Lost Dreams [On Hold]

Chapter Eight

Dedicated to @beauty4evar
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Lily Akpan's POV
My eyes stung. I bet they were red and puffy now. My face was probably stained with tears. Father,Mr Akpan,  had a stroke which made him paralyzed. The doctors said they needed to do surgery on him right  away because blood wasn't going into his brain properly. Mum had warned I and my brother not to call sister Rose because she had to focus on her studies in school but the situation was getting worse by the minutes that passed by. Mother had sold all her jeweleries but it wasn't enough. I couldn't even go to school today despite the pleading from my mother.  Enough is enough, I thought to myself. I had to call her now.
                                * * *
Back at the hostel - Rose's POV
I was in class and my phone was constantly buzzing in my bag. Thankfully, it was on silent mode so I didn't have a problem with the lecturer, Mr Williams. I checked to see who was calling and saw my sister's name pop up on the screen. After a while, it stopped. 20 missed calls. Seriously??, I thought.

“why would she be calling me by this time? Isn't she supposed to be at school?”, I mumbled to myself.

Apparently, I was audible to Abigail who was sitting beside me so she asked “what's wrong?”.

“I don't know either, my sister has been calling me repeatedly. I just pray nothing's wrong back home”, I whispered to her.

“don't worry. Just keep you calm. When class is over you can call her back to know what's wrong, Ok?”, she whispered back assuringly.

“okay”, I said trying to be calm. Then I placed my phone back in my bag and we focused our attention back to class.

**20 minutes later**
“ugh. Finally the class is over. I couldn't concentrate at all. Let me call her now”, I said.

“uhmm, I have to get back to the hostel immediately. I have something to do”, Abigail said when we were out of the lecture room. I nodded my head as a response to her.

I was still searching for Lily's number when my phone buzzed again. Her name popped up on the screen and I immediately answered the call. Not that normally I wouldn't answer immediately, I just loved my ringtone so much to the point that I would dance for a few seconds before answering any call.

“hey sis, what's up?”, I asked.

“Rose, father-father-he-he's in the hospital. He had a stroke. We have to perform surgery within the next couple of hours or else something nad might happen to him and we don't have enough money. N400,000 isn't too much for you right?”, she said, disorientedness evident in her tone.

“ok. I would find a way to help”, I said then hung up the call. This was the shortest conversation I've had with my sister. How sad, I thought.

I was shocked as hell. Not now. Not him. Not my father. I had to look for a way to get some money for him. I called up Paul and he asked me to accompany him to the bank to get the money but it wasn't enough. Then he went back to hangout with his friends.  I knew I had to ask from Abigail and that was the last thing I wanted to do on earth.
I swallowed my pride and headed for the hostel. This is for you Dad, I breathed out. On getting there, I met her with Dennis of all people. Why am I getting such ill luck today, I sighed.

“hey Abby, I need a huge favour from you”, I said with a lump already forming in my throat. 

“sure, what's that?”, she asked not raising her head from her phone. Put down the damn phone and look at me, I thought.

I was still contemplating on whether I should go on or not when Dennis spoke up. “are you just going to stand there or what?”, he said. I knew he was already irritated as I was. I hated this guy with all of my heart.

Abigail chuckled then said “Rose don't mind this annoying person, just go on with what you have to say. Dennis isn't a stranger anymore”.

“okay”, i said. “you remember my sister was trying to call me earlier today right?”.
She nodded.
“Well, my dad is in the hospital and we need some money for the surgery. So I was wondering if I could lend some from you”, I added, playing with the hem of my shirt nervously.

I watched her actions carefully. She raised her head. Finally, I thought. I noticed a smile plastered on her face and it disappeared as if she remembered something then she said “well, the only money I have is for Mrs Patrick and you know what you did to her. I wouldn't want to offend her again especially if you're the cause”, Abigail said.

“please just lend me it. I promise to pay it back as soon as possible”, I pleaded again as tears welled up in my eyes.

“hahaha, see drama o. Abby abeg just give her the money so she can get out of here. I don't want to see her face anymore”, Dennis butted in.

“what about madam Pat? What if she asks for her money before Rose is able to return it? So should we lose our jobs then?”, Abigail said.

“forget about her for now. Rose would have to deal with her herself”, Dennis smirked.  Ugh, I hated that smirk.

“okay o”, Abigail said. “let me quickly get it for you”, she continued then stood up from where she was seated.

“thank you very much guys”, I said cleaning the tears from my eyes.

*
I had called my mum and told her I was coming with the money despite all her protests. I know I'm a stubborn child. Now that I had the complete money, my only problem was getting to the hospital in time. I called Paul and he promised to come pick me up. He even insisted on going into the hospital with me.

On getting to city hospital, I paid the money then headed to where my mum and siblings were with Paul by my side. Immediately, the surgery commenced.

They told us to wait in the waiting room and with each passing moment, I felt like I was dying on the inside. My mum was taking this really hard. I could hear her heavy breaths. Nicholas and Lily were trying to be strong but their eyes were glistening in tears, which dared to fall down. Everyone was here, silently shedding tears and making prayer for my father.

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