Chapter 4

• The black car stood out from amongst the rest. It screamed of luxury .
• I took glances at it from where I was working with the expectation of seeing who was inside.
• No one appeared till I was done with my shift.
• I waved goodbye to my boss. He was a nice aged man.
• He never really bothered me and he understood my situation.
• I left the shop and hurriedly proceeded to get on the next bus for the night.
• The headlights of the black car stopped me in my tracks .
• Few minutes later, a figure walked towards me.
• It was a lady in a suit.
• I was confused with anxiety.
• I didn’t recognize her cause I didn’t know who she was.
• “ It’s a nice evening isn’t it?” She asked me blandly
• My confusion increased
• “ Yeah?” I muttered as she tilted her head and scrutinized me with her blue eyes.
• “ Here” she said ,stretching out a card
• I accepted the card
• “Shiva Global” I stated
• “You must have heard of it.” She said
• It was a popular business company but I really wasn’t the type to care . If they weren't paying me , I honestly didn't care.
• “ The best in the business industry “ she continued
• “ Well , good luck “ I said , shoving the card into the pocket of her coat and moving on
• She followed behind , surprisingly keeping up with my pace
• “ What do you want?” I asked with a huff as I paused in my tracks
• “ Not me, the boss” she stated
• “ The boss?…” I asked waiting for more information
• “ Yes he wants to meet with you” she continued
• “ Do I look like I’ll have anything to do with the boss?” I sarcastically asked with a frown
• “Clearly no” she stated
• “However, he sent me to find you and pass this information and I, Natasha does not question the boss” she continued
• “ Well Natasha ,tell the boss to meet me himself, I’m not following a stranger anywhere to meet some weird creep that calls himself the boss” I stated as I hurriedly walked to catch up with the bus.
• I peered from the window, the weird woman was watching the bus go while talking on the phone
• With a sigh of relief, I closed my eyes and took a short nap on the way home ending the thought of the weird occurrence I just had.
• “Hey” I said as I walked into the house with Stan in the kitchen.
• “ Hey “ he replied as he passed me a plate of lasagna .
• “ You cooked?” I questioned
• “Mum mostly “ he said as I looked in shock
• “ Yeah , that means she’s getting better I guess” he stated as he continued cleaning the kitchen
• “ Guess?, this calls for a celebration Stan” I said
• “ yeah but remember what happened the last
• time?” he reminded
• She fell sick again and it was worse than before. We really had our hopes high that she was no more sick.
• “ True, hopefully it won’t be like the last time” I said
• “ Yeah. I pray so” he said as I concentrated on the tasty food
• “ It’s that time of the month again” I heard Stan say with a sigh
• I looked up in confusion till he dropped the mails
• Bills. Bills . Bills . Bills
• I was so tired
• This phase was always so heavy on me
• I picked each of the mails at a time , calculating the total for the month
• “ Rent and Utilities are priorities “ I stated as I kept them at a side
• “ Well I guess we could do rent and electricity for now “ I stated knowing that will empty the savings I kept.
• “ The rest I’ll figure out along the way” I continued
• “ I could help with water” Stan stated
• “ How?” I asked
• “I’ve been saving from my job” he stated
• “ You got a job and you didn’t tell me ??” I shrieked
• “ yeah cause i knew you’ll react this way” he replied
• “ We need all the help we can get and we are all the help we have” he stated
• As I nodded in understanding
• “ what job?”
• “ nothing much, I mow lawns round the neighborhood mostly , mom’s usually asleep so it keeps me busy”he stated
• “ since when?”I asked
• “ It's been three months “ he stated
• “ I didn’t notice “I stated with a frown.
• I was disappointed. Disappointed in myself . I had been focusing on the shop so much since mom got worse.
• “ I’m sorry, I’ve been a bad sister “ I said to him as I held his hands in mine
• “ It’s not your fault “ he said with a smile
• “ I’m pretty good at hiding things , you don’t come home early and you hate the garage ever since dad” he stated
• He wasn’t wrong. Even if my afternoon shift ends early , I usually ask to work overtime for some extra pay and I hate seeing dad’s things anywhere and they sit everywhere in the garage.
• I sighed in understanding before I washed the dish I ate with
• “ Thank you, Stan” I stated
• “It’s cool. You do it ,so it’s good we do it now” he stated supportively
• I smiled and grabbed an apple.
• “Goodnight, if you need me I’ll be in my room” I said as I climbed the stairs heading to my mother’s room.
• She was asleep.
• I usually came home to her resting.
• My sight caught the Bible at her drawer
• It had been long I said a prayer.
• I walked in quietly.
• Grabbed the Bible and scanned through.
• Psalm 23 was the first chapter I remembered
• I sat at the edge of the bed
• Reading it aloud, my heart felt heavy .
• I didn’t even know if He could still hear my prayers.
• We were never strictly religious, but there was once a time we went to the chapel on Sundays as a family.
• Things were so different now.
• “ Amen” I heard a calm voice say, as i turned to see my mom smiling at me .
• She patted the side of the bed and I came closer to her for a hug
• “ It’s okay baby “ she said while stroking my head as I cried into her warmth
• “ I’m so proud of you “ she told me as I wiped my tears .
• “Me too. You’re so strong” I told her with a sad smile . She’s been fighting cancer for a year now
• “ yet you’re the strongest person I know. You and Stan. I love you guys so much “ she said with a slight cough .
• I passed her a glass of water from the table.
• “Thank you” she said after taking few sips
• “ The lasagna was good” i complimented as she smiled
• She looked so tired.
• I covered her with the blanket properly with a kiss on the cheek I wished her a goodnight.
• Switching off the reading lamp, I headed to my room.
• I showered and called Paris, for our daily conversation.
• We decided to make such dedication as a way of keeping in touch despite school, distance or family issues.
• It’s been helpful, her voice helped me sleep easily at night . She was such a gem in my life.
• It wasn’t long before I drifted into sleep in the midst of Paris’ talk about her annoying professor .