All Too Late

Kathleen entered a restaurant and ordered herself a plate of vegan pasta.

After her meal, she soon left to visit Benjamin who was admitted to the nearby hospital.

Kathleen couldn’t help her rising concern as she observed the unconscious form of Benjamin through the window of his hospital room.

“My brother’s condition has been stable since early this morning,” Gemma uttered from behind Kathleen.

Kathleen turned to face Gemma, who was dressed in her nurse’s uniform and balancing a tray between her hands.

“When will your brother be regaining consciousness?” queried Kathleen cautiously.

Gemma’s expression darkened as she replied, “The doctor says that it’s still too early to tell.”

“Why not try consulting the opinions of other specialists?”

“It’s all right, Kathleen. There’s still time,” Gemma comforted. “By the way, how was your experience volunteering?”

“It was such an eye-opener! I learned so much from it,” Kathleen enthused.

Gemma smirked. “I watched your speech just now during my break. You were pretty amazing out there.”

“By the way, why the sudden interest in individuals with autism?”

“Well, my foster brother is autistic,” said Gemma grimly.

Now that is new.

“My foster parents come from pretty wealthy backgrounds. They adopted me as I had seemed pliant and obedient. Their hopes were that I would comply with their wishes to look after their son once they were gone. Their plan was for both of us to marry by offering me their inheritance as an incentive. They then threatened to disown me if I were to refuse,” said Gemma drily.

Kathleen was stunned speechless.

“I overheard all this when I was in high school. If I were to go against them, they swore never to pay for my tuition fees and daily expenses. Gaining admission into a university would have been a lost cause.”

“That’s preposterous!”

“Consider yourself lucky, Kathleen. Truly. I’ve gone through the worst of it all, and things barely faze me these days,” advised Kathleen with a wry smile.

Kathleen gripped Gemma’s hands anxiously. “What happened after? How did you make it out?”

“Thankfully, my brother was already a policeman back then. He located me and sponsored me all the way till graduation.” Gemma smiled fondly.

her eyes prickling with unshed tears over Gemma’s

worry, Kathleen. My brother will be

Kathleen pursed her lips.

Gemma was right.

indeed

always treated her with respect

“Duty calls. I will catch

you around!” Kathleen added with

at Benjamin’s room, Kathleen

the hospital visitation, Kathleen met up with

sorry, Frederick! A-About yesterday…”

I completely understand.” Frederick offered a gracious smile while handing

widened as she perused the terms. “You’re willing to pay this much

course! You still haven’t seen how much maestros earn from their work. Yours

fifty thousand has already far exceeded my expectations.” Kathleen beamed with

you be able to complete

enthusiastically while signing

one-third of the sum will be first transferred to you. It should be

me to treat you to lunch as a celebration of my achievement.”

rain check. I still need to

Federick. Whenever you’re free. I will

“Sure. Take care.”

Kathleen departed with a faint smile plastered on

that Kathleen’s smile was indeed as warm and therapeutic as basking in the spring sunlight after a harsh

consumed by the thought of the advance

the first time

but it was a

could barely suppress her glee

everything she

slightly less than fifty thousand in

she

was veritably glowing with joy as she

several items, Kathleen decided to

voice instantly dispelled any lingering negativity.

a

Macari,” she answered