Chapter 1

Nicole:

I had gotten used to the fatigue that came after a long day's work. At times like this, I could feel the pain eating away at my back, my head spinning as I tried to keep myself steady.

But it was a good thing for me. I had no reason to hate it at all. This was what I loved doing and one day, I knew I would be able to do it professionally.

" Nicole! Oh there you are, I have searched everywhere for you" an old woman who had brought her sick son in a few days ago called me.

I plastered a big smile on my face as I turned around to look at her.

" Hello ma'am, you look ravishing this evening. How is your son?" I asked her.

She had a small blush on her face and a certain light in her eyes that had not been there when she first walked in with the cold body of the boy who had tried to commit suicide.

" He is fine, and it's all thanks to you. I don't know how I could begin to thank you. Your pep talk gave him the will to live again. If my son survives this chaotic year, I promise to name his first daughter after you." She said,

The tears were welling up in her eyes now and my heart ached. No one deserves to go through this.

" I only did what I could do as a human. He is a bright boy and I know he will go places. " I said to her.

She pulled me into a hug, muttering her thanks over and over again.

" Nicole. Let me see you in my office for a minute before you leave" a doctor called me just as I pulled away from her arms.

She cleaned her tears, giving me another smile as she waved.

I waved back gently too, making my way into the doctor's office.

" You asked for me, sir?" I asked him, uncomfortably standing in front of him.

" Yes I did, please take your seat. You are not a stranger" he said to me.

I already knew what he wanted to talk about. Even though he was taking his precious time to say it I already knew what it was.

I bit on my lower lip as I took the seat, avoiding making eye contact with him.

He cleared his throat and began.

" You see Nicole, you are a rare gem indeed. You are just a student doctor here and all the patients and staff already know your name. We are indeed lucky to have you" he said.

My throat was already numb as I stared at him, muttering a small thank you.

" And I honestly hope we can repay you well for everything you do in the hospital really, but the bills are just too much. I know that by now you already know I'm talking about your mum.

I'm afraid if you don't pay the bills by next week I will be forced to send her back home and stop the treatments. We have done our best to help you really" he said.

My legs threatened to give way when I finally got up.

"I understand sir. I will make sure to pay the bills soon" I said to him but it was almost laughable.

My head throbbed even louder now as I walked out of the hospital, the distant conversations of others floating into my like measly bees.

The thought of not affording the money nearly left me crippled with anguish.

She would die. She was so close to death now, almost as though it was waiting for her at the door.

I tried to smile as I passed some patients I knew but I couldn't. I was glad they did not walk up to me to ask what the problem was.

Where was I supposed to find such an amount of money in a week? My mind drifted to my father and I shook my head quickly. He was more than capable of paying my mother's bill twice over but I knew he wouldn't do it. She was not his priority anymore.

After work, I normally took the bus home because it was less expensive. My father gave me a very measly allowance a month and that was only to soothe his mind and make him feel like a good person.

But I had stayed too late today, the bus was gone. I focused on the next option which was a taxi.

I watched it sped through the city, coming to a stop as it pulled into my house. It stood tall amongst the other houses, making them look like worms in comparison to it.

Even though the mansion where I lived was gigantic and stunning, I could not help but feel claustrophobic the moment I stepped into it.

It felt as though I was choking. As though the air was being sucked out of my lungs.

"And where do you think you are coming from at this time?" The voice of my stepmother called just as I stepped into the living room, making me turn back to look at her.

I never told either of them that I worked at the hospital as a student doctor. I did not want to. The last thing I wanted was their negativity around me, telling me why I would not excel in that field.

" I went to visit someone," I said, my voice small.

" And you are returning by this time? You are wayward are you not? I have no idea what you plan to do with your life.

All you do these days is gallivant around, not even trying to put your life together.

Your father asked you to work for his company but you declined. What kind of a child are you?" She said all in one breath, as though she had been holding it in for too long and when she finally saw the chance to bring It all out, she grabbed it by the horns.

My step-sister Tiffany was wedged between my father and her mother as she looked at me, sniggering.

" Did you go to see that woman again?" My father suddenly spoke up.

I knew what woman he was talking about. The very same one he talked about with so much contempt as though she was a mere insect and not an actual human.

" Answer me when I speak to you!" He boomed, causing me to jump a little.

" Yes, I did," I said, my voice low.

He scoffed.

" You are such an embarrassment to this family you know that? I wonder how the DNA results I did tested back positive. I'm sure your pathetic mother rigged that result.

I know I could not have fathered such a weakling and disappointment like you. Tiffany is more of a daughter to me than you will ever be!" He yelled.

The tears were already welling up in my eyes as I looked down at my shoes, refusing to meet his angry eyes.

" Oh dear don't say that, she is your daughter too," my stepmother said, in a bid to play the good cop. I of all people knew how happy she was when I had fights with my father.

It further helped her to push my step-sister towards my father, to make him like her more.

" No, it's not okay! This girl disrespected you by going to visit that whore she calls a mother. I wonder why she is not dead yet! I should throw you out of my house since you have refused to listen to me" he said again.

My stepmother was rubbing his arms now and she turned to look at me with fake anger in her eyes.

" You know you should not make your father shout this much! Why can't you be like your sister? She is getting married tomorrow into the Dwayne Family and she has helped your father sign numerous contracts with her marriage.

You should learn from her" she said, mock scolding me.

I just stood there, holding the tears in and biting my lips. I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

" I don't want to look at your face! Go up!" He yelled at me and I bolted, straight into my room where I shut the door behind me firmly.

And there, in the comfort of my room with no one looking at me, I burst into hot tears, weeping for my mother, for my life and for how broken I felt living with them.

I did not stop crying until the early hours of the morning when sleep finally decided to take me.