A Chance For Love

  ***

  Hours later, mum's words continued to float above the surface of my mind.

  "You should enlarge it and frame it," Amarachi said. "That way, you always see it just before bed, and once you awaken."

  Musing over her words, I let a sad smile stretch my lips only slightly. I would take her suggestion. Surely, Sir Aaron wouldn't mind helping me convert this vision into reality.

  Seeing Nancy and Precious sitting alone during recess struck me as weird. Cynthia had never absented herself from lunch. But today, she had. She'd become a walking ghost, a shadow of herself. Guilt ate at my heart each time I tried to analyze this.

  "You're not touching your food," Flora said.

  I bolted to my feet. "I have to go."

  "What?" Amarachi asked. "Where are you-"

  I didn't wait to answer. I dashed to our classroom and found Cynthia in her seat with her head resting on the locker.

  "Cyn," I called. Tentatively, she looked up at me. I gasped at the sight of her teary eyes. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

  She broke into tears. "It's mum. She has a very high blood pressure and the doctor says she could have a heart attack. I'm so scared, Victoria. I don't want my mum to die. Without her I'm nothing."