Chapter 3

• Caroline's POV
• I just came back from Kate's house. It's Thursday morning. Thought I'd be ready to handle dad's company from Monday. Well.. here I am. It's Thursday already and I've reached nowhere.
• "MOM.." I called for her.
• "I'm upstairs sweetie.. in your room" she replied.
• I got a nice look of my house while going up the stairs. You never know, it may be the last time I might see this house.
• When I reached the room, mom was cleaning! Weird! I don't know mom has got a bonding towards cleaning these days.
• I can't hide it anymore from her. I have to say this out loud. I went near her sat her down on my bed and told her everything uncle Anthony had told me and that I was at Kate's home since 3days.
• When I looked up at her face, she held no expression.
• Finally she stood up, it was as though she was in deep thought.
• "Mom, are you fine? I'll get you some water?" I asked.
• "No no I'm fine. How much have we lost? I mean what are we left with?" She asked.
• "Ummhhh.... aaahh... actually we are left w-with n-no.... nothing. Not even this house Mom" I finally said it out loud and turned my back towards her.
• I heard a loud thud. I turned back to see that mom had collapsed on the floor. I called out for her. I shook her. But she didn’t wake up. I sprinkled water on her face, but nothing happened. She didn’t even move a finger.
• 'Oh my god! Not again! I've already lost my father, I can't lose my mother too' I thought.
• I felt like crying. I was almost on the verge of crying when I went near her, put my finger below her nose. Thank god she is breathing. I calmed down a bit but I still need to know that she is fine!
• I called Kate to help me take mom to the hospital. Dylan was at school.
• We reached the hospital and the doctor checked her. I was completely freaked until he said "She is fine, just that her BP level is too low and a lot of mental stress led her to faint. See to it that she doesn't undergo any kind of stress. I think she should be conscious by now. She'll wake up anytime now. There's no need to worry."
• I sighed out of relief. By afternoon, I sent Kate to bring Dylan back home.I called
• uncle Anthony but he didn't pick up the call. I don't know what's wrong he never ignores our call.
• Mom had woken up and the doctor gave the green signal to go home and he said that everything was fine and that there's nothing to worry about. Well I had no money, Kate paid the hospital bill. And I'm sooo thankful to her for that.
• Mom stayed silent throughout our journey to home. She went up to her room as soon as we reached home.
• I was sitting in the living room when Dylan brought a letter to me. That was already opened so Dylan might have read it.
• When I saw that I didn’t feel any kind of emotion because I had expected this.
• It was our notice to leave the house by Thursday. So we have one more week. I sighed.
• I forgot that Dylan was standing in front of me. I pulled him to me and hugged him tight.
• "It's ok Dylan. Everything will be fine." I said to him.
• That was until Kate shook me and said that mom was calling out for me.
• I went up to her room with Kate following behind.
• Mom saw me and patted on the bed next to her. I sat there facing her. Kate stood behind me holding my shoulder.
• "Tell me what are we going to do now Carol?" She asked.
• Well I was not ready for that topic. But I know that I have to be within one week. So I said "Mom I think you should rest, you're not ready for this"
• "Doesn’t matter. We'll have to be. Last time I was shocked but now I think I'll be just fine. I think you should find a job honey. And with your degree I think you'll be able get a better one. I think even I should work. What do you think?" Said mom.
• I don't want Mamma to work. And obviously not in the condition she is in right now. I looked back at Kate and started "Mom...-" before Kate cut me off.
• "Sophia you don't have to worry or work" she smiled and continued."I don't think Carol told you the entire story. She got a job as you told because of her awesome degree. And you know the company she'll be working for is going to provide an apartment and a car" Kate said to mom.
• 'O.. M.. G..' I was shocked beyond belief.
• Mom got up into a sitting position out of excitement and asked "Really Carol...?"
• And before I could say anything Kate pushed me towards Mom so that I could hug her. As she knows I'm not good at lying. When I looked up at Kate with disbelief she gave me a look that said 'shut up and keep your lips zipped'. So I did exactly that.
• 'Oh God! Now how am I going to handle this lie?'
• *****