The Royal and The Housemaid

people do care (29)

It's only been two days and my money's running out fast. They moved mom into a private room and she's hooked up to several machines which help keep her alive.

Ella insisted that I take some money from her but I refused, again. She stays in the hospital in the afternoon and then goes back home in the evening. After all she has a family to look after.

But I haven't left the hospital even once because there's no family to go home to.

I'm sitting beside mom's bed with my legs propped up on the bed's edge and a newspaper's spread across my legs. I've been going through the jobs column but so far nothing that'll fulfil my requirement has popped up.

There's an add for a babysitter, a zoo keeper and even a plumber. But none of these jobs offer the money I need.

I considered asking for the job of a nurse but unfortunately I never took interest in Biology so I dropped the subject in school.

A knock on the door makes my head snap up. I hastily fold the newspaper and stuff it under mom's blanket then answer the door.

It's Anna and Sophie.

"Hi." They both say softly.

I usher them both into the room and close the door.

"How did you find out?" I ask them.

"We went over to your house but you weren't there. Your sister was there and she told us that your mom had an accident." They explain.

I nod my head in understanding but don't say anything. After a few moments, Sophie asks. "How is she?"

"Her condition is still the same. The doctor's agreed to give her a one month trial." I reply.

"How will you manage? I mean you lost your job too?" Anna asks.

"Did Helen tell you?" I ask, quietly.

Anna is the one to reply. "No she didn't. They came back from the beach house yesterday and today a new housemaid showed up. Considering the fact that you weren't there we all assumed that they fired you."

I sigh and say. "They did."

"But the new girl is a total bitch. I was late for lunch again and she didn't even look at me. I had to survive on a glass of water." She says and this makes me smile.

I realize that I smiled after a long time.

"Do you need any help with anything?" Sophie asks.

"I'm managing quiet well so far. But I'll let you know if I need help." I thank them.

"We should get going. Mom asked us to get some groceries so we thought we'd stop by." She says motioning to the bags she's holding.

I nod and hug them in turn and thank them for taking out time to stop by.

Once they're gone I sit down and whisper to mom something that she always said.

"Mom, you always said that people don't care about us. But they do mom. People do care." By the time I finish saying this there are tears streaming down my face.