The Titanic: A New Life

Chapter 22

I woke up the next morning and threw on my glasses (bet you forgot I wore them, huh?), preparing for another day.
After we dressed in similar new clothes to the ones we had worn on the trip to the hospital the day before, we went to the dining room to have breakfast.
I was going to see Hazel again.
And we were going to get her cured.
After we ate, I went around town, begging for a job of some sort so I could pay for Hazel's vaccine. Jillian, Emily, and Peter told me they all had other plans, and they headed out of the house at the same time that I did.
"Excuse me, but do you happen to need help in any way?" I would ask. The nicer people would politely tell me they did not and apologize, while the rude ones simply didn't open the door or slammed it in my face before I could finish.
I was determined to get a job, and I kept looking for a career. At that point, I was willing to do anything.
I went around the whole town, and not one of those people gave me a job.
Not even Mrs. Beasley.
I returned home and slammed the door behind me as I crumpled to the floor and started to sob.
There was no job for me. What would I do now? I would never be able to afford the medicine Hazel needed. She would die... and it would be my fault!
Peter, Emily, and Jillian turned to watch me at the door, standing up to come pick me up from the floor.
"What's wrong, dear?" Jillian asked in a concerned voice. The way she called me 'dear' made me feel special, even in a time so hopeless as this.
"I-I can't f-find a j-job," I sniffled between sobs, adding accidental stutters to my words as I cried harder.
"Why do you need a job?" Jillian queried worriedly.
Rage boiled up inside me at this question. She knew very well why I needed a job: to save my dying child!
But I was too upset to argue with her about something as trivial as that.
"I n-need the m-money to p-pay for Hazel's v-vaccine," I stammered, reaching up to wipe my eyes as Jillian seated me in one of the six chairs. Peter and Emily tried to console me with hugs, and it worked. But only a little.
"You don't need any money," Jillian laughed softly, shaking her head as she stood up.
"W-what?" I managed to choke out, dumbfounded as to how Jillian could have this opinion.
Jillian merely grinned before reaching into her pocket.
"Is this what you need?" Jillian questioned, pulling a fat wad of bills from her pocket!
I jumped up and motioned towards the money, as if silently asking if I could take it. Jillian inclined her head to let me know I could.
After counting out the money, I soon learned we had the exact amount to pay for Hazel's cure!
"But how?" I asked incredulously, hope in my voice once more.
"It was my idea," Jillian explained joyfully. "I knew how hard you were working, and I didn't think you needed more. I went around the city and explained to all of the people we know your story, with the children with me as back up if they needed proof. I then told them about Hazel's situation, as well. People started making donations, and soon we had enough money to pay for her vaccine."
"Why would you do this for me?" I sobbed slowly, only, this time, they were tears of joy streaming down my face.
"I said I would find a way to help you, didn't I?" Jillian reminded me. "You helped me realize what a family was... and I wanted to help yours."
I jumped up from my seat and hugged Jillian tightly. I would never be able to repay this amazing woman for all of the help she had given me.
"I can't thank you enough!" I exclaimed between tears. Emily and Peter got up to hug her, as well.
We went to the hospital after we wiped away our tears, and I handed the money to the doctor to perform whatever was needed for my Hazel.
Joy wasn't there, but the same doctor from the day before was. He happily took the money and led us to the room where my daughter was staying.
This time, he didn't keep me from entering.
"You're going to be ok, Hazel," I whispered softly as more tears came to my eyes. " A promise is a promise."
I kissed her sweaty, pale forehead after pulling back her untamed curls from it, darkened by the perspiration.
Hazel looked so fragile sitting there, like a porcelain doll that would shatter at the lightest touch or slightest harsh action. It led me to keep my hands from making contact with her as much as possible, for fear of breaking her.
She was laid down on a hospital bed in a white, thin gown that all patients wore, with a tube in her arm.
I watched as they worked magic on my little girl, using remedies they had heard worked for other people. I thought it was going to be a vaccine, like they had for smallpox. But I guess technology wasn't as great as it is now... that vaccine wouldn't be developed until much later.
They would need to give her three shots of the same thing. They believed it was the only way to make Hazel better, and I didn't argue.
Hazel's eyes finally opened before the injection started, turning sleepily to me before closing again.
She was injected with anesthetic so she wouldn't panic or feel any pain when the needles were injected into her arm.
I was the only one allowed in the room besides the doctors, while Emily, Peter, and Jillian waited outside for us.
When the procedure was over and Hazel was awake, she immediately glanced at me.
Hazel jumped up from the bed and ran the short distance to me as I stood up, slamming into my legs like a battering ram and hugging them so tightly, I could feel the circulation drain from them.
"I was so scared, momma!" she wailed between sobs, tears of relief streaming down her face. I was glad she was happy to see me. I honestly was probably two times happier to see her, but I had never been one for enthusiasm.
"I missed you!"
I knelt down and gently wiped away her tears with a light finger as I laughed softly, tears stinging my eyes, as well.
"I'm not going anywhere."