“We’re co-workers I wouldn’t say that we’re close friends,” I told her.
“I mean you must be if you’re coming here to see him,” she said.
I nervously laughed. Little did Victoria know I’d bribed my way in here.
“What’s he like at work?” she asked me.
“He’s friendly but he also keeps his distance he doesn’t share much about himself,” I told her.
“He’s like that with you too?” She asked me.
Us agreeing on this showed Mike was like this with everyone.
“Is that your father in the room?” I then asked her pointing to the room.
“Yeah,” she responded in a sad tone.
“May I ask how his doing?” I then asked.
A sad expression appeared on her face.
“Sorry I didn’t mean to make you upset,” I apologised to her
“No not at all. I don’t mind telling you. His kidneys are failing the dialysis treatments aren’t however we can’t afford it.” She told me.
My heart sank in my chest at this news. This is even worse than I thought. Basically she was saying he was going to die.
“I’m sorry to here that,” I said to her.
She acknowledged my apology and then her eyes focused on something behind me.
“Mikes here,” she commented. I looked behind us and saw Mike approaching. His eyes were fixed on me. He did not look pleased.
The siblings greeted each other and then Mike turned to Me.
“What are you doing here?” He asked me in horror.
“Mike,” I said to him.
I looked at Mike then at Victoria it seemed a bit awkward for us to speak like this especially with how angry Mike seemed.
As if reading the room Victoria then turned to the Tony. “How about we go to the vending machine and get some snacks whilst your mum talks to my brother? She suggested to him. Tony looked at me.
I looked at him and nodded. “Go ahead,” I told him to go with her. The two left heading for the vending machine.
Once Mike and I were alone. I turned my attention to him. He glared at me. I could tell he was not happy I was here.
“What are you doing here? In fact how did you even know how to find me here?” he asked me.
“I came to the hospital for a check up last week and saw you run past me. At work I overheard
“So that was you outside the basement room? I knew I’d heard someone outside the room,” he commented.”So you came here to do what exactly?”
I came because Megan has been worried sick about you all week, in fact she’s been worried about you for a while. She says you’ve been missing classes at university. And as your coworker and hopefully friend I was also worried. Especially after hearing your call and seeing you at the hospital.”
“What? you think can help me? You can’t,” he said to me.
“How do you know that? I asked him. “You can’t know that unless you tell me.”
“Jasmine I say this with utmost respect, but you need to mind your own business. You come here uninvited and try to pry for information. You’re overstepping.” He said to me sternly.
I pressed my lips together as I looked away from him. He was right I was overstepping.
My eyes narrowed, as I stared at him in frustration.
” You’re right, it’s none of my business,” I said to him. “However, as a concerned friend I would like to help.
“And I’m telling you it’s none of your concern,” he stubbornly said to me.
“Your sister says your father is in immediate need of a kidney transplant but says he can’t have the procedure because you can’t afford it. So what are you going to do about it? It seems to me you can’t handle it on your own.” I pointed out to him.
“Jasmine…” he started and I knew he was going to repeat his previous sentence.
“It’s not about whether the person is able to help you or not but it’s about you burdening yourself with everything! I can’t tell you how many times I wish someone had been there for me or to listen to me!” I yelled at him in frustration.
I thought of my past life as I yelled at him. After Keith had abandoned me I had been completely alone. It was just my son and I trying to make things work on our own. How nice it would have been to have someone on my side someone to talk to! Someone to believe me. I thought of how good it felt to talk with Louis.
“So you can never be sure whether someone can help you or not if you don’t talk to them. You don’t have to do everything yourself! You’re too young to burden yourself like this. It’s okay to ask for help!” I yelled at him. “So I’m sorry if I’m overstepping but there’s no way I could live wit myself knowing someone who needed help
I thought of my past life as I yelled at him. After Keith had abandoned me I had been completely alone. It was just my son and I trying to make things work on our own. How nice it would have been to have someone on my side someone to talk to! Someone to believe me. I thought of how good it felt to talk with Louis.
“So you can never be sure whether someone can help you or not if you don’t talk to them. You don’t have to do everything yourself! You’re too young to burden yourself like this. It’s okay to ask for help!” I yelled at him. “So I’m sorry if I’m overstepping but there’s no way I could live wit myself knowing someone who needed help
I gave him a serious determined look as I explained to him. I wasn’t backing down. Underneath the dismissive things he was saying I could tell he was someone who needed help. It takes one to know one after all.
Mike’s eyes widened in surprise as they searched mine for a moment. I wondered what come back he was thinking of now. Then they began to tremble as they looked into mine. I was surprised by this sudden change in demeanor. Had I gotten through to him?
“I’ve never had anyone to rely on!” He yelled at me. “For the longest time it’s just been my dad, my sister and me.”
My expression softened as I listened to him.
My mother left us when my sister was 2. My dad had to look after us on his own and then he got sick when I was 12. At first our family health insurance covered his dialysis treatments and my father was still able to work then two years later the insurance said they couldn’t cover the his treatment anymore. My father reached out to our relatives but didn’t want to help because it was too expensive for them to help pay the medical bills. To compensate my father tried getting multiple jobs to cover the hospital bills but it was just too much money. He couldn’t get the treatments as often and that resulted in his kidney worsening he became bedridden. Our relatives didn’t reach out or try to help us at that point. With no choice, At 15 I began working multiple part time jobs to try help pay his hospital bill as well as look after my sister and I. but I couldn’t always make the payments. His condition has just continued worsening over the years. Now we’re here.”
Suddenly they filled with tears and they streamed down his face.
I let him cry giving him the space to express himself. It was after a little while that he finally spoke up.
I was horrified by his story. So Mikes aloof and secretive nature came from the fact that he’s never had anyone he could rely on growing up aside from his now ill father. I couldn’t believe his family had refused to help them. For him to have to step and have to step up and take care of his father and sister on his own is insane. Considering he was still a child! It’s just so messed up!
“Why would your family refuse to help?” I asked him.
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