Reborn For Love

It was an uncomfortable sight for some but just a normal day for the occupant of the room.

Coughing sounds filled the hospital room.

It may have been a VIP room but the person there did not feel like one at all.

The room was large and the cream colored comfy sofa by the side of the room had no occupants on it and neither did either of the remaining furniture in the room.

My life was just as it seemed; bleak and boring.

The door opened and someone walked in. Her high heels clicking on the floor, freshly manicured hands wrapped around the man beside her and she scrunched up her nose at the smell of the antiseptic.

I forced my frail figure that occupied the room struggled to sit up in bed on noticing their arrival.

“Steph, you are here with Frank.” I say, my voice weak with eyes looking towards their enjoined hands.

“Frank. Thank you for coming with Steph. She doesn’t like hospitals.” My voice shakes as I struggle to keep my composure.

Steph spoke her eyes bright with life, “Sister, I’m sure Dad wanted to come himself. It’s just that you remind him of so much. He can’t bear to lose you as well.”

“Steph, don’t drag it further. I know my weight in Dad’s heart.” I cough and watch as Steph runs to assist me to sit up.

“Frank, would you help my sister process her discharge papers please?” Steph spoke, her brown eyes turning soft at him.

I looked up at the man who stood tall at six feet with his unsmiling face as he nodded at Steph and walked out.

“You shouldn’t command Frank like that. He wouldn’t like it.” I chided her.

“Sister, Frank is your husband. Everything he does now, he does for you.” Steph batted her eyelashes coquettishly causing me to smile helplessly.

“Regardless Steph. Look at how his face was cold and his expression uninviting.”

“Only the best for my sister.” She argued, shaking her layered brown tresses as they sat to frame her face.

I look at Steph immaculately dressed pristine sister and forced the jealousy down her throat. I used to be like this, even better for I was the one who had taught Steph how to be excellently dressed. The heavens had a different thought for me though as I saw myself going in and out of the hospital so frequently.

Steph was staring at her phone with a smile.

“A boy?” I nudge her smiling.

“What? No.” she laughed.

“Frank says that he has processed your discharge. Just so you know I am not in support of you leaving the hospital. You are not better yet!”. Her shrill voice was loud causing me to shrink unconsciously.

“I know my body Steph, also the Doctors have said that they can do nothing again. I would rather rest at home.”

“Did you bring the documents I asked you to?” My voice shook again as I struggled to sit on the wheelchair.

“Gra-ace”

“Do not look so bothered. All I’m giving you is 45% of the XS shares, my 15% shares of Raven goes to Charity.”

“Not that. You speak as though you’re dying sister. I hate to hear that.” Steph's face contorted.

How can a face contorted be still beautiful?

I pause.

Steph is my sister and I never had wrong thoughts towards her. Ever. So what was this?

I miss the gleaming look in Steph’s eyes as she opened her bag to present the documents.

Holding the pen steady, I sign the ownership shares away to Steph.

“I know my body, Steph.” I repeat.

“Take good care of XS.”

“Oh, I will.” A smirk came to rest on Steph’s face as she held the documents high in the air.

“Steph? I’d like to go now please”

An annoyed look crossed her face, bothering me. “ Fine. Let’s leave.”

I cough trying to alleviate the never-ending parchedness of my throat. “You can’t be annoyed that I’ve accepted my fate.”

Steph sneered. "Accept your fate alright!".

…

I jolted awake as the vehicle hit rough ground, rubbing my hand on my forehead.

“ Where are we headed? This is not the way home. Oh, the sun is setting. Isn’t it beautiful Frank?”

No reply.

“Frank?”

“Don’t be angry. I’m not giving up fighting. I’m just accepting….” I pause looking at the road in front of me change into a deserted dirt road.

“Frank. There are better ways to discuss this. Don’t give me the silent treatment.” I looked sternly.

“Shut up!.”

“What?”

The vehicle was parked under the covering of several trees.

Waiting for Steph to help me out after she got out herself proved futile as nothing happened.

I took a careful look at Frank who had opened the bonnet and was working on the car.

“Did something happen to the car?” I ask Steph struggling alight from the vehicle.

A mocking laughter was her reply.

“Oh, something happened or perhaps, something will very soon.”

I squeezed my face feeling a headache coming on. Steph was naturally a spoilt person and even more difficult to deal with than me.