A New Storm

People passing by were staring at me. I'm in the hospital now, with Lea and Letty. The doctor is still checking on Seya. So many questions flood my mind as I feel a deep fear for my sister.

Why did Seya suddenly faint? Just earlier, she was fine. She was lively and so happy, laughing and chatting with us.

I replay those moments in my head, trying to understand what went wrong. Had she been feeling unwell? I can't shake the feeling of helplessness as I watch the clock tick by, each second feeling like an hour.

Lea squeezes my hand tightly. "She's going to be okay," she says, but doubt lingers in my heart. I just want Seya to wake up and smile at me again.

"Zehra, wear this. It's cold here," Errol said. He's still here with us, he never left when we arrived. He took off his coat and put it on me. I'm still wearing a gown and my shoulders are exposed.

"T-Thank you," my voice trembling with gratitude. I looked at Thauce, who was leaning against the wall not far from us. His arms were crossed, and his cold, stern face showed no signs of emotion. I wanted to thank him too, but the words caught in my throat.

There was something about his expression that made me hesitate. Was he feeling the weight of this moment as well? Did he care? I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as my thoughts raced.

But I was grateful to him for bringing my sister to the hospital. I didn't expect he would actually do it, considering his arrogant attitude and how acted earlier.

Yet, he had stepped up when it mattered most. I remembered how he rushed to lift Seya with such determination, as if he understood the urgency even before we did.

Just then, I heard the doctor's voice calling out, "Who's the relative of Seya Mineses?"

I stood up immediately and rushed over.

"I-I am. I'm her sister. What happened to her?" I asked, my heart racing and my hands feeling cold.

"Miss Mineses, your sister has stage 1 lung cancer," the doctor said gently. "During my examination, I noticed some concerning signs. She has a persistent cough, and her breathing seems a bit strained. While I can't say for certain about her weight without previous records, she does seem to be in distress, which can sometimes indicate underlying health issues."

My stomach dropped at his words. C-Cancer? S-Seya has... cancer?

"Z-Zehra..." I felt Letty supported me after she also heard what the doctor said.

"Since this is her first visit, we need to run some tests to confirm the diagnosis. We'll start with imaging studies, like a chest X-ray or CT scan, to get a clearer view of her lungs. A biopsy may also be necessary to ensure we understand the full extent of the cancer. It's crucial to gather all the information before deciding on a treatment plan."

The words hit me so hard that I struggled to breathe. Tears streamed down my face, and my chest tightened. It felt as if the ground had shifted beneath my feet. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to process every word I had just heard.

"Has she mentioned anything to you? Like having difficulty breathing?" the doctor asked.

I swallowed hard. My trembling lips parted, but no words came out and I just shook my head.

"I think she has been feeling something, but she hasn't mentioned it to you. I've prescribed some medications, but it's better if she is regularly checked, Miss Mineses." the doctor continued.

I didn't say anything and just lowered my head. When the doctor left, that's when I fell to my knees and cried. I covered my mouth and cried my heart out. I-I didn't know... Seya didn't say a-anything to me...

"Zehra..." Errol came to my side and patted my back, his touch gentle and comforting. But right now, no words could make me feel better. The heaviness in my heart was too much to bear. I felt like I was in a nightmare.

Here I thought life was finally being good to us, but now... S-Seya is sick, and we need a huge amount of money for her treatment.

"Zehra..." Lea called me, she's crying too when she hugged me from the back.

"E-Everything will be alright, okay? We are here... we will not leave you and Seya," she said.

I bit my lower lip, feeling the weight of the moment.

Stage 1 lung cancer? Medications?

My hands trembled. I wiped away the tears that escaped my eyes and took a deep breath. I needed to be strong; we had already come this far, and Seya could still be treated. Stage 1—there was still hope.

"S-Seya shouldn't see me like this. I need to compose myself and not cry. I might worry her," I said, and I noticed Letty and Lea nodding in agreement. Through my blurry vision from the tears, I could see the worry and pity in their eyes.

Before entering the room where my sister was, I faced Errol who was still with us.

"Thank y-you so much for your help," I said, bowing my head.

"Zehra, if you want—"

"Errol, let's go now. You have helped them enough," Thauce interrupted.

In the past five years, the man in front of me, who gave me five thousand, hasn't changed. He's still kind and helpful. The same goes for the man with the serious and cold gaze; his expression hasn't changed either.

But I'm thankful for what he did earlier.

"But, Thauce--"

"You have helped them enough, I repeat."

Thauce turned and walked away after saying that.

"Sorry about my cousin. He's been like that since birth but he's a kind man."

I felt that way too because he was the one who carried my sister earlier. B-but I do understand why Thauce acted that way. I am a stranger, and he might think that I'm just after Errol's money.

"By the way, Zehra, I wanted to help you. If you need work, don't hesitate to call me, okay? I'm praying for your sister's recovery."

Errol's words reached my heart and mind. He's really good person... but I won't ask any help for him since I don't want Thauce to think that I.'m taking advantage of his cousin's kindness. I know how some rich people think. And I really don't want to be involve again with her. I am just so thankful that they helped me right now.

As I was about to take off the coat, he stopped me.

"It's cold here, use this," he said with a smile.

"Errol, I am tired and I want to go home now."

Errol and I both turned to his cousin who I think was losing its patience already. Errol scratched his neck and bid me farewell again before approaching his cousin.

"Errol really likes you, Zehra. I saw the sparkle in his eyes, and he's even willing to give you a job for Seya. That's good for you," Letty said.

I didn't respond, only offering a small smile as I took a deep breath before we entered the room where Seya was. I didn't want my sister to see me crying or with tears on my face, so I made sure I was okay.

Since that night when I learned that Seya has lung cancer stage 1, I never took my eyes off her. I also talked to her professors at school to let them know about her condition. Seya only had a year left before graduation, and her professors were deeply saddened by the news.

I'm working really hard selling vegetables. I've started making charcoal again. Do laundries for our neighbors. Any kind of work. I tried looking for a job, but because I only finished elementary school, no one is hiring me.

Seya's medicines are expensive; that's what I struggle with the most. But I endure it because I'm afraid her condition will get worse.

She's the only one I have left, and I would do anything for her to get better. A-anything.

But as the days go by. We are really being tested because her condition gets worse.

A professor suddenly called me and said they took Seya to the hospital because my sister suddenly fainted and spit blood. I was horrified and so scared that I could barely speak.

I rushed to the hospital, my heart pounding in my chest. When I arrived, I saw the doctors working quickly around her. And when I saw Seya, my whole body went cold, s-she looked lifeless. I cried so hard, no body was with me, n-no one to hold on to.

"O-Oh God... why d-do you have to make us s-suffer like this?"

When the doctor was done I immediately entered and went to her.

"S-Seya... I'm here... Seya..."

All I could think about was how much I needed her to be okay. I held her hand tightly, praying for her recovery. All I could do was ask God, I don't know why this is happening. I can endure anything and will continue to fight through life. But why my sister? Why?.

The thought of losing her was unbearable. I-I can't...

"Please, Seya, fight for me. I will do everything. I-I will work hard for you to get better, okay?" I whispered, tears streaming down my face.

T-This is killing me slowly... seeing her like this. There's still blood on her cheek, and her hands are so cold. If only... if only I could take away her pain, I would.

As I cried beside my sister, who was still unconscious, I noticed the doctor approaching me from the corner of my eye.

"I'll be honest with you, Miss Mineses. Seya's condition is getting worse. She can't push herself too hard and she needs to stop studying. I also need to increase her medications, which are... quite expensive."

The doctor knows w-we can't afford it that's why he's looking at me with pity in her eyes. I just nodded at her while crying, holding my sister's hand so tight.

"J-Just do everything you can to save my sister, Doc. I-I will find another job to pay for her treatment. Please... s-save my sister."

Oh God... why is this happening to us?

W-Why does it have to be S-Seya?