"I will not marry him" Tiana shouted "You can't just make decisions about my life without letting me know about it first".
How am I supposed to marry someone I've never even met before I thought to myself.
"But think about your little sister," my dad said "Please do it for her sake, we can not afford to lose her".
My dad's words itched my skin, though he was right. I love my little sister very much and I wouldn't want this ailment to take her away from me, but marrying a man I know nothing about wasn't an option.
"NO," I said, walking out on my dad angrily and going towards my room "No, there has to be another way," I said before entering my room and slamming the door behind me.
I threw myself onto my bed laying flat on my back, I angrily grabbed the pillow beside me, using it to cover the whole of my face, I pressed my hands down on the pillow and screamed into it, preventing my screams from being too loud. I held the pillow and angrily threw it away. It hit the door hard before landing on the floor.
I couldn't believe a wedding had been arranged for me in 2 days. I was only 23 and still trying to get my life together and marrying a stranger was never on my to-do list.
The sound of a glass breaking snapped me out of my thoughts, the sound came from my little sister's room. I jumped out of my bed and rushed towards my sister's room which was directly opposite mine. I swung the door open because it wasn't properly closed, I entered the room and found my sister lying helplessly on the floor.
"Lily" I called, she turned and looked at me with her deep blue eyes. "Are you alright" I knelt close to her on the floor where she was still lying.
"I am fine" she said weakly.
I looked to my side and saw the glass cup shattered on the floor and the water spilled almost all over the floor. I carried her up from the floor and laid her carefully on the bed putting a pillow behind her head to make her more comfortable. I covered her with a blanket and tucked her in nicely.
"You should have called me," I said, arranging some strands of her hair that were covering her face. "I heard you and Dad talking and you sounded upset. Is everything okay? "
Lily is only 10 years old but she has the sense of an adult, she cares so much about everyone's well-being and always makes sure everyone is happy even at the expense of her happiness. She is such a sweet girl.
"Everything is fine babe" That's the nickname we gave to each other a long time ago. "Are you getting married to Marcus? " I was surprised by her question because it has been 1 year since we last saw him.
Marcus was my boyfriend and Lily liked him because he always bought her some drawing materials, Lily loves art and Marcus always had enough time to play with her whenever he came to visit.
My relationship with Marcus has been filled with ups and downs, it was complicated but we were trying to fix things before he traveled out of the country and never told me about it, I was heartbroken when I heard it from a friend of his. I loved him very much. "It's okay," Lily said, holding my hands and bringing me back from drowning in my thoughts.
"I wish but no, I'm not getting married to Marcus, I answered reluctantly.
"Then who are….. " she was about to say something before she started coughing. I rushed into my room to get her water, I poured the water from a jug into a cup and then headed back to her room. I raised her head a bit for her to drink the water and I carefully laid her back down. "Thank you" she muttered.
"I've always told you to stop saying that, it is what I'm here for but very soon you will have to start paying me" We both laughed and I started planting kisses all over her face which made her laugh even more. "you need to rest now babe" I looked at the wall clock hanging in her room. "I will be back in an hour with your medications okay, if you need anything just call me I will be in my room"
"Okay," she said with a faint smile on her face. I put a device close to her hands where she could reach it, the doctor gave it to her to always hold it in case there was any problem she would be able to press a button and alert someone in the house. I kissed her on the forehead and turned to go back to my room.
"Tiana" Lily called me, "everything is going to be fine" I couldn't hold the tears that were already gathered in my eyes so I quickly turned away, I didn't want her to see me cry. I walked out of her room and went into mine. I closed the door and went over to my bed, I sat on my bed and slid myself down to the floor making my back rest beside the bed.
It was hard to stop crying now so I just let it all out.
Lily has a cardiovascular condition. According to the doctor, she suffers from coronary artery disease. The doctor explains that it is a condition in which her blood vessels supplying the heart have been blocked which is leading to a reduction of blood flow to her heart muscles. So she requires a surgical procedure to make her well again. The medications we were given were just to grant her temporary relief but not long enough to save up for the surgery.
This is the same illness that killed my mother. I was still very young and didn't have a clear knowledge about it. My dad didn't have enough money for the surgery because his business was in jeopardy and when he finally had the money it was too late. My father still blames himself for her death and has been mourning my mother ever since. I used the base of my shirt to clean the tears that filled my eyes and all over my face.
"I will not let this happen again," I said standing up from the floor. I already lost my mom to this illness, I will not lose my sister to it too. Here is an opportunity for me to save my sister from this life-threatening disease, if I don't, my father will never forgive me and I will never forgive myself if anything happens to my little sister. "So if I have to marry the devil to save Lily's life I will do it," I said beating my chest.
I decided to go and let my father know about the decision I'd just made. I came out of my room and went straight to the sitting room. My dad was sitting on a couch at the corner of the room so I went to sit beside him.
Suddenly, the door opened and a group of men walked in dressed in all black. My father stood up quickly, "what is going on here" he yelled.
One man in particular looked right at me and looked at the men he came with. He made a hand gesture and one of the men walked up to me holding me by the arm, I shivered. By that, I knew he had to be the one in charge.
"Beautiful evening we are having," he said "I love thunderstorms", he pulled a gun out of his jacket. His hands were covered with black gloves "Don't you agree?" he smiled. "Why are you doing this?" my father asked, trying to keep his voice even.
The man smiled again, walking towards my father, he placed a hand on my father's shoulder "Will you tell her or should I do the honors".
I wondered what my father wanted to tell me because I had no idea what was going on there.
My Father turned to look at me "This is the man you're getting married to"
With those words I heard, pillars of emotions came crashing down on me, I didn't know how to feel at that moment. I thought I was getting married to a normal man instead it was a man who looked somewhat like a gangster.
"you heard that darling", the man glowed, looking at me as if I was a winning lottery ticket. He spoke so calmly and sweetly giving me a sense of security making me think he wasn't going to harm me.
"Don't worry Richard," he said to my father, tapping him hard on his arm. "I'm just taking caution because the wedding is in three 3 days"
"WHAT" I shouted.
He smiled at me and continued what he was saying." I wouldn't want to hear that my bride has gone missing. Let's wrap it up boys", the man clasped his hands together. I turned to look at my father who was almost tearing up.
"It's alright baby," my father said with a shaky voice. I couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"Take her". He ordered
