Precious

    Mr Kingston sighed dejectedly as he watched her daughter walk to her room with so much sadness on her face.

  He worries so much for this daughter of his.

    She has been the all and all for the family. Having just two daughters and Mercy being Sick all her life, it was just Kulture making sure everyone is okay.

  He is trying but it's not enough, his wife is doing the same but it is never enough because of Mercy's medical bills. She was made to take a job to help her father and mother take care of her elder sister.

 Her father kicked against it at the initial stage but when he saw that they could use the extra help Kulture can offer, he had no choice but to let her. 

   Being an average man with a sick daughter is something he would never wish for anyone, not even his enemy. 

   "I made something for you to eat, Precious"

He yelled across the living room.

"Alright daddy, say good morning to mummy for me"

Kulture yelled back.

Mr Kingston nodded and left the house.

**********

    Kulture took a deep breath and collapsed on her bed. The morning has been tiring and what she needs now is a warm bath, good food and a nice sleep before afternoon.

  She looked at her room and it remained the way she left. 

  "I don't expect it to be in another shape when Mercy is not around"

She thought and tried to smile.

 Her room was simple but comfortable, nothing fancy. Nothing that would make the owner feel out of place. It had everything you needed; comforts, entertainment devices, clothes, books, and music. And it was also decorated with all the colors and textures you could want. Everything from dark blue, black, and white to bright yellow, purple, and pink.

Everything matched her personality and that of Mercy perfectly. She had found this trait when she was young. Her mother loved color and wanted their house to have as much color as they can muster. Every object that was placed in the living room, kitchen, and bedroom were colored, or had something of the color to represent them. Kulture's favorite colors were red and orange. They reminded her of blood and fire. 

   She didn't know why she felt such strong feelings about the color orange. 

  Maybe it was because of how her mom used to dress the table with the orange colored cloths. Or maybe it was because of how many times her mother told her "no matter where you are you will always be my precious little girl." Kulture still remembers that moment like it was yesterday. Her mom had come to pick her up from school on her tenth birthday as a present because they could not afford her any present. She did not mind, in fact it was the best birthday ever because she had played with her mom on their way back.

   Another chance for her and her mother has never presented itself again because Mercy had to become very sick and all attention was pushed to her yet it never stopped her parents from telling her that she is Precious, that's why her dad calls her precious.

  For that reason they can't afford things, normally would not be hard to afford. She had to share Mercy's room with her. She never minded but had prayed that things would change for better in their lives so that her parents wouldn't have to labour hard.

  And that prayer of hers was answered about a week earlier when her mother was wheeling Mercy back home after one of her checks at the local hospital.

  The doctor had told Mrs Kingston that her daughter had limited time to live if she did not get a heart transplant.

  Francis had happened to be in their neighborhood and saw the weeping woman.

  He had approached Mrs Kingston and asked why she was in deep sorrow. Mrs Kingston found it hard to confide in a total stranger but after much persuasion from Francis, she opened and Francis had pledged to help get a donor and foot the medical bills on the condition she would approve him being the daughter's boyfriend, it was not a big deal so Mrs Kingston agreed to his terms and here they are today. 

  It was a prayer answered for the family,Mercy had gotten a chance to live.

   "If only a rich man like Francis can pledge to be my boyfriend too"

Kulture said, pouting her lips with her eyes shut.