WORSE THAN HELL

Dawn broke softly as the gentle glow of the sun’s rays slowly spread across the dark clouds, touching the roof of the Winthrops’ home. In one of the mansion’s rooms, Tracy lay quietly.

“Phone beeps”

On her phone screen were notifications of both missed calls and missed alarms. 9 missed calls from Doctor Maxwell.

“ Oh my days, 9 missed calls?? No way, no way…. But 9 missed calls just this morning alone? Goodness me…”

She said to herself, her countenance fallen, lips pressed tightly together and tears filling up her eyes. Sat up with her legs swiftly swept off the bed, sitting at its edge with her head buried in the phone. She dialled with a leap of faith written on her face

“Hello, good morning Doctor Maxwell”

Still biting her lower lip

“Good morning, Mrs Reynolds. I'm sure you must be alarmed seeing the number of missed calls on your phone”

He responded.

“Angela is in pain; she can’t stop mentioning your name and really needs your attention. I’ve done all I could, and I think it’s high time we proceed with the surgery. Any further delay could be costly.”

He said in a clinical, calm voice.

“I…. Uhmm… I've been making arrangements, and we will surely commence the surgery in no time. Please give me a little time. She's all I've got as a family.”

Her voice trembled with fear and anguish laced around it.

“I understand you, Mrs Reynolds. But you said this same thing last week and the week before. I've lost count of how many times I've heard this same sentence. However, you have the ball in your court, and as I said, delay might be costly”

With the same tone.

“I'm working on it, please…. Give me just a little more…..”

With the word still in her mouth, her door banged…

“You seem to have secured a better occupation”

Lady Genevieve, a tall black woman dressed elegantly with her dress complemented by an apron, callously said.

“I have to go now, I'll update you on it as soon as possible. If I get my permission granted, I will show up tomorrow”

She quietly said with the phone close to her mouth.

Switching up her facial expressions, she faced Lady Genevieve with a smile on her face…

“Obviously not, I'm just trying to untie some knots I woke up to”

She said with a grin.

“Today isn't that day, my dear. Get yourself ready, we have a whole lot of work to do. The guest would be arriving soon and I'm sure you know Mrs Ava won't condone any kind of fuck ups”

She said nicely.

“Were you crying? And why's your face pale?”

Lady Genevieve said, further drawing near to her.

Gently holding her face with her two hands

“Wanna talk to mama?”

Tracy broke down in tears..

“ I can't do this anymore, Angela is dying”

She said sobbing quietly. She had tried hard to hold it but it spilt.

“Doctor just called me. She's been screaming my name all night in agony, I can only imagine the kind of pain she's going through. She is really in pains”

She said, as tears uncontrollably fell out of her eyes

“At this point, it's no longer a bad idea to seek Mrs Ava’s help for the surgery bills. Let's hope she can get touched this time by your story.

It's gonna be fine, trust me.”

She said, giving her a warm hug.

“I hope so”

Crying a little more loudly.

“Wipe your tears, you can't let this weigh you down. Let's get to work and I promise, I will join you to go meet her tomorrow. Please stop crying now”

Lady Genevieve said, holding her face one more time and smiling at her.

“You are beautiful. I'm sure God has a very good plan for you. Don't give in to negativity. Stay positive. You won't bury Angela. It's all going to be fine my beautiful Princess. Now let's get ready for work, so things won't get worse”

“Thanks, Lady Gene. I'd get set in a bit”

She stood up, wiping her tears and her nose.

Lady Gwen headed for the door while Tracy proceeded to her wardrobe to get herself dressed.

She opened the wardrobe, picked up her dresses and right on the floor of the first column of the wardrobe, lay her diary.

Angela's picture on the first page as she opens it

“I'd do everything in my power to make sure you live and smile, whatever it takes”

Sobbing a little more.

‘ I gotta go now, let's hope for a miracle from Mrs Ava’

Her heart whispered in her heart