Price of Love

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r, voice weak and strained, was asking for a glass of water, and Mum

sliding out of bed. Mum nodded, her expr

ted a water dispenser. Filling a cup, I hurried back to

lear on his face. "Does it hurt?" I asked, concern creeping int

was downplaying it for my sake, and I held my tongue, not wa

rmed into a whirl of activity-beeping mach

David's sheets and bedpan before pl

d the air with impatience: "When can we see the do

t you know as soon as he's free," she sai

eal a young doctor in a pristine white la

tantly. We all nodded as one, bracing ourselves. "I have

w furrowing. "Your bones are

with dread. "Will he be able to walk again?" Tears began t

ssly for the doctor's response. I glanced at David,

on't be able to walk again." The air thickened with despair, and Mum's so

ng in our sorrow. After a few moments, Mum gradually comp

taring blankly ahead, as if proce

oppressive silence with the practicaliti

o home," she informed Mum, who glanc

lamented, her voice thick with despair. David, se

M card," he instructed gently. "I ha

reality crashed over me like a tidal wave. David, onc

t. I envisioned my best friend moving on without me and

vily upon me, and before I knew it, tears s

pered to myself, each tear a release. I stee

r work I could, even mu

ough the despair and finally settled the bill,

ovided a wheelchair for David, and we ha

ed from the emotional toll, yet re

in the sitting room, trying to mask my worry. "Do you need anything?"

." His tone made my hear

happen," he confessed, his

you to go to college. You need to take care of Mum."

bare the reality I'd tried to avoid. We both succ

okay, David. We'll get through this. I'll find a job tomo

r weary smile fading wh

cheerfulness. David covered, "Just catching up, Mum,"

I saw the nearly empty fridge. Mum always made do, but I felt t

heavily on my young shoulders, but

he emotional fatigue settling in. Lying in

amily's future rested squarely on me now. The prospect was fri

loped my room, and I drifted into an uneasy slee