The Surrogacy proposal

~Selina~~

I rolled on the bed, tightly squinting my eyes in a bid to get rid of the flashy beam of light that managed to settle on my face. My vision was unclear for a while until Dr. Tonia's voice slit through the silence.

“Hi love, looks like you are awake,” my attention drew towards her silhouette that was adjusting the curtain on the window. I blinked a few number of times as little hazy memories started adding up in my head.

It didn't take more than a minute before I remembered everything.

"How do you feel?" Dr. Tonia asked as she walked back to my bedstand. I frowned at her.

“You knew everything, didn't you?” My voice came out like a whisper, very husky and sad.

Dr. Tonia took in her lips, and a guilty look flashed across her eyes. She cleared her throat and answered, “I learned very late; I never knew your relationship with that patient until yesterday when I was supposed to take you to the room,” she explained without holding back any truth.

The pain I thought was gone found its way back to my chest; I began to heave as my breath hung in my throat.

I let out a low, painful sigh. “That was why you didn't want me to go, right?”

She didn't give me a response, and that alone was enough answer for me.I gave a bitter smile as I glanced out through the window.

Everyone must have seen how pathetic I am. I had an accident a week before my wedding; my fiancé left for no one but my twin sister, and as if that wasn't enough, my own parents also approved of them.

Interesting!!

“Please relax; it's time to check your vitals now,” Dr. Tonia said with patience. I didn't even argue or disagree with her; I just lay back and pretended to close my eyes.

I mentally pictured all her movement on my body till I felt her hand relax from my body. Urgh, finally!!! At least I can now have my personal space.

I heard Dr. Tonia's leg movement as she strolled away from my side. Almost instantly, someone pushed the door open. I peeked through my left eye, and from the corner, I saw a nurse pass something that looked like a note to Dr. Tonia, who in turn handed it forward for me to collect it.

“You can stop pretending now; this note is for you.”

I groaned out In frustration but that didn't stop me from extending my hand, she placed the note gently on it and I sat upright to check the content.

I removed the envelope and crumbled it to a corner, “who is it from?”

“Your parents,” I got a short response from her. My heartbeat increased and slowly, my hand began shaking, the previous peace I had managed to manifest flew out through the window.

“Why did they send me this? What is the content?” I couldn't resist asking. Dr Tonia shrugged and answered, “Noone knows, they might want to apologize for what happened."

I felt somehow at the imagination of how many people must have learnt of my terrible situation. No wonder everyone didn't miss the Chance to peek through my window.

I let out a mocking laugh... I am a joke to everyone!!!

I unfolded the letter and slowly, my eyes skimmed through the content. My heart fell upon noting the reason behind the letter, my eyes turned bloodshot as well. The letter read;

[Dear Selina,

This is a joint decision from every member of this family. We have come to a decision that we will be breaking up family ties with you, you have caused us nothing but trouble so in order to rectify that; you will be responsible for paying Edwin's hospital bill. We will also be withdrawing your health insurance f*e, that will be our compensation for raising you all these years.

Additionally, your aunt left her dumbass company in your care and attached to this Letter is the document, you can appreciate my consideration by sending me more money.

Thank you,

your mother]

I began shivering, refusing to believe that this is really happening. How? How did we get here? What did I do to these people?

My health insurance is my everything, I have an heart disease that I was born with and without that insurance, I am nothing. I am as much as dead.

Silent tears seeped through my eyes.

Dr Tonia noticed the tear that hung in the corner of my eyes and that was when she got alarmed, “is everything okay? You are still recuperating and you shouldn't be crying with your condition,” her tone was full of love and genuine concern.

I smiled through the tear droplet and handed the letter over to her, the ownership document fell on the floor but she didn't notice that. Dr Tonia glanced through it while I bent on the floor to pick up the document. By the time she finished reading the content of the letter, anger bursted through her chest.

“Who the heck are these people? They mean, you have to pay your hospital bill and even that of your ex-fiance?” She blasted out, not speaking to anyone in particular.

It might have been shocking to her but isn't to me anymore, the content of the letter says because I disrupted a good family time, I have to pay for my ex fiance's hospital bill which is 2× high because of the earlier discharge request. Also, I have to pay my hospital bill myself.

I turned to the side of my bed, glanced down at my skinny purple purse, and then brought out a card from it. “Here, can you help me to check the balance? The pin is 2…” Dr. Tonia didn't waste a second; she collected it and went out immediately.

I didn't know how much time she was gone for, but it felt like an eternity. Later, she returned with a sullen face.

“I am sorry, this card is empty.”

My eyebrow raised as I stared at her face, “Empty? The last time I checked, I still saved up to a couple hundred thousand dollars there,” I tried to explain, but my words seemed meaningless. I mean, who would believe it? The evidence is right there that my account is empty. Right now, I don't have any option on how to pay the hospital bills.

“If you don't mind me advising you, since the letter says they added an ownership document of a technology company to you, why don't you just sell it, pay the bills, and probably do something good with the rest?” Dr. Tonia advised. She doesn't want to get into trouble, so I understand what her concerns are all about.

I would have eagerly jumped on the advice, but that technology company originally belonged to me; it was given to me by my late uncle and aunt, but my parents forcefully took it from me and drove it to bankruptcy. Now, the company is nothing but crumbs, and I will do anything to revive it.

"No, I can't."

A nurse came in and handed a test result over to Dr. Tonia. I noticed how her mood changed as she read through the document.

Her book shook, and it took a while before her gaze tore away from the white paper.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice hinting at fear.

"This test result shows that you have a very rare heart condition, and the condition has really escalated."

My heartbeat rose. What is she talking about?

"You need surgery as soon as possible."

I struggled with forming a complete statement; my color turned pale, and hair rose in every corner of my body.

Where do I get money? My health insurance f*e is gone, my bank card is empty, and I have no accomplishment to my name. What do I do?

I faced Dr. Tonia; I hesitated for a second, but then I made up my mind to do what came to my mind.

I knelt on the cold hard floor.

"Please, help me. Please, help my life... I honestly can't do this... I have no means of getting payment. What do I do? I have no one to turn back to," a tear flew down freely from my eyes.

She helped me up and dusted my knee, "I am just a widower, I have no money else I would have paid for you. Although, I can offer a solution. This solution is very risky and against my career but I will let you know it anyway."

My ears raised in anticipation.

"The only way you can get quick money is by being a Surrogate Mother," my eyes lit up in confusion. A scream almost left my mouth.

I should carry someone else's baby? How!!! How am I supposed to do that?

I shook my head.

“No, I don't want to do that. I am sorry.”

Dr Tonia wore a sad expression before she said, “I don't want to do this but I have no choice.”

My eyebrow raised in suspicion, What is she trying to say?

“You can only manage your condition without the operation for 3 months. Otherwise, you will relapse.”

I shouted, dropping my purse in the process. Tears hung in my eye orb, hurting my pupil in the process.

All hopes felt lost, I was heartbroken and sad.

Did God forsake me? Was I a villain in my past life? Where exactly did I go wrong?

I sniffed and laid back on the bed, I began to think about my life… my options… and so many what ifs.

I don't know how I suddenly slept off in the process but when I woke up, no one was with me __ as usual.

I felt better not because life has become easier but because I just decided to make a life turning decision. I requested for Dr Tonia's presence and she joined me minutes later.

“I opt for Surrogacy? What is the process and who is involved in this?”

“You are lucky that I am put in charge of this, else it would have taken forever. The billionaire wants IVF, and the identity of the person is what I can't tell you.

Huh?

“Yes, you will find that out by yourself, but before then, I will give you the form to fill. You have automatically passed the test because I have your medical record with me, and it's quite clean.”

I thanked her while she left me to go bring the form. I stared out through my window, watching how peaceful the birds were.

Can I ever be as free as them?

I know the answer but I still wanted someone to convince me otherwise, maybe that can put me at ease and probably make me feel better for selling my own womb to a stranger.