MY WORST FEARS (Completed)

CHAPTER 14

Dedicated to MatthewsChopps.

     LAILA'S POV

I wanted to follow Jackie's advice and leave Don, but it wasn't about me anymore. It was all about my mum and what she wanted me to do. She learnt all the mistakes that made her marriage with dad fail, and she didn't want me to do the same with Don.

She wanted to make sure my life was okay. She was doing everything out of love.

"I have decided to follow through with Mum's wishes. I know I should have done this a long time ago, but I am certain that I am ready to do this now, Jackie." My sister’s eyes widened into coal-colored saucers and her jaw dropped. Jackie sat there for a few seconds, her face frozen in complete and utter shock.

Finally, after nearly a minute, Jackie snapped out of her stupor. Plainly, Jackie stated, “you must be insane, Letty.”

I was startled by her suddenly calling me Letty. She always preferred the name Laila or Grannie. She slid off of the bed and stood up, swaying slightly. Jackie blinked rapidly, but her expression dulled when she left my room and began darting around the house.

"You don't have to risk your life for the sake of pleasing Mum and that ass boyfriend of yours. Please stop with this whole charade, Lay.”

Slapping her forehead with the palm of her right hand, she crooked her left arm and pressed it against the curve of her waist, breathing fast.

I knew she loved me, but what else could I have done? My boyfriend would never stop insisting for me to do the surgery and my mum.....who knows what she would have done if I refused.

It was risky, but then I'd risk it all for them...

Before I realized what was happening,, my sister fell to the ground. Her breaths were coming out in short, irregular gasps and her limbs began to twitch violently. I held her head up as I called out to my mum.

A flood of emotions ran through me when I realized that Jackie was probably having a seizure, but that wasn’t even the scariest part.

The things that freaked me out the most were her eyes. They were still open, staring blankly ahead. Her pupils were dilated, but worst of all was the color of her irises. Instead of their usual black tint, they were clouded over, making her appear dead.

The sight of my dear sister in this state was too much. My emotions got the best of me as they buckled to the surface, and I began to tear up.

"Jackie, wake up", I called out desperately, but she didn’t respond. I gently shook her by the shoulders, calling her name, hoping she would respond, but she still didn’t stir. My tears started falling faster, a couple drops gathering at the bottom of my chin before falling onto Jackie’s shirt.

My mum came rushing to the room and when she saw Jackie, she fell on the floor beside her, calling out to my sister as well.

Don entered a few seconds after my mum. I wanted to chase him away for causing a rift between me and Mother, but my sister was my biggest concern at the moment.

"We have to take her to the hospital now. We shouldn’t keep her here for long, since we don’t have any equipment." Don ordered, hoisting Jackie into his arms like a bride. Under normal circumstances, I would have complained about it, but now time was precious. My sister needed our help, and that was exactly what my boyfriend was doing at the moment.

Jogging outside, I noticed that the ambulance had already arrived. The paramedics took Jackie from Don and put her on a stretcher, rushing her into the ambulance. Only one person could travel with her, so my mom went inside the large truck while I climbed into Don’s car. He glanced at me from the driver’s seat, but I looked away.

How could he lie to my mum? After what he did to me at the mall, yet he couldn't take the responsibility of his actions. He only blamed it on me so Mum wouldn’t find out what he actually did. And Mother, my own mother, didn't even give me a single chance to explain myself. It hurt.

We spent the entire car ride in silence. Once we arrived at the hospital, we rushed out of the car and into the waiting room, where we joined my mother. I got up and asked the receptionist how my sister was doing, but the lady said that she didn’t know at the moment. Sitting back down next to Don, I lost myself in my thoughts.

I was also worried about my sister. She was the only person who actually seemed to understand my pain. The doctors took long and my patience grew weary.

The image of my sister lying on the floor with her arms and legs splayed everywhere haunted me. I felt like I would lose my mind if I had to wait another minute. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I buried a hand into my hair, tugging. When Don shifted closer to me, I moved away. My mum glared at me angrily, but I didn’t give in. They could’ve been ignoring me, and frankly, I would’ve preferred to be ignoring them as well. However, what made me stay in the same room as them was my sister, and my sister only.

She was the only one who gave me a purpose to live.

Sometimes, I would get the urge to just give up, looking at all the tears I had wept and all the sacrifices I was forced to make in the past. Whenever I thought about my sister though, it gave me strength to continue living. She was the only reason I wanted to fight at all, as she gave me purpose.

I don’t know what’d I do if Jackie didn’t make it.

I think I might die.

When we saw the doctor approaching us, we all stood expectantly.

What he said next made my heart sink as I fully processed his words. My arms turned to iron weights, hanging loosely by my sides. My legs turned to jello, and all of a sudden I was down on my knees. I felt a hand gently touch my shoulder, but I didn’t know whose it was. All I could here was the doctor’s words, and the image of Jackie’s blank gaze filled my vision.

No. This couldn’t be happening. This was all a nightmare, and I was about to wake up any minute now. There was no way that this could actually be happening to my sister.

Not my Jackie.