to catch her breath.

I took this as an opportunity to stop her from talking so I took the stage.

"Dianna you don't have to,I'll see what we can do,I have a job and it's well paid" I said,recalling another thing Mr.Carter told me.

Dianna said she was still sorry and after we chatted,had dinner in my room and we knew we were good, we went out to see the stars at night.

The breeze was cool and the we were surrounded by the total darkness of the night.The only light visible was that of the stars."Their beautiful" Dianna commented,not taking her eyes off the sky.

"Remember we used to do this when we were small?" I inquired,hoping she'd remember.

"Yep I remember.We used to do it with mom" she answered.

I shifted my gaze to her."I love you sis"

She looked at me too.

"I love you too sis"

I woke up the next morning and left for work  after I ate some panckes. I was on a full work time on weekends but on weekdays,I w Everyone was asleep by then so nobody realized.When I got to the shop,it was already opened.Through the glass,I saw the woman I had earlier seen yesterday cleaning the tables.

"Good morning" I greeted her and looked around.

"Do you want me to help you? What should I do" I asked,insure of what I should do.

"Help me clean this place until the customers start arriving"

She handed me the rug whilst she went to the counter to get some things.

"Here" She threw me an apron and t-shirt with the logo and name of the  coffee shop printed on the front and back in deep pink.

"Thank you"

"Put it on.We'll have customers soon.I'm going to kill the others for being late"

I wore the t-shirt on my shirt and tied the apron around my waist and got back to work.

After I was done with cleaning the tables, and mopping the floor,a girl wearing one of our t-shirts walked in.

She had styled her hair into a pixie cut and a she had a hand bag on her arm.

"I'm sorry I'm late,Emma,I'll be early the next time" She apologised and put her bag on a table.She grabbed an apron from one of the nails pinned to the wall and tied it around her waist.

"You better be Vera" She spat.

When her eyes landed on mine,she smiled and walked over to me.

She took my hand in hers and shook it continuously."You must be Xoey!I have heard a lot about you.Things like you walked on the moon and you're a really nice person" she blurted out but she never stopped shaking my hand.

I arm went up and down, and I was afraid that she that she'd pull out  my hand.

"Let her go Vera, you're scaring her"  Emma hissed.

She let go of me but her smile didn't fade.

The ringing of the door bell caught our attention.

It was Mr.Carter."Xoey!" He exclaimed."I see you are very punctual.Well good luck on your first day" He entered his office and shut the door.

We all heard another ring of bells and three customers walked in,followed by three others.

"Let's get go work,we can't wait for Raphael" She instructed and handed the two of us  notepads and pens to go and take the order whilst she makes the coffee.

I knew that today would sure be a busy day.

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What do you think about Vera? Do you think Dianna did the right thing? What about Xoey?

Let me know in the comment section and please vote for my chapters and share.

Love; Vanessa.