Chapter One

It was raining heavily, and Savannah Louis was packing her little things. She had been called by her brother's doctor requesting for her presence at the hospital. Savannah quickly got out of the shop after taking permission from her boss.

She opened the glassy door of her shop and got outside, so many people were moving about in the rain. Some were with an umbrella, others were using their hands as an umbrella as they were all looking for shelter. 

She saw a cab pass by but didn't stop it, she needed to save money for her brother's treatment. Savannah hung her bag tightly across her shoulder and joined the people who were in the rain without an umbrella. 

She was running very fast as the rain poured down heavily, it didn't seem to take pity on the young lady who was distressed. Savannah was crying as she ran hastily, her tears were mixing up with the rain. 

She got to the hospital half an hour later, soaked by the rain. She smiled to herself because she had won over the rain, which wanted to be a barrier to her today. 

Her auburn hair was wet, she brought out a scarf from the bag she had kept hidden under her shirt and dried her hair with the scarf. She then squeezed her cloth, making water splash on the tiled floor. 

She went into the hospital and rushed towards her brother's ward, he was sleeping soundly when she got there. A nurse was in the ward, giving a little boy of about ten years old an injection. The little boy was crying loudly, and Savannah couldn't help but frown. She didn't like the way the little boy was crying, what if he wakes her brother?

“Miss,” she looked behind her to see a nurse standing with a tray of medical instruments in it.

“Yes nurse? Is there a problem?” Savannah asked.

“The doctor requests to see you once you arrive,'' the nurse said. 

“Oh thank you,” Savannah said and faked a smile. “I'll go in and meet him right now,'' she added and stood up from her seat. She glanced at her brother for a long time, not willing to leave him alone but after a while she left for the doctor.

She got to the doctor's office and stared at the door. She was hesitant for a while, scared of what the doctor might tell her. She mustered up courage and knocked on the door, she was asked to come in by the doctor. 

Furthermore, she opened the door and went into the office. She found the doctor, a young man in his thirties, going through a file. He was wearing a spectacle and his white coat was hung around his chair. The doctor looked up when he saw her.

“Hello Miss Louis,” the doctor greeted with a smile. “Come and have your seat,” he added. Savannah twitched her lips and dragged herself towards the doctor. Water dripped from her clothes as she moved closer to the doctor.

“Hello doctor,” she forced herself to reply at the doctor's greeting. She took a seat opposite him, shivering lightly.

“You know the reason you are here, Miss Louis,” the doctor started and shifted his spectacle to get a clear view of the girl in front of him.

“Yes doctor,” Savannah replied.

“But I would have to alert you that your brother's health is deteriorating, Miss Louis. He needs more medications, the one you are currently paying for is too little,'' he said, sounding frustrated. Savannah twitched her lips and fiddled with the hem of her cloth, trying to hide her embarrassment.

“I'm deeply sorry about that doctor,” she said.

“You don't have to be sorry, Miss Louis,” the doctor said. “What I am trying to say is that you need to add more money for your brother's medication! He has been here for a long time, Miss Louis!” The doctor said, anger rising in his tone. Savannah could do nothing but cry.

She sniffed back her tears and stood up from her seat, with a heavy thud, she fell on her knees.

“Please doctor, give me a little more time and I will surely pay the bills and get my brother out of here!” She pleaded and cleaned her tears with the back of her palm. 

She went to see the doctor, and he told her that her brother needed more medications, and she was providing too little. He asked her to do something about it, if she wanted her brother to get better and pass this sickness stage.

The doctor looked at her in pity and was lost in thoughts. He exhaled loudly as he stared at the girl in front of him.

“Stand up, Miss Louis,” the doctor said. “Please stand up, I don't like the way you are kneeling on the floor,” he added.

“Doctor please, give us a little more time and I will surely pay the money!” She said, 

“You've said this word countless times and later came back with an excuse,” the doctor said, sounding pissed.

“It's a promise this time, doctor! I will surely pay my brother's medical bills!” She said,

“Then stand up!” Savannah quickly stood up from the floor. “You have just a week to pay your brother's hospital bills, Miss Louis. Just a week, after that week, there will be no more chances for you,” the doctor said. 

Savannah looked at him, grateful he had given her another chance to look for money, so she could pay her brother's medical bills. She dashed out of the doctor's office after thanking him. 

She stopped by her brother's ward, he was still sleeping. 

“I promise you will be alright, Danny," she said with determination. She kissed his forehead and walked out of the ward, looking determined to bring her brother out of the hospital.

The rain was still dropping, but it was not as heavy as it had been on her way to the hospital. Savannah glanced at the hospital as she stood in front of it. She was sad about the news she had just heard, she wasn't earning enough and didn't know what to do. 

She thought about a solution and later decided to visit her friend Lucy, who was a part-time bartender.