Bucket List

Chapter 3 Unexpected Support

Alliah stayed in the hospital for almost 5 days. She almost fainted with the hospital bills awaiting her already. Her hospital bills reached about half a million in Philippine currency. Being a single mother and unemployed, it was her first time to be hospitalized with no health cards or health insurance. She was so devastated and didn't even know what to do. She knew her family's financial status and there were no other sources to get that huge amount of money.

Alliah started to cry and started to chat with her friends and other organizations whom she helped during her employment. Sadly, the majority of her messages were seen and she was even blocked by her friends and relatives. Luckily, the least expected friends and colleagues who she never messaged reached out to her and sent some financial support.

Alliah was a good person and there were lots of people whom she had helped before who paid her back, sent prayers of intentions, and gave huge amounts which Alliah didn't expect. She was so thankful to those people who had helped her during her downfall.

She thanked each of them and had a deep realization of how grateful she was to be blessed with these people.

Her family was so grateful to those people who helped them financially. Hyacinth even had fundraising abroad from her colleagues to generate funds to support her sister Alliah's hospital bills. Apple even went to different government institutions to complete the needed amount for Alliah's hospital bill before she was released from the hospital.

This was the most painful surgery ever for Alliah. Her recovery was not the same as before. She needed to lay on her bed the whole time. Her exploratory surgery left a 45th stitched scar on her abdomen which Alliah cried a lot when she saw through a picture she requested from a nurse who cleansed her wound the day after her surgery.

"I am not the same as before," she cried to Apple.

Apple hugged her. "Don't cry. It's okay at least we are going home already," she said. She couldn't stand seeing her sister Alliah as pitiful as this. She used to be a smart, fashionable woman before.

"It will be just a physical change, you're still as beautiful as ever," Apple lifted Alliah's spirit as she knew that she was now starting to have insecurities again.

"Can you please have a video call with my son?" Alliah asked Apple to call Joshua. She misses her son so much.

"Ma! Please go home," Joshua cried while asking Alliah to go home. It almost broke her heart to see her son crying.

"I'll be home soon, my son. Don't cry," Alliah wanted to comfort her son but then she couldn't help but burst out crying as well. She couldn't stand seeing how her son cried a lot.

Alliah didn't mind the pain after her anesthesia, but the pain in her heart caused by the video call on her crying child pained her the most.

When Apple saw how emotional the mother and son were, she requested Alliah to take her rest already.

"You have to say goodbye to Joshua now. You need to rest now," Apple advised Alliah, then she tucked her inside her quilt.

Alliah still needed some rest and ample sleep to regain a bit of strength.

They will be released from the hospital later on. They were just waiting for the clearance and the result of their swab test to be cleared.

This year 2021 was so stressful, not just for Alliah but for everyone else too. Taal Volcano was erupting and then pandemics came along. It started in 2020 and Alliah's sudden surgery came along as well.

Good thing that Alliah had so many friends and former colleagues who helped her financially and saved her from her hospital expenses.

Alliah was so thankful to the Lord. She wanted to come home already as she wanted to hug her son. She missed him so much. But it seems that things won't be the same again.

She couldn't even hug her son so much when she went home. Her cut was so painful and sensitive. She needed to lay on her bed in only one position. She couldn't even bend nor had a sideways position. Her son, Joshua, slept with her with a big pillow between them. Joshua cried so loudly when he saw his mother in that state.

"What happened to you Mom," he asked worriedly and when he saw the bandage on his mother's abdomen, he got scared. Scared of losing his mother. He hugged his mother and cried.

"I love you, Mom. Please don't leave me. Please be well," he cried while kissing and hugging Alliah.

Alliah's ex-husband doesn't even bother about her. He doesn't even care. When he learned that Alliah had undergone surgery, he immediately called her and asked if he could borrow their son, Joshua, since Alliah could not take care of him during her recovery.

"I want to borrow Joshua this Sunday. I know you can not take care of him now," her ex-husband, Thor, told her without even asking how she was after her surgery.

"My parents and sister were the ones taking care of Joshua for now. No need to worry about Joshua, besides it's still panic, you are not allowed to travel and take Joshua anywhere," Alliah said. She wouldn't allow her son to be exposed outside, especially with his father.

Alliah's mother overheard her conversation with her ex-husband over the phone." Alliah, will you please stop talking with your irresponsible husband. You see how evil he was. He wasn't able to ask if you got some money for your hospital bill, my goodness!" her mother yelled at her.

When Apple heard that their mother was nagging Alliah, she approached their mother and said, "Mom, you don't need to nag or yell at Alliah, she's still under-recovery. Let her rest," she held her mother's hand and started to leave Alliah in her room.

Alliah knows why Apple did that. She just opened the television and watched some Korean novels before she fell asleep.

She slept so well and Joshua slowly slept on her side with extra care not to hurt or harm her mother.

"Good night Mom. I love you so much," Joshua kissed Alliah and slept.