THE GIRL[EP3]

How’s baby Hannah?” I asked about our neighbor’s baby. Mom worked as a babysitter for almost a year now.
“She’s still very adorable, but getting heavier. I don’t think I can handle her anymore.” Mom rubbed her chest. She had a mild coronary heart disease. It started six months ago. She was advised by her physician not to do strenuous activities.
“Then stop babysitting. I don’t really want you to work. You are risking your health. Don’t worry, I have a job. I’ll work during weekends too, to have an extra money. We can manage.”
“You’re working too hard for us, Jade. I’m so sorry for being a burden to you.”
“Mom, please don’t say that again. I love you and I’ll take care of you and Sapphire. I promised dad that I will.” I hugged my mom, with moisture in my eyes.
Dad died of stage four lung cancer two years ago. I was eighteen at that time. He got it when he worked in an asbestos manufacturing company. A year before he died was the most traumatic year in our lives. We fought for his life. We lost our little savings and our cottage, just to keep up the medical expenses. It was like a nightmare, seeing dad’s health deteriorated. He was a good man without vices, God-fearing, jolly person, and full of vitality, a very loving husband and caring father to us. I couldn’t help but wondered why the good and godly people passed away earlier than their time.
The day when we finally lost dad, our world collapsed. We were so dependent on him. We looked up on him and solely relied on him financially.
“What’s wrong?” My sister Sapphire went out of the bedroom. She shrieked with panic seeing me and mom hugging. She thought something bad happened again.
“Nothing really. We just want to hug each other. We miss dad.” I smiled at my fifteen-year old sister, showing my braced teeth.
“Oh! I thought something bad happened. Anyway, Jade, I have news for you.”
“What is it?”
“I was chatting with Joseph an hour ago.”
“Joseph?”
“Yup, your one and only love!”
“What?”
“He asked for your Facebook account, and I told him you didn’t have any social media accounts anymore. Then he asked for your phone number.”
“Did you give it to him?”
“No! You said not to give your number to anyone, right?”
“Right.”
“But he gave me his number. He asked you to call him, anytime. He’ll be waiting.”
I heaved a sigh.Joseph.
It had been two years since I last saw him. I totally cut our communication.
No. I can’t face him anymore. I’m not the same girl that he used to know. I’m different, totally different now. The old Jade was gone, dead and buried.
A flash of wild grief ripped inside me.