Kira wiped the back of her hands with a napkin,then tossed it on the table,she grabbed a bottle of water,drank half of it then sighed.
"Another hectic day"she murmured,then dropped the bottle.
"Kira,miss Wright want you to attend to the lady,on...table 26"her co-worker, Mirabel, told her.
Alexa glared at her, "it's past six,and I end my shift by six,why do I have to still work,when my shift is over?"
"I really don't know,besides the next lady who's supposed to work next isn't here yet,so I think Mrs Wright wants you to attend to that lady before leaving, she's been waiting for some minutes now, just cut your crap and attend to her!"Mirabel fired at her.
Kira was used to this,Mirabel has always been like that to her, sometimes she was nicer, other times,just totally rude,her mood swings makes Kira wanna rip off her neck.
Kira attended to the lady,changed out of her uniform,then,boarded a taxi home.
Ƙira worked as a part-time waitress at Vivi's eatery and bar, Vivi was one of the best eatery and service bar in New York,it was owned by a woman whom everyone knew as madam Pinky, she'd seen her boss a few times,madam Pinky hardly came to the restaurant and bar section,she was always on the next building,which was the clubbing section, because according to what she heard, madam Pinky earns better from the club section, because most Mafia's, billionaire's and popular business men visit the club,and her strippers often earn well,of which she collects 20%of Thier earnings each night,madam Pinky was a full time billionaire,who was divorced,and had only one daughter,who was as proud as a peacock.
Kira alighted from the cab,paid the driver,then walked into the house, Kira lived with her grandmother and younger brother,her parents died since she was ten,her granny had become Their guardian since then,her grandmother sold fruits at a little shop,code to Their home, while her brother assisted her by making smoothies after school, while she worked as a waitress,life was manageable for them, but two years ago,her grandmother was diagnosed of cervix cancer,which according to the doctor, was powered up due to how much she's been stressing, Kira's grandmother couldn't earn money anymore,which made all the burden fall on Kira's shoulders,she had to drop out of college to make ends meet,after all,her brother still had to go to school and she needed money for her granny's operation.
Ƙira walked into the hose and met her brother, making coffee in the kitchen,he was a young boy of fifteen,his hair was at shoulder length,with his blue eyes and natural pink lips,he was handsome, Kira knew her brother could earn money if he was a model,he was just too handsome for his age.
"Sissy, you're back"Andrew called out to his sister,he brushed his brown hair with his fingers,then poured hot water into a mug.
Kira smiled at him"yeah,how was school?"she questioned.
Andy looked at her, she seemed stressed out,he hated the fact that she had to struggle for them,if only Their parents were alive,Their dad was a very wealthy businessman,then all of a sudden he was at the verge of bankruptcy and owed debts,he had to sell most of his companies,to repay,which left him with only one toy factory,he couldn't take the pressure and insults from the masses,so he jumped off a building.
Their mom whom heard the news died of a heart attack, Andrew hated his father for his cowardly nature,if only he'd work harder in his toy factory,maybe Their lives would have been better,he hated how his parents had to leave the burden on his sister's shoulders, luckily,Their granny was still there to support them,but luck wasn't on Their side,and granny got sick,living Kira with double expenses, Andrew hated everything about Their life.
He had to buy textbooks and also pay up his fees at school, he'd tried to see reasons with the principal,but the grumpy old man wouldn't hear of it,now his sister has more expenses,he couldn't bring himself to tell her what was going on with him at school,but still he couldn't drop out,he has to graduate,get a part-time job and assist Kira,so he had reasons to go to school.
"Um..school was fine,just a few lessons and all that"he murmured"coffee?"
Kira nodded,he grabbed a mug,then passed it to her, before going to give his grandmother her coffee.
Alexa drank the whole content,then went to her room,she freshened up, grabbed a few dollars notes then walked out of the house to get pasta for dinner.
Kira had walked a few miles when her phone rang,she checked the caller ID then found out it was her brother.
"Andy"she Answered the call,then called out to him,then walked into the mall,"what is it?"
"Sissy where are you?"
Alexa could tell from his tone that he was panicking,she tossed her phone to the other side of her ears then said "what is it,I went to get pasta for dinner, you don't have to worry,I'll...."
"Sis, granny is at the hospital"Andrew blurted out.
Kira forced herself to regain her balance "huh?how?when?why ?where are you now?"she questioned.
"I'm at Novartis hospital with her, I'd went to her room to give her coffee,when I found her struggling to breathe,so I had to rush her to the hospital"Andrew explained.
"You know what,hang on,I'll be there now!"Kira told him,then stopped a taxi and went straight to the hospital.
She got there minutes later the met Andy close to the reception.
"Where's grandmother?"she questioned,with fear evident on her face.
"She's at room 17,I came here to direct you" he answered,Kira grabbed his hands,then walked towards the doctor's office.
Doctor Emmanuel used to be Their family doctor,but since things didn't turn out well,he didn't render home services to them anymore, though he was still nice to them,Kira couldn't blame him though,he had his own bills and expenses, every one does.
"Sir,my ...."Kira told the doctor,but he shunned her by saying "please have a sit first "
Andy placed his hand soothingly on her back, assuring her everything would be fine,she sighed then sat down on a chair next to her.
The doctor sat down,scrolled through some files then said "two months ago your grandmother was brought here,and according to the test results,her cervix cancer was getting worse than expected, but..... with the look of things, it's even worse than before"
Kira rubbed her sweaty palms together,nervously then inquired"so you're saying...."
"Her condition is really bad,and with the way things might turn out,she has a few months to live,she might live up to two to three months,six months if there's a miracle otherwise....."
Alexa jumped out of her seat,tears welled up in she turned to look at Andrew,he was. struggling not to cry,he held back his tears as much as he could,but they failed him,they cascaded down his cheeks
"Doc,what do you mean?how..how..is that possible,my grandma would live longer than that ,she will ,i know she will,"Kira told him crying
"I'm sorry Kira,the disease has really affected her organs,her left kidney is almost damaged,and her lungs are seriously affected, there's only one way out,and that means she has to undergo a surgery,and.... it'll cost a lot of money ,and you might not be able to afford..."
"How much is the surgery?"Kira asked,perhaps she could pay for it,she had saved up to 20 thousand dollars since the past year,that was the reason why she didn't even have a nice pair of shoes,or clothes of good quality.
The doctor sighed"actually the surgery will cost you up to a million dollars,but I know it's really hard for you, since your parents died so, I'll assist with the bills,so you can pay 800 thousand dollars.
Kira wished she was deaf,"what!how ...how..on earth..."she skittered,where would she get the money,even if she put herself for sale at an auction,she wouldn't be able to afford that much.
"Please sir, isn't there anything else we can do,sis and I can't afford it, can't we pay something lesser?" Andy asked.
The doctor put a hand oh his shoulders and rubbed his back soothingly "I'm sorry Drew, but that's all I can do for now,I mean,I'll have to pay the surgeon who'll assist me,and he'll be coming all the way from India,and what about the nurses,the equipment and all that, it'll cost a lot of money and we need to begin the surgery as soon as possible" the doctor told him.
Andrew hugged his crying sister,as if bills weren't enough she now has more,he felt like selling himself to relieve her burden, but Kira wouldn't agree of it.
"Kira.. it'll be okay, we'll find a way ,right?we always do"he assured her.
"Andy we might not,I mean this is really hard,where on earth are we gonna get that money,even if we Rob a bank it seems impossible,I..I.. just.. don't know.."she wept.
Andrew sighed, he'll have to skip school for a couple of days then he'll see if he'll be able to do some menial jobs,or anything.
Kira buried her face in her palms,she was totally lost,there really is no hope left.
************
The next day came quickly, Kira made sure her brother went to school, because she knew he'll find a way to earn money and skip school,and she didn't want that,this was her battle,and only her shall fight it.
She got down from the taxi and walked into the restaurant,of course she still had to come to work, despite all circumstances,after all, money is her issue.
"Good morning Kira"Tanya,who was her co-worker and closest friends, greeted her.
"Morning Tanya"Kira replied,she changed into her uniform,put on her apron,then began to work
When it was time for her 10 minutes break,she walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water and gulped it down.
"What a world"she muttered to herself,she watched as a man and a woman, holding two kids, walked into the restaurant,it reminded her of her own family,if only thing were still the same.
"What's wrong Kira? why do you look so gloomy?" Tanya's voice interrupted her.
Kira jolted out of her thoughts, she opened the bottle of water and drank the remaining quantity "it's nothing Tanya,I..jus..... it's really nothing"she denied.
Tanya sighed then sat down next to her, removing her apron "Kira you know you can tell me anything right?"Tanya told her.
Kira knew there was no way she could lie to Tanya,she always saw through her mind.
"I'm really bothered Tan,I just don't know what to do?" Kira said,then buried her face in her palms.
"C'mon,tell me, we'll find a way believe me, there's always a way" Tanya assured.
"Believe me Tan, this time,I don't think there's a way"
"There isn't a way to what?"
Tanya and Kira turned to look at who had spoken,they saw Mirabel,and Amy,thier co-workers.
"Kira is really bothered"Tanya blurted out, before Kira could tell her not to.
"Huh?why"Mirabel inquired
Kira thought about it, maybe if she told them they'll help her right?
"Actually my granny is in the hospital,and I need money for her treatment,but the thing is,where do I get the money?"Kira explained truthfully.
"That's easy,tell your boyfriend,or use your savings"Mirabel said.
"C'mon Mira, Kira doesn't have a boyfriend "Amy told her.
"The thing is ,my savings aren't enough,even if I work hard,even as a full-time waitress,I won't be able to get the money and thine is seriously running out"Kira explained.
Amy sat down next to her and said,"maybe you should borrow or something "
Kira sighed,who on earth would borrow her the money,even if she went to the bank for a loan,she wouldn't be able to acquire it,who on earth would give an highschool dropout a loan.
"I don't know of anyone who would lend me the money,and even the bank wouldn't lend it to me" she explained.
"How Much is it,maybe I can lend it to you?"Tanya told her"I've been saving a lot recently,I'll see if I can"
"You can't Tanya,the money is out of your reach"Kira explained
"How much is it,I can assist too"Amy told her.
Kira stared at them,the amount felt heavy in her mouth, she sighed then dropped the bombshell"it's 800 thousand dollars.."
Mirabel,who was drinking from a bottle of water almost choked.
"What!"they all exclaimed.
"See?I told you"Kira said sighing
"Just let the old granny die, after all that's better than spending that much on her, when she dies, you'll dump her at a cemetery, you'll even get free allowance from the government since she was your only guardian" Mirabel told her, snickering.
Kira felt her slapping her head out of her neck,who on earth gives a friend such a suggestion.
Mira! how can you say that,her grandmother is her guardian,if she dies, Kira will be left with only her brother and no one else,she won't be able to bear the loneliness"Tanya explained.
"That's all I can suggest"Mirabel defended
"Don't listen to her Kira, you'll find a way out of this, believe in yourself "Tanya assured.
"Find a way out of what?"someone questioned behind them,they all froze in fear, everyone knew the voice belonged to Mrs Wright,the manager of Vivi's restaurant,they knew they'll be scolded for spending more than their supposed ten minutes.
"Um... it's.. it's..no.... nothing,it really..is... umm...nothing"Kira told Mrs Wright,she couldn't afford to let her know,she feared she might be insulted for wanting to spend so much money on an old lady.
Mrs Wright looked at all of them,then sighed"get back to work,all of you, NOW!"she told them, authoritatively.
They all stood up,and walked towards the door,when they heard Mrs Wright's voice.
"Everyone else, except Kira!"
They all turned to look at her,Kira heart skipped a beat,she swallowed nervously,what has she done wrong this time.
The three of them walked away, leaving only Kira, standing nervously, Kira's eyes were fixed on the floor, awaiting what Mrs Wright had to say.
"Kira is anything the problem,you look so gloomy"Mrs Wright inquired.
Kira shook her head negative "I'm perfectly fine, I'm just... tired"she lied.
Mrs Wright grabbed her hands affectionately,then gave her a warm smile "Kira you can tell me anything, don't be afraid okay?"
Kira sighed, she couldn't pretend any longer,she explained everything then broke down in tears,she expected Mrs Wright to call her stupid,but instead, Mrs Wright patted her head with affection.
"It'll all be fine,I promise you,I wish I could help Kira,but I'm really out of money for now,I spent every thing on my daughter Who's schooling in Canada, I'm really sorry,I wish I could help "Mrs Wright rubbed her back, assuring her.
Kira nodded"it's fine,I really appreciate it"she told her.
Kira picked up her tray, and was about to leave when Mrs Wright's voice interrupted her"Kira,how about I take you to see madam Pinky,maybe she'll be able to help you with the money or...."
Kira tossed her tray aside,then ran to hug Mrs Wright, she had high hopes that madam Pinky could help her,after all she was filthy rich.
"Oh ma'am, I'll really appreciate that, thanks a lot "Kira muttered.
Mrs with patted her hair then smiled,"you know what, when it's six o'clock, don't go home, we'll go see her together,okay?"