Chapter 4

*******

Working for Tonads publishing house was not as easy as she had hoped, although it was a thrilling experience to finally do something that she loved. Her major task was editing. Which she did alongside other editors in the company.

Crystal woke up in the morning feeling great....she said her prayers and then glanced at the clock...seeing that she had barely thirty minutes to spare, she hurriedly got up to get ready for work.

She looked pretty smart in her pencil skirt and light red top with silver heels to match... taking one more look around her cozy apartment she headed off to work.

Today was really going to be a busy day... she thought as she buzzed into the office building. She made her way to her to her desk stopping every now and then to exchange pleasantries with the workers she passed on her way.

As she got to her desk, she looked at the pile of papers stocked there and gave a loud sigh ...she had better get to work.... she carefully began sorting through the stories on her desk.

Totally engrossed in the manuscripts she was working on, she didn't realize that it was already lunch time until Dave -a co-worker- popped into her office..

"Hello there beautiful" he said with a confident smile on his face

"Hey" Crystal replied rolling her eyes at the name he called her

"Are you not heading out for lunch?"

"Not really" she didn't bother looking up "I want to finish this stuff so I guess I will just have my lunch here"

"Okay then I will get you something on my way back"

"Ohh, that would be nice" she answered smiling her thanks

Crystal could see why the ladies at the office practically drooled over Dave whenever he passed. He was a handsome young man of twenty-five who already had everything going well for him.

Everyone would love to hit it off with him ...everyone but her... Crystal thought as she got back to work. She was'n't in the least interested in him and only saw him as the wonderful friend he was. Besides she didn't think she was ready to handle the drama that comes with a relationship, her life was already complicated as it were now.

..........

The last three weeks had passed by unevently. Crystal was in a cab on her way home from work when her phone rang...

"Hey dad"

"Crystal, how are you?"

"Am fine dad, just a little bit busy" she answered frowning at her dads tone

"Dad, what's wrong? u don't sound alright" she said anxiously

"Its your mum hon, she was rushed to the hospital this afternoon after she collapsed at the office"

Crystal was starting to get scared, there was more coming she knew...

Her dad blew out a breath and continued..."the doctor ran series of test on her and they found out that she has breast cancer and has been living with it for a while now, it will be a miracle if she ever survives" her dad finished with a slightly cracked voice.

Ohh God..

Crystal put her head in her hands trying desperately to overcome the despair that was taking over her...she had to trust God not to let her mum die...she had to be strong for her dad... How did her perfect world crash so suddenly. She couldn't stay in Victoria island right now, she had to go home and see things for herself.

After notifying her boss of her inevitable absence, she packed a small bag and travelled back to Ikoyi praying for mercy throughout the journey.

As soon she spotted her dad in the crowded bus stop she rushed to hug him and they stood for a while silently comforting each other.

"How are you holding up?" her dad asked once they were seated in the car heading to the hospital.

"Honestly dad, I don't know anymore" she replied her voiced laced with emotion

"its okay hon, we will be fine" her dad assured her

Crystal just shrugged wondering how her dad could say that considering the situation they currently found themselves.

******