Page 54 of Goodbye To Tomorrow

"Hello" I sluggishly muttered.

"Did I wake you? I am sorry, but I have some awful news."

"Who is this, please?" I frowned still trying to gather my bearings.

“Mrs. Sampson, Jiraiya mother.”

There was silence at both ends of the phone as I struggled to catch up.

"Mrs. Sampson? Why are you calling from a hospital? I inquired as I scrambled to seat sit up on the soft mattress. I took in a few breaths as if to clear my nose.

"It’s Jiraiya, he was rushed to the hospital from the airport, Miss Banks," she informed me.

Shock registered on my face; I wiped my eyes with the back of my palm still trying to fight the effect of the sleeping pills.

"From the airport? How? What was he doing at the airport?" I asked completely confused. I knew Jiraiya had no reason to travel, so what was he doing in an airport in the first place?

"I was told he was on his way to Canada, the plane had to be redirected back when he passed out."

"How is he now?" I asked

"It’s terrible. He isn't getting any better. The doctors say it’s a long shot and all we can do is pray. They say they are doing their best.

She paused for a moment; she could imagine the gloomy state of my heart as she broke the news to me.

"I am sorry Mrs. Sampson," I managed to utter in a dejected stricken voice.

"I know Karine but that's not why I am calling you."

"What else is going on, Mrs. Sampson?" I asked knowing deep down, wanting to ask how the situation could get any worse.

"Something serious is about to happen," she said.

I could sense the urgency in her voice now. It had been there all along, but I just sensed it and it pricked me.

"They found more potentially cancerous cells in his bones. The doctor is aggressive with his treatment. Jiraiya will have a stem cell transplant to replace the damaged bone marrow cells with healthy cells. We all need to pray that this works.” "

"Jesus!" I exclaimed softly, trying to make sense of what I had just heard. "You don't mean it?" I inquired with confusion evident in my voice.

"We only found out about it some hours ago, Karine. Jiraiya said he really needs to speak to you and that’s why I am calling," she said.

"Give me a minute and I will be there, Mrs. Sampson," I said.

"Alright, Karine."

I slid into my bedroom slippers and hurriedly walked towards the bathroom door that was opposite my bed.

Walking my hands across the bathroom wall, I located the light switch, and in a matter of seconds, the bathroom was brought to life. I walked towards the sink and swiftly turned the tap knob, releasing streams of water. I splashed water on my face and rubbed my eyes to remove the sleep.

A clean white towel hung on a rod fixed to the wall very close to the sink. Without looking, I pulled it off the rod and wiped my face clean after a few seconds. I closed the running tap and hung the towel around my neck, returning swiftly to my room in order to dress. I was scared, so scared for Jiraiya.

*****

Jiraiya

(A Few Hours Before)

I dropped my phone again on my bed and slowly left the room, towel hanging on my neck. I pushed another door opposite my bed, just beside the bathroom's door and I appeared in a small dark living room.

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