Two days off

Stacy and her siblings waited until the next day to see their mother because she had not received consciousness after the surgery. When she did, they were now allowed to see her.

Their mother's hair had been shaved because the surgery was done on her head, so now her head was wrapped, entering the room that had that hospital smell with the monitor making beeping sounds they spotted their mother on the bed underneath the blanket.

Her eyes were closed. Stacy and her siblings went closer in fear and hopes. Please don't be blind Mom. The doctors were also with them as they came to check on her.

"Mom" her brother whispered. She opened her big obsidian eyes with long fluttering eyelashes. "Mom" Brenda called again. "Can you see us?" She asked.

Their mother smiled. "Of course, I can clearly see my children, their worried faces but give me that smile I'm okay," she said.

Stacy cried with a sigh of relief. The doctor checked on her and then left. They all embraced their Mom and then Stacy asked for privacy.

"How are you?" She asked with her hand on her mom's sitting on the chair close to the bed.

Sarah blinked as a signal that she was okay. "What about you? I didn't see you before the surgery"

"Ahh Mom, I'm fine, always fine!" She replied with that big grin that spoke a lot beneath. Stacy sighed again, a sigh of tiredness. "I'm just happy that you are here with us and fine" She rubbed her mom's hand affectionately.

"Tell me Stacy where have you been? And where did you get the. . ."

"Mom, for now, don't ask okay? I just want you to understand that I didn't do anything wrong to get the money" she interrupted the middle-aged woman. Explaining to her Mom wasn't a good idea.

"I know, and I trust you" Sarah's concern was obviously printed on her face. What was her daughter into? What did she do to get the money for her surgery? That money wasn't a small amount of cash. It was huge. Sarah cursed herself for being a burden to her child Stacy. Ever since she came to this world because she was poor and her husband was also jobless the child had to struggle with her. Now, who knows what she'd done to get the money.

Stacy smiled and stroked her mom's cheek with her thumb, she could view her worried face. "I lent the money and now I'm paying for it, so I can't live with you for a little while" Sarah was about to ask further because she was confused. Stacy saw that. "Mom, please don't question me and don't feel bad that I did it. You are my mother and you deserve it if I'm meant to go to school. I will. Just for a year, I would be away. Not that I won't come to visit but for that time being, I'll be doing my best to pay my debt. Please understand and don't question me. I'm in good hands and I eat good food and sleep well where I am. It's a big place so please don't worry about me. Please" she explained to her Mom.

Sarah sighed because she could only concede. "I understand, just promise me that you'll come visiting and make me proud and always be safe, you have been my helper and I don't want to lose you"

Stacy shook her head. "That won't happen, I'll be safe and please take care of yourself and my siblings. You guys mean a lot to me." She smiled.

Stacy sighed after some minutes of staring. "You need to rest now, I'll leave" she stood up and kissed her mom's forehead. Stacy waved before leaving the room. She met her siblings and told them they could go see Mom now.

Two days passed away. Stacy then returned to her master's house at night after leaving for two days and three nights. When she arrived at her master's place, she was exhausted and was already missing her family but she had to pay her debt and she couldn't run because Mr Hall had threatened her.

She closed the door behind her the moment she walked in and sighed, not even aware that Xander was sitting in the living room. She dragged her feet and turned away without glancing his way.

Xander wondered what was wrong with her? She was always talkative and a pain, what happened now? He wanted to call out to her but thought it wasn't necessary and when did he start to care?

Stacy got to her room and took a long nap. Hunger woke her up by dawn, she sluggishly left her room with ruffled hair and transferred to the kitchen. She decided to cook this time. Noodles with fried chicken.

Still in the kitchen frying the chickens, she sat on the table and was dozing off but kept watch on the fry. Just then her master walked in. Ready to have his coffee.

When he walked in she followed him with her gaze until he stopped by the counter behind her by the left preparing his coffee.

She was still exhausted but teasing her boss was fun. She stood up and went to the stove. "So. . ." Her tired voice brought his cute attention her way. Her back was facing him. "Do I have to be the one to greet all the time?" She took the chickens out of the hot oil and prepared the noodles.

When she didn't receive a reply, she turned around to meet his grey eyes staring at her mysteriously. Her eyebrows creased. "You didn't even ask how I'm doing and where I went. I guess you meant it when you wanted me away forever" she didn't sound hurt because she didn't expect much from him. "But, I like to be the pain so you aren't getting rid of me. Not now. Uh-huh," she shook her head.

"You are welcome then" he surprised her and took a sip of the coffee. "What if I become your pain too? Then it will be fair and square" he suggested "Right?"

Stacy frowned. "Breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry"

"That's what you always. . ." She took in a breath through gritted teeth. "Okay, your cup of coffee then" she threw him a smile and returned to her noodles.