"Sweetheart open your eyes", my mother's voice echoed in my ears as I struggled to breathe at the back seat of my dad's sienna with my head on her lap.
The dull lights and the silence of the night fed on my fear of dying. I tried using the inhaler but it also mocked me with its inability to help my current state. Dad sped into the night desperate to get me help in the hospital.
"Someone help!" I heard the baritone voice of my dad as we approached the hospital with a screech and mum's comforting words. I peeked through the window and saw a young lady not less than 25 with oxygen being wheeled out of the emergency center into the hospital.
It made me question if life was worth dying for; all the struggles and riches people constantly fight to attain. While gasping on mums legs all I could think of was Venice; I had promised her to stay alive till my 18th birthday and now it seemed I was about to break that promise.
"In 3, 2, 1," was what I heard before being put on the stretcher and attached to oxygen then wheeled into the hospital. The boxes of the ceiling with white florescent lights did nothing but worsen my breathing as I saw the look of fear etched on my mum's face while she tightly gripped my hands.
"Baby you can do this, you are a fighter", she encouraged in tears while I closed my eyes and fought for another dose of oxygen from my lungs. If she knew the battle I was facing she'll probably give up hope and focus on her remaining children. Asthma was not a visitor to me as I'd been diagnosed at the age of four when I was.....
"We'll take it from here", I assumed a nurse said to my mum who was weeping hysterically as I was taken into a different ward. This room and whole situation was nothing new to me; same machines that will be plugged to my chest, the constant beeping of the monitors to check my mortality, and the forever present defibrillator to revive me if I slip into the other side.
The nurse pricked me with the needle I supposed had the antidote to my never ending misery. She was quite pretty and young to be a nurse; a lady I could not date due to her age and elegancy but I'd love to smash because of her legs and ass. I smiled at my thoughts at a point like this while staring at her and pointing to the violin pendant on my neck.
"Please make sure you give it to Venice" I chocked and fought for oxygen with my death grip on her hands before going into shock.
"We're losing the patient", we're the last words I heard before darkness drowned me.
* * * * * * * * *
"Opiyo I suggest you get out of bed before I successfully do that myself", my uncle's voice woke me from yet another nightmare that got me drowning in my sweat and shaking from fear. Beside me was my cell phone that showed 7:00am which made me jump out of bed.
"You are definitely picking round the school since Mr Ebere is on duty", the daunting voice of my younger brother who was already dressed for school echoed in my ears as he teased me with his signature smirk plastered on his face before he left the room for school.
I ran into the bathroom only to realize that we didn't have light the previous night hence no water and I could not risk the chance of running into my father it'll be disastrous. As I tried to tiptoe out of the room, my phone rang which froze me because the house was dead quiet. I hurriedly picked and I saw it was my sister Aurora.
"Hey Sis", I whispered still taking a survey of the area and carefully closing my door praying my dad was nowhere in sight.
"There's water in my bathroom and money under your pillow. Dad is asleep so you should hurry up and meet me outside school. You might have a chance to be pardoned by Mr Ebere if you are seen with me", she explained which relieved me because she had a point. If there was anyone that Ebere adored it was my sister.
"You're the best in the world" I sighed with relief
"I know I am", I imagined she smiled
"Pride", I whispered hoping she didn't hear but the 'of course' I heard begged to differ.
Twenty minutes later I was in front of my school with my sister and her ugly friends that I could not stand but had to pretend to care about.
"Hey ladies", I charmed my way through their conversations and received a glare from Rory
"You owe me a week of subscription", she almost yelled but I wasn't having it
"Either that or dad finds out that you woke up late again", she smiled and left me powerless as we walked into the school compound with her minions.
"You are late", the voice of my favorite teacher itched my ears. He was a short bald man with round stomach and strange accent. It was as if all the vice principal's had that in common which freaked me out.
"Good morning sir, we had a family emergency that could not be avoided", Rory said to the bald man that was already giving me a judgmental look but Rory's cute face had him rethink and allow us to go our different classes.
"That was close", my classmate and one of my best friends Nkemjika said as he rested his hands on my shoulders.
"I can't wait to get today over with, I am exhausted and besides I want to spend as much time as I can away from Camille, she's been a fucking leech of recent " I complained to Kemka who was laughing so hard as we entered the class and joined our other friends.
"Isn't she your African queen anymore, the love of your life and mother of your kids?" he mocked while taking out his literature textbook from his back and sitting close to me.
"O course she is but i need my space", i groaned and almost pulled my non existence hair
"Guy, have you done that woman's assignment?" Valentine Brown asked while copying from Chidera's notebook with seriousness.
"Yes my elder sister came through for me as usual", I smiled as I remembered how Fayo was more than excited to help me which was weird.
"What will it take for me to be on her good side or even her side nigga side", Kemka as usual tried to get in my adopted sister's pants
"Can you quit it already, she's way older than you", I repeated for the umpteenth time to my delusional friend who wanted to have sex with my older sister
"And hot", Jerry added suddenly which caused us to laugh
"Here comes trouble", Valentine coughed, drawing my attention to an angry looking Camille who was storming towards my desk.
"I'll tell your loved ones you lived a good life", Jerry consoled me and ignored my plea to help me out of the situation
"All class stand and greet", I heard which indicated a teacher was present and I was momentarily free from Camille's rage. Never did I know that a teacher entering the class could actually make me so happy.
I'm sorry for the grammatical errors and short story. please don't forget to vote and comment; i am open to correction. love ya
