Love you,Mom

Chapter-2: Another problem

Emily Leandre's POV

I wake up with heavy coughing. This has been going on for a month now. Heavy coughing and difficulty in breathing. Maybe I have a cold, a very bad cold. But I have to get up. I have to go the hospital I work.

I get up from my bed. My bed creaks a little. I get up and wash myself. There are dark circles under my eyes. Maybe from the many sleepless nights. But last night was a bit different. I got a little sleep.

I get ready and go towards the dining room. Suddenly a realization strikes. Today's ....today's Allen's first day at school, at high school. Will she be able to adjust? My thoughts remained there as I saw the pile of paper near the door. So many papers. It could only mean one thing. I pick up the papers and sort through them. 

Bills. Now I have to sort out one more thing. How to pay them.

I sit down on the table and start to think. Think what? Payday is long to come. The grocery store. Maybe I can ask the landowner for money. But how am I going to pay back? I have already asked her enough favours.

Allen comes from her room. She gently kisses my cheeks and sits down to eat her breakfast. This little act of her lightens up my whole day. I get up and leave for the hospital.

I arrived just in time today. Christina comes to me. She is my colleague and friend for years. "You look a little tired today. Is anything wrong?" She asks with a sympathetic smile. "No, nothing's wrong." I return her smile. She is right. I have been feeling tired nowadays. Must be that nasty cold. She may have read my thoughts on my face. She frightendly asked "Do you have any problems?" I replied to her with a smile,"No, I don't think so." "Okay. Have a good day." She went away.

My day passed as usual. I took care of people who came looking for a cure to their illnesses. When I returned back home, the day had it's toll on me. I don't think I have enough energy left to go to the grocery store. Maybe I will request Allen. She will keep my request. She will, right? I went into the house. Allen was there but she was going outside. "Allen, listen to me dear, I'm a little bit tired today. Would you mind taking up my shift for today at the grocery store?" I gave her a smile. "Please, keep my request." I spoke to her lightly. "No, mom. I will not keep your requests. In fact, I'm tired of them. How long am I supposed to carry your burden? If you can't keep up with two jobs, throw one away. If you worry for the bills, you should have kept that in consideration when you wanted to live in luxury." She snapped. All her emotions bursting out at once. "But, all of that are necessity, not luxury." Before I could finish Allen was out of the house. I looked as she disappeared into the depths of the town.

I was now thinking what to do. Allen refused to work in the grocery store. That means I have to go. But will I be able to? Will my body allow? Whatever this sickness was, nasty cold or not, it was draining out the life from me. If this goes on, I won't be able to hold on the two jobs I have. Then how will we survive in this world? How will I keep Allen happy? These were my biggest concerns until I felt something touch my feet. An envelope. What was in it? Another bill?  I sorted out through all the papers posted to my name this morning. But I didn't find this one. What did it hold?

I opened up the envelope. In it came to me the news of yet another problem.