CHAPTER TWO — STATEMENT BALANCE.

Chapter Two.

STATEMENT BALANCE.

Nora's POV.

“Mom!” Lily got down from the hospital cot, and rushed towards me as I opened the door.

“Don't run Lily, you'll fall.” I warned.

“Mom!” she wrapped her arms around my legs as she got to me.

I sighed.

“I have told you not to run Lily.” I bent down, and dropped my bag on the floor. “If you don't listen to me, you'll fall someday. Do you want that?”

“I am always careful mom, I won't fall.” she shook her head with a smile.

“I don't need you to be careful sweetheart, I need you to listen to me.” I said, putting my hands on her shoulder. “You are yet to undergo surgery. So your body is weak. It might get worse if you don't listen to me.”

“I was just excited to see you.” she said, dropping her head with downturned lips. “I missed you so much.”

“She wouldn't stop asking about you.” the nurse in her room confirmed.

“I know, okay? And I miss you too.” I said, stroking her black hair with a hand. “But you have to listen to me. When you're fine, you'll run as much as you want. But right now, I don't want you to run, okay?”

“Yes mom.” she replied, her face still downcast.

“Look at me sweetheart,” I said, framing her face with my hands. “It won't be long now, you'll undergo surgery, and you'll be fine. All I'm asking is that you listen to me, okay?”

“Okay.” she muttered.

“Promise?” I stuck out my pinky finger.

“Yes, I promise.” she hooked her pinky finger, and pressed her thumb against mine. “I won't run till after I undergo my surgery.”

“Now, that's my girl.” I said, ruffling her hair with a hand. “Meanwhile, I packed you breakfast. Who's hungry?”

“Me!” she raised a hand above her head.

“Alright, let's have breakfast.” I picked up my bag from the ground, and followed behind her as she returned to sit on the hospital cot.

“What is it?” she asked, sitting on the hospital cot.

“Of course, I made your favorite sweetheart.” I replied, unpacking the meal. “See? It's just the way you love it.”

“Shrimps!” she gasped, covering her mouth with her hands as her eyes widened in surprise.

“I know how much you love them so I'd to bring some with me. Meanwhile, you should eat now.” I smiled, scooping the broth from the lunch box into a smaller plate. “I am sure you'll love it.”

“It looks delicious, mom.” she picked up a spoon, and began to eat.

“Excuse me, can I have a moment with you?” the nurse asked.

“Sure.” I replied her with a smile, and turned back to Lily. “Give me a moment, I'll be back.”

That said, I got up from the hospital cot, and walked with the nurse to a corner.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked in a curious tone.

“No, not really.” she said, looking past me. “It is just that Doctor Farhan asked me to tell you to see him the moment you arrive.”

“Oh, he asked me to see him.” I rubbed the base of my neck.

“Yes, he did.” she nodded, looking at me. “You should go see him now.”

“Thank you, I'll do so immediately.” I replied. “However, can you help me watch over her till I return?”

“Sure, I will.” she smiled.

I sighed as I looked at Lily eating the meal. I knew exactly why he wanted to see me. But I didn't have the money yet. I knew that I was running out of time, but I just need some more time to gather the money. After staring at her for a few seconds, I turned around, opened the door, and exited her room.

I walked down to the doctor's office. Before long, I arrived. I gripped the doorknob, and opened the door as I walked in.

“Oh, you're here.” he lifted his face the moment I walked into his office. “I was just about to check on your daughter to know if you'd arrived.”

“I just got here five minutes ago.” I said, closing the door. “The nurse said you asked to see me.”

“Yes, I did. Please sit.” he said, gesturing with a hand.

“Thank you.” I took some steps forward, and settled on the chair in front of his desk. “I am listening.”

“Okay, I believe you already know why I asked to see you.” he said, putting his hands on the desk, while looking at me. “We are running out of time. If you don't pay the money for the surgery, then things might really go from bad to worse.”

“I know, and I'm trying my best to raise the money.” I said, blinking back tears. “Right now, I've been able to raise four thousand dollars.”

“Yes, you said that the last time. But it's not enough to commence surgery on your daughter.” he said, shaking his head. “I explained this to you before. I'm not the one who's going to operate on her. I'm going to have to bring in a colleague of mine who will do the surgery.”

“I know, you mentioned it to me the last time I was here.” I said, trying to suppress the tears rising in my throat. “You don't have to say it again.”

“I do, okay? I have to remind you of my words again.” there was an edge to his voice. “My colleague doesn't stay here. I'll have to pay for his flight tickets, his accommodation, feeding, and the likes. So, we need fifty thousand dollars to set things in motion.”

“I–I just need some more time.” I stuttered, my voice breaking with tears. “I am sure I'll be able to raise the money.”

“That's the problem, we don't have time.” he said, hitting the desk with a finger. “Don't you love your daughter? Do you like the condition she's in right now? Don't you want to save her?”

“Of course, I do! Okay?” a flash of temper lighted my eyes. “I love her so much it breaks me to see her in that condition. But I'm also trying to my best to save her.”

“You need to do better.” there was ice in his voice. “If you don't get the money by tomorrow, then I'll be forced to ask you to take her away from this hospital. I'm not ready to ruin the reputation of this hospital because of you.”

“I–I will find a way to raise the money.” I sniffled, wiping my face with the back of my hands.

That said, I got on my feet, and exited his office. I returned to Lily's ward, but I didn't go in. Instead, I stood outside, watching her through the glass in the door. After a while, I dropped my head, and moved away from the door. Just then, my phone rang.

“Damn it.” I muttered under my breath as I realized who the caller was.

It was Daphne. I should have sent a design of her company's logo some days back, but I didn't. If anything, I'd been more concerned about trying to raise the money to pay for Lily's surgery.

“Hello,” I answered.

“What is wrong with you!” she yelled from the other end of the line. “If you can't do the job, then refund my money. It's as simple as that!”

Before I could apologize to her, she hung up the call.

“Damn it.” I closed my eyes, and hit the bcak of my head against the wall, while holding my phone in my hand. “Damn it.”

While I had the time, I figured it was best to quickly do her design, and send it to her. I double tapped the screen of my phone, and it came alive. Then I turned on my mobile data. Just then, a notification popped up.

“What in the world?” I muttered, staring at the notification on the screen of my phone. “$200k for twenty-five days?”

There were two options below the notification: interested, and not interested. I was just about to tap on the option of not being interested. But then, I looked at Lily. If I did nothing, then I might just lose her the same way I lost her father, Daniel, and I didn't want that.

Besides, the doctor had made it clear that he would ask me to leave with her if the money wasn't ready by tomorrow. Although, I'd promised myself not to get married again after Daniel died. However, if I refused to take the offer, he would be mad at me wherever he is.

I sighed, and looked at the notification again.

“I am interested.” I muttered the words under my breath as I typed them.

I sent the message, and ttouched the pendant hanging around my neck as I closed my eyes, and sighed. Daniel had given it to me a night before his death. Just then, my phone chimed. I looked at the screen. It was a notification. I tapped on it.

The message read: 'Come to this address right away. 291B Welland Road Off crescent Street. Make sure you're there before 9am.”

I glanced at my wristwatch. It was 8:45am.

“Damn it!”