1 chapter 1

My stomach rumbled noisily. It had been a long, tiring and terrible day and all I need right now is good food and a nap. I walked into the dining room, anticipating a set table of steaming rice and sauce after which I can have a cold shower and a well deserved nap.

I paused and my smile slowly faded at the sight before me. Papers were all over the place; on the table, the chairs, on the floor. What in the world…?

"Kids! you're back" Dad welcomed us with a big "smile"

I frowned as I glanced towards mom sitting beside him for clues. But she also looked nervous and uncomfortable.

"What's going on?" I thought as I noticed her odd behavior

"Thanks dad" Willow replied and slowly advanced and sat opposite them.

"There's uh.. something we all need to talk about. It's important. Think you can spare a few minutes?" Dad asked

"Uhh sure. What's wrong?"

"Honey, can we talk about this later? You both must be hungry, how about you eat your lunch first?"Mum said, echoing my thoughts.

"No dear, this can't wait. The longer we wait, the higher the possibility of them finding out through uglier situations that may arise so they need to know now!" Dad argued

I felt the thick tension between them ax they continued their 'fight' with their eyes.

"What's happening now? Mom wouldn't even make eye contact with me! She is fidgety…

"Mum..? What's going on?" Willow asked carefully

"She must've felt it too…"

Mum had this strange look on her face that I couldn't read. For a moment I wondered if what they had to say was worse than the horrible news Willow and I came back with.

"I.. no we..need to tell you something Willow. But you have to promise to be calm and listen carefully ok?" Dad said addressing willow

"Ummm okay…? But dad, we actually have something to say too." Willow began. I tried pulling her jacket for her to hold on but either she didn't take the hint or she purposely ignored me.

"It's about Noah's lab results."

Suddenly all eyes fell on me and mum gasped.

"Oh my baby, I'm so sorry, I totally forgot about your appointment with the doctor today." my mum said, walking up to me and placing her hands on my shoulder.

"It's just that your dad came home with this and I panicked and--" she gestured to the papers with a hopelessly look and sighed

"It's fine mum" I reassured her "Willow was there with me so, there's no need for you to worry."

"Ok, that's good then. So, how was it? What did the doctor say?"

"She um.." I tried to find a way to break this news. "She said I'll need an operation. That It could get worse."

"An operation!? So soon? but we only just found out.." Mum said shocked and pale from fear

"Is she certain that this is leukemia though? I mean anything could cause nose bleeding." Dad asked frowning

"Yeah, especially stress. Did you tell her you're preparing for your senior School exams and college interview?" Dad asked concerned

"No, but--" I began

'"She ran the tests dad. Twice!" Willow cut in "We're sure of what's actually wrong now. I have the results in my bag."Willow brought out the envelope that Ms. Robins had given us and passed it to mum and dad.

"I can't believe this" mum muttered

"Well that makes two of us.." I thought.

"Honey, do you think there's anyone with a history of leukemia in your family? Cause I don't think there is in mine" she mused

"I don't think so... there's no one I know of" dad replied

"Then where did this suddenly come from? And why now?!"she shouted slamming the papers on the table as tears of frustration and panic filled her eyes.

"Calm down dear" dad said patting her shoulders.

"Although we have a lot going on now, we can deal with this. We just have to find a way to gather enough funds for his medication fees and… the other things."

"Umm Jeff, what is this?" mum called quietly, her voice shook and her hand trembled slightly as she stared at the test results again. I noticed her eyes were fixed at the bottom of the paper where the doctor left a short note on the state of my health. Dad took the paper and saw the note. Color drained from his face as he looked up at me. I flinched, here it comes.

"Noah, the doctor said it could be treated right?" Dad asked scared at the possibility that's likely my reality

"Well... she said the discovery was late and it might get... um worse if I don't have the surgery as soon as possible…"

I said quickly looking at my sister pleading with my eyes for her to help me complete the message

"What's wrong? Why are you staring at each other like that?" Mum asked

"Uhhh...actually–"

"Noah is dying! There I've said and you've read it just now!" Willow shouted as tears ran from her eyes. "The sickness can only be contained for a while" her voice broke as she repeated what we were told at the doctor's office

"He has only two years to live." She finished quietly.

Mum and Dad paled

I frowned at Willow. She didn't have to say it like that.

"Ok everyone calm down. It's not that bad okay? The doctor said I can live longer if I…"

"It is that bad!" Willow shouted full of emotion. "I mean, the symptoms were there last year, weren't they? the nosebleeds and fainting in class? But you both ignored them! if we had done this test at that time, maybe we won't be having this conversation right now! ' She added sobbing.

Everyone was quiet. Suddenly I felt bad. This was my problem, I'm supposed to be the one in tears and full of blame but Willow knew I didn't have it in me to yell atmy parents even though their carelessness was about to end my life.

"Things were a bit rough that time Will, and you all know it. I couldn't even enroll you in your dance class, remember that?" Dad said

Willow's laughter was mirthless

"Things were rough? Your son was having serious health challenges. Running tests to find out what was wrong wouldn't have cost you so much." I too was irritated by his excuse because I remember vividly the expensive party dad had hosted in our home that period.

"Where did the money for that Christmas party come from dad?" I asked

"That party was necessary Noah. I just had to dit...You won't understand" he said rubbing his face with his palm tiredly

"Of course, it was more important than your son's health at the time" Willow said sarcastically.

"You know what Dad? At the end of the day, your career and pleasing your friends is more valuable to you than any of your children." Willow said echoing what I thought in my mind after hearing with 'explanation'

"It's not like that, Wilow!" Dad started, walking towards her.

"I just started my own company and I need most of the connections from my current workplace to grow this one. It's why I had to throw that party: It was a business strategy. I even took a loan from one of my associates to build it and that is what I wanted to talk to Willow about."

I looked at the man in front of me that was familiar and at the same time like a total stranger.

"Dad, nothing you say here will justify your negligence. All I see right now is a man who has chosen his career over his children." I spat bitterly.

I noticed the guilty look Mum had on her face as she glanced at Dad. His head hung low and it seemed he was looking for a way to say something.

"I have a very bad feeling about this…"

"Dad..? What did you do?"

"What does your loan have to do with Willow?" I asked moving closer to Willow on the couch in auto defense mode.

"Uhh.. Will, I really hope it doesn't get to that but you might be getting married soon" mum said looking everywhere but at us. I was completely thrown off.

"What do you mean getting married?" I asked my voice cold as ice. I stood up angrily, completely in front of willow now, protecting her from these people we call out parents

"Well um, your dad took the loan from Mr. Barnet and um.. he wanted to invest the money on his company project but the uh Christmas party squandered a uh, a good part of it"

"So, you're…you're willing to give your barely fifteen year old daughter to a man old enough to be her father in exchange for… money?!" My voice was rising now as rage boiled up inside me. I wanted to scream. When did my parents turn into these materialistic monsters?

"No! No! No! No! Uh, Barnet has a son, Chris. He's the one she'll marry. But it's not happening right now though, they just need to sign some engagement papers and hopefully I'll be able to pay everything before you turn 16" Dad said pacing as he tried to calculate how to meet up with the deadline. I stared in shock

"With all due respect sir, you're pathetic!" I said to him

"Noah!" Mum shouted. I turned on her

"You both are! How could you even consider this mum?! So suddenly we've become slaves that you can just sell whenever convenient! Seriously?!"

Willow was sobbing behind me. My heart tore.

"I'm not getting married to anyone" she whispered behind me. "Cause, I haven't even had my first period yet. Did you tell him that!?" She yelled crying.

"Honey you're not getting married now, you only need to sign some papers and--" Dad began

"No way that is happening. Not while I'm alive!" I spat "How much are we looking at here?"

"Thirty million.. I've already made some down payments already but still I need like seven million to complete it"

"That's it!? Just seven million!? we could sell something from the house to get that money! All these paintings can be sold for that! And mum, you have a lot of expensive jewelries you don't wear so much, we can sell those too"

"No way! it took me years to gather these paintings and calligraphy, and my jewelry is precious to me, there's no way I'm selling them because of your dad's greed" mum interjected, folding her arms defiantly.

I can't believe her.

"Wow.. just wow mom! You'd rather sell your daughter than your jewelry or paintings… Wow!"

I mean, I'd always known my parents were a greedy and covetous pair but I'd never imagined it could get to this extent.

"So I'm not even worth the jewels that will eventually rust away with time? Is that how worthless I am to you!?" Willow's cry pierced my heart.

I'd had enough. These two need to be stopped.

"You know what mum, Dad? I meant what I said before and I'll like to add a little more…" I leaned towards them with all the disdain I could muster

"Willow is not getting married for your mistakes while I'm still alive. I'll be dead before that can happen!"

"Noah--" Mum started

"I don't want to hear it. As far as I'm concerned, Willow and I are both dead to you anyway." I was trying so hard not to burst from all the rage building up in me.

"C'mon Will, let's get out of here"

I grabbed my sobbing sister and we left the dining room into the hallway, all appetite for food gone.

I took deep breaths trying to calm down. Willow hugged me tight, sniffing.

"Don't worry Will, we'll get through this together."

"What about your treatment?" She looked up at me through teary eyes. "I can't watch you die!"

I exhaled and wiped a tear.

"We'll figure something out. I promise. For a start, I think we both need to find jobs. You could check for an opening at that pastry shop outside the estate and I'll find something… We're going to get through this okay?'

"Okay" she whispered.

With everything in me, I hoped that I could keep that promise.