Mara pov
"Will we?" she whispered. Before I could answer, the small TV on the wall switched to a breaking news update.
"Again?" she said. "This news…"I looked up at the screen. The reporter said, "Rumors continue about the man known as the Ghost. No one knows if he is a mafia lord or a drug dealer, no journalist has ever seen his real face. So therefore, the president is offering a large reward to any reporter or media house who can expose him…"
My sister squeezed my hand. Her fingers felt like tiny sticks. "Mara, did you hear?
"Yeah, but don't think much about this stuff. I took the remote and changed the channel to disney, "watch cartoons from now. I added, sitting back beside her.
"Don't go near anything like this. People vanish when they follow this man." My sister Lina said, as she struggled to seat up.
I swallowed hard. "I know." I assisted her, then place the pillow at her back.
"You're a journalist. You need money, but promise me you will stay away from this Ghost."
I looked at her weak body. I looked at her thin fingers and her half-empty hair. "I will try," I said.
"No," she insisted. "Promise me."
I sighed. "Okay. I promise."The word tasted bitter on my tongue. I hated lying to her. A nurse walked in and called me out. "Miss Mara, we need to discuss your sister."
"I'll be right there." I replied. " I'll be back soon, my love." I said to my little sister, giving her a peck on the cheek.
Then I walked out. We stepped into the doctor's office. The air was cold and smelled of medicine and dettol. The doctor was a dark skinned lady. She had bucky eyes and a dimple. She was wearing a blue dress and her doctor coat.
"Good evening, miss santi." She replied offering me a seat.
"Good evening ma," I grabbed the seat. Meanwhile the nurse stood beside her.
"The treatment she got yesterday used the last money you paid," the doctor said. "For the next stage… the cost is three thousand dollars."
I stared at her. "Three thousand dollars, what?"
"Yes, ma." She replied, checking the files.
"I want to pay for today," I said to the nurse.
She looked at her computer. "That will be three hundred thousand dollars for the medication and the bed fee."
I pulled out my phone. My hands were shaking. I opened my bank app. I had three hundred and fifty dollars, It was everything.
"God help me." I cried inside my heart. I tapped the screen and sent the three hundred dollars.
Payment Successful. (Debit alert from phone)
I looked at the screen.
Balance: $50. (Popped at my phone screen) "There," I whispered. "That's for today."
"Confirmed." The nurse replied. Then walked over the doctor's table. The doctor looked at me with pity. "Miss Mara, I have to be honest. The next stage of her chemo starts tomorrow, If the money isn't in our account by tomorrow morning, we can't start the treatment. We will have to move her to the general ward."
"The general ward is too crowded," I said, my voice rising. "She will catch an infection. She's already too weak!"
"I know it's difficult for you, but this is the cost of the treatment. Cancer isn't something we can manage or do ourselves if not we would have helped you." Said the doctor, she had compassion in her words.
"I have only 50$." I showed them my balance. My feet's were trembling and I felt pain in my chest.
"Don't you have any relatives? like an older sister or brother.
"No, I am the eldest child and daughter." I bent my head down, tears dripping down to my cheek. I used my hand to swipe it off before it fell down.
"You have to bring the money," the nurse said. She turned back to her papers. "Otherwise, her bed will be given to someone else."
"Focus on today . I'll get the money tomorrow before the treatment starts."
"Treatment starts by 12pm tomorrow." The nurse replied, arranging the files.
"Alright." I walked away. My stomach groaned. I hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon. I went to the small hospital cafeteria and bought a piece of dry bread. It cost me two dollars. I sat in the corner and chewed it slowly. It was hard and tasted like nothing, but I had to save that forty-eight dollars for my sister's food. I couldn't spend a cent on myself.
"Being a first child is so difficult, but being an orphan is hell." I mumbled.
I walked towards the water dispenser at the hospital hall and drank water. Then I headed back to my sister ward, by the time I got there she was already at sleep.
"My little angel." I sat beside her then gave a a peck on her scalp. I looked at her condition and it broke me into pieces, tears ran down my eyes. I cried so bad but yet I made no sound. I held the pillow beside her burying my face while I poured out my pain into it—the feeling was unbearable.I didn't know how long it went but then I fell asleep.
The next morning, I walked to the office. My head was light from hunger. When I got inside, I went straight to my boss's office.
"I have the photos from yesterday beat," I said. I placed my camera on his desk. "I caught the face of the man who was running the shipment. Now, give me my pay. I need it for my sister."
My boss, Mr. Vance, didn't even look at me. He scrolled through the photos. "These are okay. But the lighting is bad, Mara. These aren't worth the full price."
"What?" I slammed my hand on the desk. "I almost got killed for those! My sister needs her treatment today. Give me my money!" I yelled a little.
He leaned back and smiled. "I'll tell you what. I won't pay you for these yet.
"But this wasn't the agreement?" I flinched.
"The client change their mind, they have a better job." He said with a greasy smile.
"We are reporters, we gather news, we don't follow instructions of filthy politicians." I said, glaring at him.
"The public doesn't pay us, these men do. He tilted his head with confidence, "if we can find information on this big fish, there's an underdog that's willing to pay sixty thousand dollars.
"But why?" I leaned forward. "Why pay so much for him?" I whispered in shock.
"He is a big fish in corruption. Everyone believes he controls 90% of the illegal operations in the country." He replied. Biting the cover of his pen.
"That's crazy!!… If no one could catch him all this while, what makes you think, it will be different?" I asked, grabbing a seat in front of him.
"I have a lead on the Ghost. He's moving goods through the East Dock warehouse tonight. Get me a clear shot of him. If you do, I'll pay you half of the money. I'll give you three thousand dollars "
"Three thousand dollars?" I breathed.