YOU GIVE TO RECEIVE

I make my way to the wing where Immaculate was. I knew they were mad at me but I hadn't told them the whole truth.

How could I though? How could I tell them that I had sold myself so that Immaculate could get treatment? Someone else would have thought that it was something nice that I had done but it didn't seem like it when I thought about it.

Sometimes in life when you don't have a choice you do things that you never thought that you would do so that you can get what you wanted.

Beggers were not choosers you just had to take whatever was offered without complaining.

I opened the door to Immaculate's rooms and it seemed like Alphonso was not around. I wondered where he had gone as I took the seat next to Immaculate I held her hand.

She was fast asleep probably due to the drugs that she has to consume every day.

They were the only family that I knew of so even if it meant a lifetime of not being happy so long as they were okay I would do anything for them.

I remember how my world crashed the moment we received the news from the doctor that she had cancer.

The way my heart broke in pieces as I watched Alphonso cry in front of his wife. He had tried so hard to hold it together for a whole and that was just the breaking point.

I could not have imagined how he felt. The woman he had been with for fifty years and there she was laying in undiagnosed with cancer and only ten months left.

It felt more like torture that they were being punished for something. I had opened my mouth to say that everything was going to be I'm at but closed it real quick because what good were those words found to do me?

It was just false hope that I was going to give them where they would fake smiles and act like everything was okay. It was not okay though.

I had left the room as I followed the doctor when I saw him stand and talk to a tall man, Vincenzo.

I knew Vincenzo before all of this as we had already met but I got the idea he didn't like people that much. At that moment I didn't care if he liked people or not I just matched to the doctor and asked him to talk to him.

Vincenzo looked at me like I was a piece of garbage. I had interrupted him in the middle of his conversation which loomed like it was important.

"Can't you see we are busy here?", Vincenzo had said.

"Am sorry but I have more important things am sorry if I interrupted your conversation. Doctor, isn't there anything you can do to save my mother please am begging you", I said as tears rolled down my cheeks.

I was not ready to lose another parent. Hadn't I gone through enough to last me a lifetime? What had I done to deserve everything that happened?

It was like life had a way of kicking me when I was at my lowest.

"Am sorry but even if I could help you there is no way you can be able to pay the fees that will be needed for the drug trial that we are doing right now", the doctor said no sign of remorse on his face or voice.

"So you mean to tell me that you will just let my mother die because I don have enough money to pay for the drug trial?", I asked the doctor shocked.

"No that is not what I meant. There are candidates ready for these tests and the slots are full so if you want to participate in them you have to pay", he said.

"Unbelievable, can I talk to the doctor or personnel in charge am sure they will have you fired for letting a patient die", I said.

"I am the person in charge", said Vincenzo, and I stood there shocked looking at both of them hoping one of them would say that it was a prank and they were going to allow Immaculate to join the drug trial.

"If you will excuse me I have patients I need to see", said the doctor as he left.

"Okay come by my office later in the evening", said Vincenzo to the doctor as he walked away.

"Sir please", I had said to Vincenzo as I followed him.

"What is it? I think you were told specifically how this works I can't help you you need to pay", he said as he sat on his desk.

"Please am begging you I need this I can't let another parent of mine die", I said and none of my words seemed to move him.

"It's funny you think that is how the world works. You just don't get something because you need it. The world doesn't revolve around you", he said chuckling.

"Is this funny to you?", I asked him.

"A little bit. I find it hilarious to think that telling me how you have lost a parent is going to make me change my mind on the things the hospital wants things done", he said looking at my appearance which was a mess.

For the first time, I did not feel the urge of trying to look more presentable because that was the last thing I needed at that moment.

"So you think am lying is that it?", I asked him as I took a seat.

"I saw a man beside you who is older so if it is your mother who is sick technically yes I think you're lying and stand up I didn't tell you to sit", he said and I stood up.

"They are my adoptive parents you could have at least asked that", I said to him.

"Well darling you only ask if you are interested in knowing more of the situation and I don't", he said as he smacked his lips.

"I know to you this might seem like nothing important but to me, they are my whole life. They are the only people who took me in when I had no one", I said as I tried to keep the tears from rolling down my face.

"I can do anything you ask me to do if it means that you will help her. To you, it's just money but to me, it's the person I love the most so please sir if you have any compassion in you you'll check them out", I said.

"No I don't have any compassion", he said and I felt stupid.

I don't know why I had thought that my little emotional speech was going to change anything. He was an arrogant man who was in control.

"However maybe we can both benefit from this if I give you something you have to give me something in return", he had said and I had cringed because the only thing a man ever wanted from a woman was sex.

"Is it sexual?", I had asked with fear all over my face and his face had contorted in disgust as if he would never sexually think of me.

"Don't be ridiculous I have thousands of girls who look amazing and want to have sex with me why would I go for you?", he had asked and it had punched me straight in the heart but it was not something I could dwell on.

"I will tell you about it tomorrow for now I'll make sure that your mother gets the care that she deserves. I don't want you to lose her and blame it on me", he had said.