1. The News
The doctor regarded Nyla for a moment before gesturing to the chair in front of her. “Please, have a seat, Miss Jones.”
Nyla sat, suspicion clouding her expression. Something was wrong. She could feel it in her bones. Not patient enough for the doctor to spill, she asked. “What happened to her?”
The doctor sighed, smoothing her face into practiced calm. “The aortic aneurysm has progressed rapidly.” Nyla’s heart pounded, but the doctor still had more to say. “She needs an emergency surgery within two weeks to prevent a rupture from occurring.”
Nyla’s hand shook uncontrollably on the desk, fingers pale, twitching with fear of the unknown. She didn’t want it to get to this extent.
“What…” she shook her head, trying to maintain a steady voice. “How much are we talking about, doctor?”
Doctor Nile pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, eyes on the laptop screen before her. “I did a rough estimate before you walked in,” she said, absentmindedly twirling a pen in between her fingers. “The cost will cover the procedure, hospital stay, follow-up care, and…”
“How much is everything?” Nyla interrupted her. She was dying of suspense.
“A total of two hundred thousand dollars.”
A heavy silence followed the doctor’s last words. Nyla’s eyes twitched. Was she joking?
“It covers all expenses.” The doctor started explaining when she noticed Nyla had gone mute.
“You said that before.” Where did she expect her to get such an amount of money within two weeks? The whole of her plant studio didn’t even cost a quarter of that amount. “Is there any other way?” Her voice cracked despite her effort to keep it firm.
“I’m sorry, but this is the only way out.” Doctor Nile responded in a conclusive tone. “And to save your grandmother’s life, we must be fast about it.”
Nyla nodded in understanding. Life had a way of fucking with her. Tears quickly gathered in her eyes, but she brushed them away with her thumb. She wouldn’t cry now.
“Thank you, doctor.” She pushed herself out of the chair and left the doctor’s office.
-
Her steps faltered the moment she glimpsed Florence, her grandmother, lying on the bed. Her stomach churned as she watched her once-bubbling grandmother now rooted to a hospital bed with her eyes on the ceiling, looking like someone who had made peace with death.
She looked thinner than Nyla had ever seen her. Her vibrant skin had turned pale, completely washed out, evidence of how much the sickness had taken a toll on her. Nyla knew she had to do something. She had to save her dying grandmother.
She forced out a smile as she approached the bed. She still needed to look happy for her grandmother.
“Nana.” She fought back tears. Seeing those thin wires disappearing beneath her grandmother’s gown stung her chest.
Florence beamed upon glimpsing her. “Nyla.” Curling her lips to form a smile was almost a struggle. “I’ve been waiting for you to come.”
“I’m here now.” Nyla sat beside her, taking her hands. “How are you today?”
“The doctor assured me that I’ll get better,” Florence’s voice sounded small, fragile as she looked.
“Yes,” Nyla responded, determined to make sure of that. She had no idea how, but she would raise that money anyhow she could. She would never sit back and watch her grandmother die. “I’ll do everything to see you back on your feet, Nana.”
Florence stared at her grandmother with those soft eyes, carrying years of love for her. “I don’t want you to be too hard on yourself, Nyla. If my sickness gets worse, just let me go. I’ve lived enough. Your life matters more now.”
“No, Nana.” Nyla fixed her with a glare, but her expression quickly softened. “You’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Have you forgotten the promise to hold my hand and walk me down the aisle on my wedding day?”
Florence smiled softly. “I’m sorry, Nyla. I wish I had better health.”
Nyla hated the guilt her grandmother’s expression carried. Florence had sacrificed her life for Nyla to get the best out of life. She had been the one taking care of her since her parents’ demise.
“I’m sorry for being a burden.” Florence’s small voice dropped like a whisper.
“No,” Nyla shook her head. Her eyes were strained from all the stress she’d been undergoing these past few days. “I’ll do anything for you, Nana, and you know that. Now, enough of these talks. You need a lot of rest.”
“Thank you, Nyla.” Florence smiled. “You always make me feel better.”
Nyla returned her smile. “I have to go back to the studio now to finish arranging some plants. I’ll bring your favorite food for dinner.” She kissed her cheeks before walking out of the room.
As she walked down the streets, tears gathered in her eyes as the reality of her problem dawned on her. How would she get $200,000 in two weeks? She was still lost in thought when her phone started ringing.
The number looked familiar; she picked up, halting her steps to hear the caller clearly on the other end.
“Yes, Nyla Miller from PHF studio, how may I help you?”
“You designed the plant in Mrs. Kensington’s mansion two weeks ago.” The voice from the other end reminded her.
Nyla sighed. The money from the job had helped her secure a private hospital room for her grandmother and paid all her bills until now.
“My boss was impressed with the arrangement, and he seeks your service to design his space.”
Nyla faltered for a second. “Your boss?”
“Yes, Mrs. Kensington’s son.”
“Oh,” she nodded.
“He’d like to have a meeting with you to discuss the arrangement.”
“Okay, when is that?” Nyla asked.
“We can do it today if you don’t mind. My boss is very busy, but he has a few hours to spare today. If you agree to this, a vehicle will come to get you from your shop. Please send the details of your address.”
Nyla looked down at her ridiculous boots and multi-colored leggings. She’d been working in the studio when the doctor called, but this was about money, and looks didn’t matter right now.
“Of course, I’ll text you my address.”
“Then our driver will come get you in a few minutes.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The call went off afterward. A flicker of hope surged through her. This seemed like a good start. Although the plant business wasn’t very common, sometimes clients brought a good deal that could make her good money, not half of the surgery money, not even a quarter, but it was still a good one.
She flagged down a cab and headed to her store to wait for the driver, who would take her to Mr. Kensington’s office.
A/N
This is an entirely new story that I will continue only if you all give me the ginger to do it. Lol.
If you like this first chapter, please like and comment and push me to actually write!!!!
