Christina Bradbury - All About Progress (Book 1)

Hospital Beeps and Drips.

"Payment?" The Plumber asked.
I'd called him to come to fix the pipes.
"Well my husband went on a work trip, and he mistakenly took my card, Can you come back in 6 days?"
"I'm sorry ma'am, I need a payment today.." He sounded stern.
"Fine..you can have the TV, then I'll call you when my husband is back and you bring it back and get your payment, please.."I said, almost in tears.
The guy gave me a sympathetic look as if he knew I was lying about paying him back as if he knew I was broke..and that my husband of 1 day just filed for a divorce.
"It's dead, ma'am.."The man cut me from my thoughts.
"The Fridge isn't dead, can't you take that?" He sighed.
"I'll be back in 6 days ma'am." Phew.
"Yeah, I'll be right here, my Tv will be working, hey we might even Netflix and chill.." I winked at him as he walked out of the apartment.

I quickly ran to the door and locked it.
I had to find a way to pay the rent.., I couldn't live like this.

"I'm sorry. Christy...I don't have that kinda money.." My best friend, Alice, said over the phone.
I inwardly sighed.
"But.." She continued.
"You can come live with me and Sean."
"No thanks Al', it's okay really..I'll just figure something out."
"Christy you could always move back...'
I just know what she was suggesting and I wasn't gonna do it.

Knock knock!.
"Shit, there's a knock, I'll call you later" I quickly said and hung up.
"Who is it!?" I yelled
"It's the landlord, open up.." His voice boomed from behind the door.
I walked out of the bedroom and into the living room and unlocked the door.
"Hey!, listen...I'm working on getting your money...I'm so stranded, I don't know what to do and.." My tears were so close..then he interrupted me.
"That won't be necessary.." He began.
"We've decided that we need you out by today, your brother has been owing us for 4 months now.."
"He's not my brother, he's my husband..well he used to be my husband."
"That's none of my concern ma'am, will you leave willingly, or do we have to drag you out?" He said nonchalantly.
"Sir please..all I'm asking for is 3 more days.." The sobs came on.
"BOYS! Take her out!" He shouted at a group of boys..and that was all I heard before I passed out.

3 hours later...

My eyes open..and I'm immediately blasted by a bright light, I close my eyes again trying to escape this dream.
I open them again and the bright light is still there.
Am I in heaven?
"Hello..?, God?"
"There's no God here Christina, wake up..you're still here! On earth." My mother's voice echoed in my ear.
"Wake up and smell the coffee...I warned you about that boy didn't I, Imagine if I had removed you from the family Medical AID?? you would really be seeing God!"She continued.
Oh, Yesss.. cause me more grief mother.
I kept my eyes shut, hoping she'd think I'm in a coma and go away..maybe?
"Christina where will you go after this?..your dad does not want you in the house and I doubt that boy can afford to take care of you." That didn't surprise me.
"Well, no problem mom, I wasn't gonna come there anyway..I'll figure something out, and you can remove me from your medical aid mom, I'm really fine," I said, keeping my eyes shut, I was liking the darkness.
"You're always tryna figure shit out, and that will always be your downfall, grow up! Be a woman!" She was shouting at the top of her lungs.

"I'm trying to be a woman, but you won't let me!" I said lowly, still trying to keep my eyes closed.

"Open your eyes when you speak to me, young Lady!"She spoke loudly.

"Excuse me, ma'am..but she doesn't need that kind of tone right now.." The nurse said as she walked in.
"She's my daughter, she will need this tone right now. To turn her into a responsible young lady."
"I'm sorry ma'am, but I'm gonna need you to leave my patient and me alone, I need to speak with her about what happened."
"I gave birth to her, bathed her and clothed her, I am paying the Hospital bills too, you will talk to her in my presence., I want to hear what happened too." My mother said.

I finally opened my eyes and found the nurse staring at me, probably waiting for my input on the matter.

"It's Okay Nurse.." I said, Sighing heavily

"The tests show that you had a mild panic attack, do you know what triggered this?" She said.

"No, I don't, Who brought me here?" I asked

"Some guy, he said he was your landlord..?" She continued

"Oh," I said quietly, quickly remembering the days' events.

"Landlord?? where was your fling?" My mom asked rudely.

"Mom, please.."

I turned to look out the window, and turned back to the nurse and said "I don't remember a thing but when I remember, I'll let you know."

She nodded her head and said, "We will keep you here, overnight to run some more tests, if that's not a problem?" 

I then looked over to the woman 'Paying the Bills'.

"Fine, I'll pay... only one night." She said sounding stern.

When the nurse walked out, I quickly closed my eyes again.

"Christina, Where is David?" She now asked, Curiosity clearly lingering in the air.

I did not want to cry in my mother's presence and as if the universe heard me, a familiar voice boomed into the room.

"Oh my goodness, I've been worried sick Christina! are you okay?"...

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Thank you for reading.

nat.