Sick

Sick

Being alive had become more of a nightmare for Helen, with no skill set, and her poor educational background getting a good job was near to impossible.

However, she still tried to get herself employment so she could earn a decent amount of money, she left her home early every morning and came back late at night. Her daughter was left in the care of a neighbor who had kids of the same age as Sarah, but later on, her neighbor got fed up with Sarah being in her care and told Helen to stop bringing her over to her home. Helen had no choice but to leave Sarah all alone at home but she made sure to prepare her meals before going out, this was her only choice as she couldn't afford a babysitter.

"The vacant position in our office has been occupied. Maybe next time." The human resource manager said to Helen. She had applied for the position of receptionist in the corporation immediately when she saw the advert in the newspaper two days ago.

This had been her seventh rejection in the space of two months and she was worse for wear and already losing hope.  All her jewelry had been sold to cater for herself and Sarah who had long since dropped out of school. Her finance was almost non-existent as she had used the little money she had to pay for rent and feeding.

Helen was a very beautiful woman. She had a sculpted figure which was slender with a lean waist and a curvy voluptuous backside and a chocolate brown complexion. A pair of eyebrows looked down on sweeping eyelashes and her delicate ears framed a button nose. She had a set of dazzling white teeth with brown gums and enticing luminous brown eyes and full lips which were to die for.

Helen's predicament did not deem her beauty, she had lost some weight due to her predicaments but only where necessary in her body. She was a sight to behold and got compliments from strangers who wanted more from her. At first, she rejected them but as her situation worsened she gave in.

Helen's pov

They all wanted my body before they would help me.

"You are a very beautiful woman." The general manager said looking at me lustfully 

"Thank you, sir," I replied, afraid I would get a no again.

"Your curriculum vitae on my table is not too impressive, I have better-suited candidates applying for the job." He continued smugly. "However…" he looked at me sexually "If you would go on a date with me, I might find a position for you here." 

I gazed at him shocked, without another word I took my bag and left. I had such proposals in 4 companies I visited and the others told me outrightly that I was not qualified for the job. I was beginning to lose more of my self-esteem which was very low already due to the mental abuse I suffered from Donald.

I didn't want to succumb to selling my body but my willpower was already dying a slow death. Sarah was diagnosed with an appendix last week and she urgently needed to be operated on. I called Donald's number but it was not available. He had probably discarded the number I used to call him in the past, so I decided to go to his office.

"I'm here to see Mr. Donald Duke," I said to the security man, I dressed to impress him in a two-piece navy blue jumpsuit and a pair of low heeled red pumps. My hair was held in a bun as he always complimented my looks whenever I wore my hair like that.

"Your name please." The security officer asked

"Helen.," I replied

"Just Helen, don't you have a surname." He looked me over as he jotted on his notebook.

"Just tell him, Helen, I'm an old acquaintance of his."

The security personnel left reluctantly and was back in a jiffy. "No one by the name Donald is here." He said confidently 

"But Donald owns this place, I used to da….." I trailed off too embarrassed to say what I had in mind, if I told him I dated Donald in the past it would only complicate things which were the last thing I wanted to do right now.

"Please leave or I will throw you out." His friendly demeanor was gone, replaced by an angry look.

I understood what had happened when he went inside the office, Donald had asked him to throw me out.

I went back home and met my daughter in the pool of her own vomit, as she wrenched in pain my heart bled.

I ran to my neighbors and begged for help, but they threw insults on my face. I was called names especially by the women, I later got to know that I was hated because they felt I was too beautiful and would have their husband lusting over me. It really hurt me because that was never my intention. However, I had a sick daughter and no money to meet our needs

It was on a Thursday morning, as I stood at the front yard, a pot-bellied well to do neighbor of mine (Mazi) who had a nagging wife and three ill-mannered kids came to where I was and engaged me in a conversation.

"You look worried," Mazi said to me, sounding concerned.

"I will be okay." I didn't bother to look at him as I spoke, his wife was the one that ganged the other ladies against me.

"I heard Sarah is sick." He continued and I just nodded.

"I can help you."

I slowly turned towards him, speechless. "What game was he trying to play." I wondered.

"I can give you one hundred thousand Naira (#100,000) for the treatment now." His eyes were difficult to read.

"Thank you." My eyes brimmed with tears, I was at a dead-end already 

"But on one condition." He said.

 I knew it would get to that, there is always a condition attached before you can get help from people. But I had no choice but to hear what the condition was and hoped it would be something I could actually meet.

"I want you to share my bed with me, just once." He smirked as he talked.

I looked at him in disgust, he was my neighbor for goodness sakes and his wife already hated me. Before I could give him a befitting reply his troublesome wife stormed to where we were standing and dragged her husband to herself.

"I have warned you to stay away from my husband, you whore." She shouted at me.

I knew her type very well because she started laying curses on me and my child, the other neighbors came out from their rooms to know what the commotion was about. I saw the women and how they looked at me already passing judgment on me. 

I walked out on them and went to my room and locked my door. With my back on the door, I cried silently, when would this pain and disgrace end I wept.

The following days were rough for Sarah. The pain on the right side of her lower abdomen was excruciating, she had bouts of nausea and vomiting and she also refused to eat. 

On a Tuesday evening, I went to get some groceries for dinner and when I came back I  met Sarah slumped on the floor.

"Help me," I screamed and rushed to where my child lay unconscious.

"Sarah, don't do this to me please." I laid my daughter's head on my lap and cried.

"I will take her to the hospital." Mazi my neighbor said and lifted Sarah up into his hands and walked to his car with me in tow. Mazi's wife looked on angry at her husband for helping me but she could not say anything because of the onlookers who would taunt her for being unkind to the dying child.

With my heart in my mouth, Mazi drove us to the hospital.