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.

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

brother will be

Kathleen pursed her lips.

Gemma was right.

was indeed very

treated her with

after noticing the time. “Duty calls.

around!” Kathleen added with

final parting glance at Benjamin’s room, Kathleen

up with

so sorry, Frederick!

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

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

maestros earn from their work. Yours is good enough

has already far

complete your

signing the contract. “I

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

to lunch as a celebration of my achievement.” Kathleen

I still need to

free. I will be

“Sure. Take care.”

Goodbye!” Kathleen departed with a faint smile

therapeutic as

the publishing firm, Kathleen was consumed by the thought of

was getting paid for the first time

a

barely suppress her glee from the mere

a present for Old Mrs. Macari! But Old Mrs. Macari has everything she needs. Even so, a present won’t hurt. It’s merely a means of expressing care and

fifty thousand in her bank account after

that, she

with joy as she entered

Kathleen decided

saccharine innocence of Kathleen’s voice instantly dispelled

let slip a “Darling!”

she answered