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.

up within Kathleen, her eyes prickling with unshed

brother will be fine,” Gemma

Kathleen pursed her lips.

Gemma was right.

was indeed very

treated her

“Duty

you around!” Kathleen added with

a final parting glance at Benjamin’s room, Kathleen departed from

day after the hospital visitation, Kathleen met up with

sorry, Frederick! A-About

it. I completely understand.” Frederick offered

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

from their work. Yours is good enough for a

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

you be able to complete your work within

while signing the contract.

sum will be first transferred to you. It should be reflected in your bank

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

to rain check. I still need to

you’re free. I

“Sure. Take care.”

Goodbye!” Kathleen departed with a faint

warm and therapeutic as basking in the spring sunlight

was consumed by the thought of the

getting paid for the first time

much, but it was a significant

suppress her glee from the mere

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

less than fifty thousand in her bank account after

she was

veritably glowing with joy

several items, Kathleen decided to

saccharine innocence of Kathleen’s voice instantly dispelled any

a

she answered