Give love a chance

“Where is she? I panted out of breath, looking at the receptionist at the hospital

“Room 204, the west wing, she answered without asking who I was looking for. I thanked her and rushed towards the walls, which were becoming way too familiar as I marched into the room

“Nanny, are you alright? I heard you fainted at the flower shop. I thought I told you to stop moving around too much. Knowing your condition, why don’t you ever listen to me?

"Oh, you're overexaggerating too much. I just felt faint, and they rushed me here. You guys worry too much, and in what condition I am perfectly alright.

"Nanny, with your attitude, we will be in the hospital every day, they don’t even bother asking who I came looking for anymore”

“Imagine what I thought when they called me at work to tell me you were in the hospital again. At this rate, we are going to be practically living here. If you don’t care about your health, at least think of me, I am not ready to lose you yet,” I said almost in tears.

“I’m sorry, dear, but I just want to move around instead of staying in bed all day. I feel useless and just want to help a little”

“You can, but just know when to stop and take it easy, please, for my sake”

“Ok dear” nodding her head and hugging me

“So what did the doctor say this time?” I asked, wiping the tears from my eyes

"Nothing, just the usual; my blood pressure went up again.“

“Ok, wait here, let me go and talk to the doctors to see if you can leave because I know how much you hate it here"

The doctors gave her permission to be discharge, telling her to take it easy and that she needed to perform the surgery soon because any other mishaps could be fatal to her health. As soon as we left the hospital, I took nanny home and strictly instructed her to stay in bed the rest of the day, and I rushed back to work knowing I left before telling my manager he is going to be very angry when he finds out because this is not the first or second time this has happened. I can’t control myself anytime I hear that she's in the hospital after the first time she almost left me when she was all I had.

Getting to work, I could already hear my manager yelling at my colleagues, and I tried to sneak back into my shift, hoping he hadn’t noticed

“Stop right there, Lenah. I know you left work without my permission" He yelled, stopping me in step, saying my last prayer, and turning around to look at him

“I’m sorry the hospital called saying nanny…..

“I don’t care you didn’t bother to tell me before you left, and this isn’t the first time, you are so irresponsible that I can’t keep tolerating such behaviors in this establishment. You are fired

“what? Please, you can’t do this. I need that money to pay for the medical bills and surgery. Please don’t do this to me, I promise this will never happen again.”

“That’s what you said the last two times this happened. I’m sorry, but I have to let you go. Maybe you can come back after taking care of your mother’s health, but if you really need the money, I can think of a way to convince you" looking at me with lust.

“How will I do that if you deprive me of my source of income? Give me one last chance. I was practically begging him right now" ignoring the way he looks at me.

“No, I’m sorry, please clear your things from the locker room, then come and get your last pay check.” Knowing there was no point in trying anymore I gathered my things, took the check and went to the bar Sofia works at.

“Hey girl, I wasn’t expecting you today, aren’t you supposed to be at work? She was surprised to see me

“I just got fired.”

“What? Really, Oh Lenah, I’m so sorry, walking around the counter to hug me

“I am fine. Nanny had a relapse again, so I had to rush to the hospital without taking leave, and when I got back, he fired me offering sex if I wanted the money

“That asshole, you will get another job, so how is Nanny now?”

“She’s at home now, resting hopefully but where am I going to get the money from now?”

“Don’t worry, we will think of something together, you can stick around for a while as I work”

“What if I work here with you? Do you guys have any openings? I suggested

“I’m not sure I could ask the manager and get back to you”

“That’s great; I really need it, I said, watching her

I sat at the counter for a while until I got bored and decided to order a drink. I needed it right now

“A drink, please.”

“Coming right up," the bartender responded.

“Thanks, gulping it down," “another please, pushing the shot back to him for another one."

“Another one again," I demanded, like I had been doing for the past thirty minutes

“Are you sure? "You have had a lot already," he asked, concerned.

“I am the customer. If I say I want another, you do it now. Give me another one, I am the one paying now, so make it snappy" I snapped my fingers at him, making him grab the glass

“Don’t do that; I think she has had enough" came from a voice beside

“And who are you, and why are you spoiling my fun? I slurred, turning to the guy.

“That does not matter right now, but you need to stop drinking; it’s dangerous for a girl who’s alone”

“Who told you I’m alone ? "He’s here, and that’s all the company I need," I said, pointing to the bartender.

“Why is a beautiful girl like you alone?”

“Because life stinks and I want to drown my sorrows," I yelled, getting up from my seat.

“really?”

“Do you know I just got fired today?” I slurred out, pointing at him

“no why

“Because I left without requesting for permission, but I really needed to, I had to see nanny; she was in the hospital.”

“She’s all I have. I can’t bare to lose her; I will be alone" I cried

“We were barely surviving, so we could pay her bills,” I said, turning around and almost tripping over until he caught me in his arm, keeping me steady

“Now where will I get the money from? She's going to die. We have already delayed the surgery. Who is going to braid my hair or give me a head massage when I’m stressed? No one" crying on his chest.

“You won’t leave me, right? Please don’t leave, promise me" holding his face within my hands

“I won’t leave, I promise," he assured me

“That’s good because if you do, I don’t know what I will do," I said, feeling sleepy, cuddling closer to him and whispering, “Don’t leave me, nanny,” closing my eyes.