Chapter One

Alva

I made my way out of a home I was babysitting. I would surely be late to the diner. Yet, I still had to pick up Samuel. His school had closed thirty minutes ago but the parents of the boys I babysat didn't come early. My legs wobbled as I briskly walked to the side of the road and flagged down a taxi.

"Goldenlaws primary school," I informed the dark seated figure upon entry.

As the vehicle began moving, I stared through the open window to enjoy the scenery Greece had to offer. It's been so long since I enjoyed anything. Between rotating two different jobs to save up for college and keep a roof over my head, dealing with the tragic death of my sister and taking care of my son Samuel, there wasn't enough time to enjoy what the world had to offer. The taxi halted right in front of the beautiful gates of the primary school. I highlighted the vehicle, handed the driver his money, and proceeded inside.

"Miss. Pierce?" A familiar voice called my name. I looked up to see the headmaster of the school, a middle-aged man of the ripe age of forty. I frowned instantly. I was surely paying a fine. I walked up to him dreading the... Strange. He did have his signature frown. This time he looked worried. The sweaty and folded forehead gave it all away.

"I am really sorry. I couldn't leave my job abruptly. I hope you understand..."

  Flashes of what the welfare authorities threatened to do if I wasn't capable of taking good care of Samuel crippled me with fear. I could not lose Samuel. I would rather die than allow some childless wealthy couple to snatch him away from me. I prayed the headmaster let it go. This was only a slip-up.

"Ms. Pierce, " The man interrupted me, removing the spectacles that accentuated his small round face. "Samuel isn't here..."

"What!" I cut in, feeling the blood in my veins go cold. They wouldn't.

"We tried calling you but you didn't pick..." His apprehensive voice continued giving me goosebumps this time. Did something happen to my Samuel?

I figured I should check my phone. I had put it on silent mode while babysitting. Mostly to avoid a call from my boss at the diner. I was surprised to see fifty missed calls and a ton of messages. I tried to focus on what the headmaster was trying to say but I couldn't concentrate. I clicked the message icon and forced myself to read one that mentioned Samuel. It read,

Samuel slumped in class and has been rushed to the hospital. Please come as soon as you can.

The unsettling revelation shook me to the very core.

"Where is he? Where is Samuel!"

"He has admitted to Petrina Memorial." He replied, his words were sobre.

"Take me there," I announced.

My mind reeled all the way to the hospital. What happened? Was Samuel alright? A million other questions ran through my troubled mind. I had already lost a good friend. I could not bear losing a son. The headmaster pacified all through the journey yet my mind was not at rest. It wasn't normal for a healthy seven-year-old to just slump. The car eventually pulled up in the parking lot of Petrina Memorial and praying for good news, I briskly went through the doors. The hallway was crammed with patients on trolleys, some tended by exhausted and sad families and some alone. It wasn't an encouraging sight. My hopeful trudge through the flickering hallway was dashed. I wasn't sure I could handle bad news. My eyes welled up just thinking about the bad things that might have happened. Luckily, the headmaster was there as moral support. I distracted myself with the tastefully dull decor of the children's ward.  Above every door I passed was a large plastic sign, dark with white lettering. No fancy fonts, just bold and all-caps. We stopped at door number eighteen. I sucked in a breath the second the door opened.

There he was. My Samuel was there, tagged with several beeping machines. His class teacher was by his side. She gave me a tired smile as if to assure me that everything was okay but I refused to believe that. Not until I saw how he was faring and knew exactly what happened to him.  I rushed to his side, examining his unresponsive body. His natural tanned skin was pale white and his raven black hair had lost their sheen. He wasn't like that when I took him to school earlier today.  I felt his pulse. It was weak and worrying.

"Did they say what is wrong with him?" I asked his teacher but she nodded otherwise.

"The doctor will be coming soon."She informed.

I remained seated with Samuel, holding his hands and praying for a miracle. I was so engrossed in my own thoughts that I didn't notice when the doctor came in. An unfamiliar touch jacked me out of my trance-like state and back to reality.

"You are his mother right?" The doctor asked.

"Yes. What is wrong with him?"

The young doctor's eyes flicked around the figures in the room before speaking. "Could we have this conversation in my office?"

"No! Tell me what is wrong with him now!"

I did not have time for the drama. I couldn't risk it. Time was life and I meant it more than ever. Everybody here was concerned about Samuel so I saw no reason to have some stupid private conversation.

"Your son has Anemia. He needs a blood transfusion urgently." The doctor informed, managing to keep a straight face despite passing such a piece of terrible news.

"Well, Get him blood!" I ordered thanks to the jolt of a sudden realization that Samuel was in mortal danger.

"Our blood banks are empty. If you don't mind we will take a sample of your blood and hope it is compatible with his."

No... Samuel and I didn't share any genes. My blood wouldn't match.

"I... can't give him blood." I stuttered, earning a questioning start from everyone. "Our blood is not compatible..."

The doctor scratched his head implying there was bad news. Like Baaaad news.

"Well, Is his father here? Because your son needs a transfusion urgently. His condition could worsen if he doesn't get one today or tomorrow." His voice was sharp and firm and that meant business.

There was silence. Complete silence. Wordlessly, I knew what I had to do. I did not like it but it was something I knew I could never avoid especially not with Samuel's life hanging. Samuel's father had to know.