WHEN DADDY LEFT

Mariah Walker

Jake's POV

"So when do we go?"
"Let's do it tomorrow afternoon. We need to put some sense into that guy's head. Boyfriend or doctor things have to be clear."
"Matthew all you think about is fighting the guy. We have a problem to solve remember?"
"Oh that one? He has to treat her because he loves her or whatever."
"Matt!"
Both of us snap and he goes quiet.
Lilly,Matt and I are seated in Lilly's house planning on what to do to get Y'vania treated. When she left after fighting with Esperanza we went in back into the house and everyone was so sad we immediately figured that they had received bad news. Nisha was sitting still, her mind seemed to be elsewhere. Mia was the one who talked first.

"Jake. You were right. It's bad."

I don't know about the others but my heart sank to the floor. I felt like the world was coming to an end. I gripped the arm of the chair I was seated on so tight that I thought I'd break it.

"How bad?"

Matt asked.

"Aplastic anaemia."

Lilly was still standing and when she heard the illness her legs gave way. Esperanza was quick to catch her. They held onto each other as Lilly sobbed painfully. I let the tears fall freely down my face. Mia was being brave, fighting the tears and breathing in and out calming herself down. Nisha was still sitting still.

"Chemotherapy?"

Matt asked in a shaky voice.

"Conditioning therapy to suppress the immune system because it's attacking the bone marrow. Same chemo drugs, same effects, highly risky."

Mia replies. Matt asks again,

"Treatment?"

"Stem cell transplant. Not a guarantee. Up to fifty percent chance of success. Five hundred thousand dollars."

"Wow. How are we going to do this?"

Matt asked running his hand through his hair in frustration.

"I don't know how but we will. I need you to be closer to her now more than ever. Please."

"No need to tell us twice. We understand."

Nisha was now crying quietly. Mia held her trying not to cry too. I could understand their pain I could see how everyone was scared especially Raquel who was seated further on the couch deep in thought.

It was too sad to watch so I left, Esperanza followed closely behind. Lilly and Matt said good night and closed the main door behind us.

We walked quietly. Matt was still limping but I guess he didn't feel the pain anymore. We got to Lilly's house first. We sat in the living room quiet.

Lilly's mother Vivienne was surprised at what was happening. She asked immediately and Esperanza who was a bit better than the three of us explained everything to her. Vivienne rushed out saying she was going to see Raquel.
I muted the television because I thought it was too noisy. I don't remember exactly how I got back home.

None of us remembered that we had left my car parked at Y'vania's house. I had dropped my car keys on the floor. Mia knocked on my bedroom door and gave me the keys the next morning having parked the car safely in my garage.

It's two days after learning of Y'vania's condition and also how the doctor told them later on that Y'vania is completely against the fact that she can get treated. I don't blame her for giving up. It's in every human being's heart to lose hope at some point in life.

Y'vania is currently at work also against what the doctor recommended.

"Y'vania is such a hard nut to crack."
I say sighing and going to the window.