IN-CAGED BY THE MAFIA KING

BIANCA

"Dr. Martinez!"

My head swiftly swirls around when one resident nurse, disguised as my friend, barged into my office like a whirlwind, startling me.

"Urgent!" She grumbled as she tried to catch her breath.

I frowned. Haven't I just exited the ER just a while ago? I'm still stretching my cramped muscles after spending six hours there. Why am I being fetched again?

"I can see that," I replied. "but shouldn't you be calling for the next scheduled surgeon instead of me?"

"Doc, the patient was... Was asking for you and nobody else!" Jenny said, breathing hard.

I stared at her. She suddenly looked gloomy like I was about to face something serious. I wondered why. Jenny has always been enthusiastic even if she was about to run every floor in the hospital. She would always smile but this time, she seemed to look different.

"What's wrong with you?" I couldn't help but ask as I stood from my chair. Before I could even wear my white coat, she grabbed my wrist and swiftly pulled me out of my office.

My eyes widened as I tried to balance myself while catching up with her hasty steps.

"Hey! Can you please slow down?!" I couldn't help but raise my voice to catch her attention. I know it's urgent but how am I supposed to administer the proper treatment to the patient if I fell and broke my ankle? I'm wearing high heels, can't she at least notice that I'm struggling while being dragged by her?

"Doc," Jenny paused. She looked at me and I was surprised that I saw her tears running down her cheeks.

"Why are you..." My words halted as Lisa, another nurse close to mine, came to fetch me. Similar to Jenny, she was also teary-eyed.

"Doc," She murmured as she gestured towards the ER. "Aunt Tina wants to see you..."

My knees weakend and I almost lost my balance. Hearing my mother's name as they wept, I didn't know what to feel.

What's going on? Why was my mother inside the ER? And most of all, why are they crying buckets like she was about to die?

I'm a doctor, specializing in brains but even though, I am confident that my mother is as healthy as a bull. As a resident in this hospital, I've got privileges limited to my family members. They are entitled to annual check-ups covered of course with my health card but in my case, I requested frequent check-ups and lab tests for her every month. Just to make sure that she stays fit and healthy all the time.

My mother is all I have. She's my silver lining and she has become my life. I might not be able to stand on my own without her and my friends, Jenny and Lisa know about this since they frequently come to visit and enjoy her cooking most of the time. Not only that, but my mother treats them like her own. They've become my sisters by heart and they loved her just the way I did.

Since her lab test showed that everything was normal the other day, I allowed her to go out and breathe some fresh air this morning. Maybe spends time with her friends. I don't know where she went but she promised to call me and I promised to pick her up as soon as possible. How come she's in the ER?

My ears buzzed and everything blurred my sight. I didn't know how I managed to get inside but I almost stumbled to one of the beeping machines which reminded me about my current predicament.

"Dr. Marinez!"

My head snapped in a certain direction when I heard a familiar voice.

It was none other than Dr. Alvarez!

He was bleeding and I was used to it but this time, the sight made me shocked. What freaked me out even more was my lifeless mother, lying on the operating table. Dozens of nurses were trying to revive her.

I watched them in a daze while my tears continued streaming down my face. I can't even move an inch to help. I felt helpless. I don't what to do. I badly wanted to take over her surgery but some protocols needed to be followed otherwise they would revoke my license for misconduct.

I closed my eyes and prayed for her survival but it seemed like my plead had never been heard...

Moments later...

My heart swelled in agony as I saw the lines in the respirator, flattened right before my eyes. I couldn't believe it! I lost my mother and I wasn't able to do anything. I wasn't even there when she searched for me. I didn't make it! I came too late!

My soul seemed to have left me as I slowly felt like jelly. Everything inside me was melting. I could hardly breathe. Everything around me seemed to grow darker...

'Mom...'

'You're heartless! Don't you love me anymore?'

'You promised to be there for me!'

'Why? Why did you leave me?'

'What am I supposed to do now?'

'How am I supposed to live without you?'

'I still have a lot to tell you...'

Through the darkness... My voice is clear. It echoes like I was in the middle of the mountains.

My cries and sobs got louder and I thought that I was alone in this strange place but a familiar voice came, interrupting my rants.

"Why are you crying like a baby?!"

That was my mother's voice. Thank God! She's alive!

"Mom? Is that really you?" I completely forgot what I just witnessed earlier.

I thought everything was just a dream and this is the reality. I even wondered why I cried and why am I screaming madly. Hearing her voice comforts every inch of me.

"Get up, brat!" She scolded. "How could you just slump and roll over like a dog?"

I didn't know that I was lying on the ground the whole time. I stood up immediately and hugged her.

"You scared me to death, Mom," I said. "I thought that was real..."

She hugged me back like she usually did to comfort me. "You're not allowed to be scared, B. You're grown up now and sooner or later, you'll have your own family. You have to be brave and face tomorrow without me..."

I gave out a pout. "And why can't you be with me? Were you telling me that you're abandoning me?"

She patted my back gently as she spoke. "My dear, B. No matter what happens in the future, you must not agree with what your father says. Go as far as you could and never return."

"Mom, please don't scare me," Her words left me uneasy.

They're like farewell to me and I wouldn't say I like it. Did something happen while I was at work? I couldn't think of another reason as to why she suddenly brought my father up.

"Why are you saying those things, Mom? Did Dad come to see you?"

She shook her head.

"Just do as I say, B." She insists. "Consider this as my last words before we parted."

"Last words?" I refused to understand her words but deep inside, I was trying to steal time, hoping that she'd stay longer with me. "What "parted" are you talking about?"

However, Mom suddenly waved her hand at me and smiled.

"Always remember the words I say, B."