Divorce Anxiety

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.

welled up within Kathleen, her eyes prickling with unshed tears over Gemma’s

Kathleen. My brother will be fine,”

Kathleen pursed her lips.

Gemma was right.

indeed

always treated her with respect and

“Duty calls. I will

you around!” Kathleen

final parting glance at Benjamin’s room,

up with Federick to finalize the terms of

Frederick! A-About

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

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

from their

hundred and fifty thousand has already far exceeded

you be able to complete your work within three

signing the contract.

be first transferred to you. It should be

to lunch as a celebration of my achievement.”

afraid we’d have to rain check. I still need to get some work

all right, Federick. Whenever you’re free. I

“Sure. Take care.”

Kathleen departed with a

therapeutic as basking in the spring sunlight after a

the publishing firm, Kathleen was consumed by the

paid for the first time

was a significant milestone in her life

her

a present for Old Mrs. Macari! But Old Mrs. Macari has everything she needs. Even so, a

received slightly less than fifty thousand in her

that, she was

veritably glowing with joy as she entered the

items, Kathleen

innocence of Kathleen’s voice instantly

let slip a

Macari,” she