Sickness
Olivia Hurst
Present Day
"Mum, why hasn't Dadda come home?" A girl of almost three raised her gaze to her young mother quizzically, her brow arched, tiny red buds pouted, waiting impatiently for hemum's usual answer. A routine practiced since she could mumble words.
She pressed her lips to stop from grinning at her daughter's bossiness. Her nibble fingers paused, combing her toddler's braids into place.
The cottage they inhabited was warm, sending much-needed comfort to the residents. Despite their meager possessions, this was truly a home no matter if the thick grey bricks were chipping away slowly, the rugs and carpets has holes, or if the pieces of furniture they have were mismatched.
Taking a deep breath, her hazel eyes on the picture frame on the mantle above their old fireplace, she prepared herself for another lie. "Your dadda is a superhero, my love. He is fighting bad guys." She said softly. Almost a whisper, not wanting to wake Eleanor's twin.
Their voices were easily carried over the one-bedroom cottage, Olivia and her ailing father had built near the foot of a hill. A small patch of land far from the nearest outpost.
Another year had passed, and with it, her father. Her protector. Now, it was just her and the girls.
Olivia was farming by day for basic crops for consumption, raising chickens for eggs and goats for fresh milk. Sold in the local market to earn some extra income for her daughters' basic needs.
At night, while Emily and Eleanor were asleep, she hand-saw mats and dish towels. Anything to get them by.
She was tempted to look for another job but the twins were too young to leave behind. Another problem was Emily.
Her little girl had been sick since she turned two. High fevers, no appetite, always plague by cough and colds, she was losing weight. She was almost half her twin's size.
That was the only feature that sets them apart. Both have the same curly black hair, thick eyelashes, and forest green eyes. Eleanor's were piercingly innocent while Emily's softer but keen observant. They have milky white skin, freckles on the bridge of their noses with pouty rosebud lips.
Some say they were her replicas except for their distinctive beautiful green orbs.
"But he will come home, right? I can't wait to show him Sassy." Eleanor patted the chocolate-furred cocker spaniel beside her gently, a devoted pup to the twins.
Her mother gave another sigh. There were words she wanted to say but she couldn't. Not when it would break her daughters' hearts. "Soon, baby." She kissed the tip of Ellie's nose, and she grinned. "Off to bed my little princess. Cuddle with Millie, share your body heat. Always protect her, okay? Like a superhero." Giggling, she scrambled out of her mum's lap and climbed the small cot on the corner, snuggling on her sister's smaller frame.
She looked up at her mother, another question in her emeralds.
"Like, dadda?" A little voice queried as she tucked a thick blanket into her twins. Giving them extra warmth.
Olivia's gut twisted. "Yes, just like your father."
Ellie smiled blissfully, hugging Millie's sleeping form closer to her.
These girls were her life. She couldn't imagine hers without them.
Having gone through a lot of shit, nothing fazes her anymore. Or so she thought.
She had chosen this existence because she had to. Making the most of what was given to her.
In return, Olivia had lived in peace. No threat looming at her back. No bad memories to assault her mind.
Shaking her head, refusing to dwell on things she had no control over, she sat on a stool, her hands picking up the rug she was working on.
Her past was in the past. She cannot afford to bring it to her present.
Nor her future.
***
Sweat ran down her nape to the small of her back. Groaning, bending backward, her hand shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun, she grimaced at the muscles protesting her movements.
Tending the growing cabbages, lettuces, and cauliflower beds since dawn, she only stopped until it was too hot to work anymore.
"Mum!" Ellie shouted from the open doorway, one hand on her tiny hips. She was holding Millie close to her while her sick twin was sucking her thumb.
"Yes, princess?" She responded, wiping the perspiration from her face, grimacing at the sunburn on her cheeks and forehead.
"Millie hurt her nose. Look!" Ellie pointed.
Frowning, she made her way to them as fast as she could. Oh, God! Thick blood continues to tickle down from Emily's pert nose.
Guiding them both inside, she grabbed a towel, held the soft material under her youngest daughter's nose to stop the bleeding. She was also burning with fever.
"We will visit the doctor today. Let's get ready, girls, okay?" Her voice trembled not knowing what to do. They were hours away from the nearest town.
Both nodded. Always good little poppets and never wont to give her any problems or fits.
She had enough money and gas to go to town for another check-up. Emily has to get better. Maybe doc Jill will know what's going on.
***
"We are only a satellite clinic, Olivia. Your daughter's fever has been going on and off for months. She had been given a higher dosage of antibiotics but her body is not responding to the medications anymore. I can only do so much, my friend." Jillian squeezed her hand gently. Sadness filled the volunteer's eyes. "I would recommend the provincial hospital. They can run more tests. Then we can go from there." Her ocean blues hewed on the child on her friend's lap.
A girl with an identical image was playing with the odd toys on the carpeted floor.
Olivia blinked back tears, her lips quivering while she tried to decide what was best for Emily. "Can't we do the tests here?"
"No. Her weight has drastically dropped. She's undernourished. We have to do it quickly." New to the medical field herself, with no prospects of residency, this was the best recommendation she could give.
To her relief, the patient's mother nodded. Tears she had been holding fell unheeded. Jillian flinched.
"When can we go?" Olivia asked in earnest.
"Let's visit the provincial hospital first, get some blood work done." She advised. "The day after tomorrow. Doctors are coming from London. One is a famous internist and a neurologist." She had been looking forward to meeting the world-renowned physician for years. Hoping she could submit her credentials for an apprenticeship.
But more than that Emily has to have the proper diagnosis. The child's health has to come first.
***
"Leukemia. Cancer of the blood." An old family physician said bluntly like he was just announcing the weather. His dry lips twisted, reading the recent blood test, while Jillian was eyeing daggers at the aging doctor.
Olivia's heart plummeted to her stomach, she hugged Millie closer to her while she pulled Ellie to her other side. A whimper caught in her throat.
"Might be stage 2 or 3," he shrugged. "Thank goodness the child is young. She won't feel much when the time comes. You will have other kids." He dismissed callously.
Olivia felt the urge to kick him in his balls. She got up, ready to exit the room. Pale but hazel orbs blazing, her twin hugging her legs, about to storm out of the clinic.
"Doctor Tamim," her friend, gritted through her teeth. "We still are not sure how severe it is. More blood work has to be done and we don't have resources for a needle biopsy to determine the diagnosis of the specific type of leukemia. Extensive tests should be conducted before you make a final diagnosis. Unfortunately, this hospital does not have that resources right now." Her chest was falling up and down from her rant. On edge. Ready to do battle for her friend and two kids.
"Well, a newbie like you would know it all, eh?" He said mockingly. Beady sights watching Jillian with lazy interest. "Pray tell, has any hospital accepted your application for a residency?"
Jillian stood slowly. Her face red from anger. "Just send me the bill. Come on, Vie. I know someplace else we can go."
The door banged behind them and the secretary jumped on her chair.
"Mum, will Millie be, okay?" Her daughters walked hand in hand. At almost three years old, bundled in warm clothes, they looked innocently cute together except...She nodded, a small forced smile graced her lips to reassure Ellie everything was going to be fine. Satisfied when both of her daughters beamed.
"Where are we going, Jill?" Olivia asked worriedly.
"To my apartment. There's a medical mission tomorrow and we need to be there at dawn to bring Emily. I want us to get help as much as we can." Being a doctor, though licensed, but had no experience, Jill knew if given the chance, she would like to stay with Vie to care for Millie.
Olivia carried Emily, while her friend hefted Eleanor in her arms. Tickling both children, making them giggle.
Even wary, she trusted her friend's judgment. Grateful for people like her. Knew she was only looking after them.
"But what about money?" Shit! If what Dr. Tamim said was true, she has a hard battle in front of her. She would do anything for Emily's treatment. Selling her soul would be the least of it.
"We will cross the bridge when we get there," Jillian assured her.
***
It was a cold morning. A thick fog was heavy in the air. The line was long, patients and parents from across the capital took advantage of the free meals, medical assistance, and financial subsidy.
Whoever initiated the program must be rich.
However, they lack staff, and Jillian had to volunteer so Olivia could get a priority number since her child's case was among the worst for the day.
Inside the warm tent, blood was drawn from Millie's sleeping form and they were waiting for the results.
Some said the specialists had arrived and will be visiting each patient soon.
Which was a relief. The crowd outside was getting uncomfortable. Maybe from the cold or hunger.
Olivia nodded in approval upon hearing a soft voice instructing some of the nurses to hand out packed foods and helped the young ones who can't walk on wheelchairs.
She should take advantage of the free meals. Eleanor must be hungry. It was close to lunch and they only had light breakfast.
"Ellie?" Turning, she frowned. Her little girl was no longer beside her.
Where had she gone? Her eldest twin has a penchant for mischief. She had to find her fast.
"Can I leave my daughter with you here?" She asked the nurse.
"Sure, ma'am. She's sleeping anyway. I'm sure her twin became restless. Don't worry we have tight security." The young volunteer assured her with a kind smile.
She nodded, still unsure. Eleanor was a troublemaker. "Thank you. I'll be right back."
Her heart pounded when she couldn't locate her eldest daughter among the crowd. She had searched the whole plaza, but she couldn't find her.
"Eleanor!" She shouted. Uncaring if she drew attention to herself. "Ellie!"
Oh, God! Where could she be?
"Miss...ma'am?" A soft voice behind her called out. Then a small manicured hand touch her narrow shoulder. "What happened? Maybe my husband and I can help?"
Veering around, her gaze fell on the petite woman before her. Her lovely soft eyes were filled with concern.
Olivia felt thankful someone was willing to help. The pregnant lady looked delicate but her touch was firm. She trusted her right away.
"Yes. I'm...looking for my daughter. She has curly black hair and forest green eyes. She's this tall." She gestured. Not knowing how long Eleanor has gone missing, she suppressed a sob. "I was with her twin at the clinic and when I turned around she was gone. Please did anybody see her?" She scanned the crowd, pleading.
Then her gaze dropped to a familiar face. "Nick?"
No. No. No. Not today of all the days when she felt so vulnerable and lost. Her past shouldn't be catching up with her.
This would only bring trouble. She wasn't prepared to deal with it.
"Do you know each other?" The beautiful woman with an elegant almost elfin face asked. Frown in her eyes. Oh, no! Nick must be her husband.
"Yes, sweet. We know Olivia." Her childhood friend confirmed. His dark gaze observed her. His face became impassive as he put two and two together.
Vie trembled. This man was part of a group. If he was here then..."I'm sorry. I have to go."
She had to find Eleanor. Collect Emily from the clinic then get away from here as soon as possible.
Jillian will know where to find them.
__________
