OUR EXCHANGE PROGRAM

LIFE SAVER

You only live once
:Anonymous

I'm currently lying in bed, facing the ceiling. It's two minutes to eight a.m,but I don't feel like moving an inch. Yesterday Matt didn't tell me much about Thomas, just the fact that he didnt say much despite the 'wrath' he laid on him.

I wonder what that man has on me, that he can go to an extent of killing me. What is it that he wants to 'protect' me from?Does this mean that my life is in danger from both the guy Thomas is hiding me from and also in danger because of Thomas?

My phone beeps and Laire's name flashes on it. I quickly jump out of bed and walk outside since Matt is still asleep and I wouldn't want to wake him. I walk to the bench on the backyard and receive it.

"Talia, am worried, your mom is in the hospital and they need a million for her treatment. I've tried calling my dad but his phone is switched off. I'm really scared, she wasn't breathing when I brought her to the hospital. I think..."

"Shut up!"
This can't be happening right now.No, she can't die. She can't leave me alone. I can't be an orphan.
Why am I not even thinking straight.
I don't even have that amount of money in my savings.

"Calm down Laire, I'm going to arrange for that one million. Just tell the doctor to treat her first. She's all I have.."

"But the doctor won't..."

"Convince him somehow. Don't let her die on me Laire, I can't lose my mom."

"Okay I'll work on it. Just arrange for five hundred thousand, I have the other half, I'll convince him somehow to start the treatment with it."

"OK, I'll send the money and come back to Kenya as soon as I can. OK?"

"OK."

This can't be happening. My mom can't die.

I shut my eyes and tears  freely flow and I start sobbing. My chest constricts and my breathing stops. I struggle to catch my breath but fail miserably. I feel something heavy on my chest and my body goes numb.

My eyes keep shutting and closing and I open my mouth to shout but nothing comes out. I swallow a chunk of saliva but I end up choking on it instead. I feel the door opening but by now my body is half lying on the bench and half lying on the ground.

I shut my eyes suddenly due to the pain that erupts suddenly on the left side of my chest. My hand rushes to hold my chest when I feel someone squatting in front of me. My vision is blurry and the next thing I hear is someone picking me up and rushing me to a car.

***

I open my eyes but due to the blinding light, I shut my eyes and groan.

"Hey, Natalia, you are awake."
I open my eyes and adjust to the light before spotting Mark.

"Mark, what am I doing here?"
Oh God, my mom!
"I need to  do something important."

I try to hop off the bed but he pushes me back. "The doctor said you need rest. And besides I've already sorted the issue, I guess.. your phone kept ringing with the name Laire on it, so when I talked to her, we settled the bills."

I looked at him too shocked to say anything.

"You sent the money to her?"
"Was I supposed not to?" He scratches the back of his head and looks at me.

"No.. I mean yes but then no, since I was supposed to look for a way.."

"Just shut up Natalia. What is done is done."

"But where did you get the money. It's only yesterday when you were asking for money from you brother."

He shrugs his shoulders and tries  to smile to no avail.

Wait!

"You used the money he gave you?"

"Hey, it's not a big deal. But if it bothers you so much, you can always pay me back when you get it. Besides, I talked with the girl just some few minutes ago and she said your mom was stable now."

I release a sigh of relief, at least she's safe.

Mark walks towards me and sits on the age of the bed.

" Now, how are you feeling? " " I feel OK? I don't even know why I passed out, but am feeling fine right now. "
He looks at me not really leaving my eyes and the next thing that he said shook me to the core.

" You had a heart attack. The doctor says it must have been some news that you received that triggered it. "

" What? A heart attack? "

No it can't be.
I can't be sick.
A heart attack?

But then it hit me.
The day I passed out in school. The mild nausea I have been feeling and the chest pain that I experienced later today.

These are the same symptoms mom had. Why had it not hit me?

Am I going to die?

"Natalia, you zoned out on me." He reaches to rub the tears that had now formed on the corners of my eyes and hugs me.

"I thought you knew about the condition. Am sorry."

"Am going to die Mark, am going to..." I hit his chest continuously as if he's the one that cost it.
He holds me as I continue sobbing in his arms not letting me go.

I thought I had not inherited the disease from mom. The doctor back home had assured us that I didn't have  the heart condition like mom. He said my chances were slim.

"You are not going to die. We are here for you. Me, your mom, the girl, and even Matt."

At the mention of his name, I slowly pulled away from Mark's arms.

"Promise me Mark that you will not tell him about this. Promise me he isn't going to find out what you just told me."

"But you know Matthews is a man with resources and besides, he's my brother I have to."

"No, I don't want him to know. I'll tell him later. But for now Noone else should find out. Not even the girl you spoke to on the phone."

He stands up and ruffles his head frustatedly.

"Fine, if that's what you want."
We later go on to the doctor who spends most of his time explaining to me about my condition and ends up giving me my drugs.

I've had a lot to take in today so I request Mark to drive me home. I mean where I stay with Jessi.

We walk to the parking lot and he opens my door. I'm about to walk in when...

"What are the two of you doing here?"

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