My Sweet Punishment by Amelia Brooks (best book club books of all time .TXT) 📕

     I looked at the time. 06:45 p.m. I sat up working again. Today I was sorting through old archival documentation and did not notice how the working day had already come to an end. As well as the first working week. I stretched my stiff back. I’ll finally get some sleep tomorrow. Two days off. I can’t believe it. I can’t say that this week made me very tired... but I’m always happy to have a bit of free time.

        I called the elevator, already turning over in my head the options for how to spend tomorrow. Hmm... so I can sleep until lunch, watch a movie I wanted long ado, go to my family on Sunday… I was so lost in thought that it took me a moment to notice the elevator doors open, and I ran into my boss’s dark blue eyes looking upon me.

        Again, there was no one around. Deja vu?!

       “How long I have to wait until you decide to come in? I’m in a hurry actually,” I heard his disgruntled voice.

        I was confused with his tone. What happened? It’s me who should be mad at him after yesterday..

     “I’m sorry,” I mumbled and quickly slipped into the elevator, getting as far away as possible from the grumbler who kept shooting lightning at me.

      19… 18… I began to count the floors to calm down. And he was silent again. I’d rather have heard something from him. What does this obnoxious man get on his mind?!

      The elevator doors opened, and I shot out of there like a bolt of lightning, quickly muttering the goodbyes. As I walked away from the company entrance, I turned around and saw a young woman meet Collins there. Spectacular red-haired and quite well-groomed woman. Beautiful. And it seems they know each other very well, because after she… kissed the man on the lips, immediately got into his car. Why am I looking at all this?

      The womanizer. Just like everyone else. First, he offers me to sleep with him, and a few days later he leaves with another woman. Disgusting! I snorted and headed for the subway entrance, pushing the thoughts out of my head, but still had a nasty feeling inside the chest.

     Saturday morning started again with the phone call. Still, without opening my eyes, I tried to find the vibrating phone on the nightstand. Did Olivia come back earlier? I clicked the reply button without looking at it.

      “Hello,” I yawned into the phone.

      “Mia,” I suddenly heard my mother’s crying voice and sat up swiftly on the bed. And the dream was gone right away.

      “Mom? What happened?! Why are you crying?” I gripped the phone nervously.

      “Mia, James has been taken to the hospital,” my mother sobbed.

      “What hospital is he in, mom? I’ll be there soon,” I began to dress immediately as I walked.

       I called a taxi and an hour, and a half later I was already in the hospital. I found my mother on the couch near the intensive care unit. At first, I didn’t recognize her at all. Pale as a ghost, she stared straight ahead, not noticing anyone. My heart ached at what I saw. I ran to my mother and gave her a big hug.

       My mother never allowed herself even the smallest weakness. The last time she cried was after dad died. Always remained strong for us.

       A little later, when she allowed herself to cry in my arms, I learned that nothing foretold such trouble. James was playing in his room last evening, as usual, actively voicing his actions. My mother was preparing dinner in the kitchen when suddenly it seemed strange to her that there was a silence in the room. She went to check on my brother and saw him lying on the floor unconscious.

       My mother stayed up all night, sitting under the door of the intensive care unit and praying that the boy was all right. The doctors didn’t tell her anything, which made her even more nervous.

        After a while, the chief doctor came out to talk to us. We immediately jumped off the couch.

       “We have now done everything possible to ensure that the crisis is over. But...” he paused, and I tensed, “what happened today may happen again soon. The boy’s left kidney is failing. And he needs an operation that costs…”

      “We’ll find the money!” my mother interrupted nervously.

       “The waiting lists for donors are very big now,” the man shook his head, “You need to pay not only for the operation, which is done only in the capital… But also for moving up in the list for an organ. Plus rehabilitation…”

        I saw how much my mother drooped after hearing this. I squeezed her hands in support and confidently answered the doctor:

       “We'll find the money! You can start looking for a donor.”

        James was still in intensive care on Saturday. So I finally persuaded my mother to go home to get some sleep and change and eat, while I can stay in the hospital. She resisted for a long time, but when I said that after the boy wakes up, he’ll need a healthy and strong mother, she gave up.

        As for the money, my mother wanted to get a loan, so she decided to do it right away on Monday.

       On Sunday morning, James was transferred to a regular room, and we were even allowed to visit him. The boy was fast asleep when we went to see him. Pale and thin kid. He’s going through a lot right now at his young age. A hot tear burned my cheek, and I turned away to wipe it quickly so that my mother wouldn’t see it. I can’t be weak. I need to stay strong for my mom and brother.