A Touch From You

The next morning, Makayla woke up with a slight ache in her chest. She couldn’t understand what brought about that ache. She got up from her bed, rubbing her chest in slow circles to try to ease the pain but still, it wasn’t showing any improvements.

Makayla didn’t want anything to spoil her chances of seeing King, a man she has agreed to go on a date with sometimes last week. The pain was doing everything it could to do just that. Asides that, Makayla couldn’t afford the money to get drugs if it ever came to buying them. The only money she was concerned about was feeding money and the rent of their house. Every other thing was secondary.

‘”Mak honey are you awake?”, her mother said.

She opened the door to her room before walking in. She could tell that there was something wrong with her daughter judging from the frown on her face.

”What’s wrong baby?”, she asked.

”I don’t know, I just feel this pain in my chest”, Makayla said, touching the area.

”Do you feel a burning sensation in there?”, her mother asked.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

”No, it’s just a dead pain”, Makayla said.

”I’m sure it’s going to ease soon but meanwhile, let me get you some pain killers”, she said.

Makayla nodded before her mother left the room. Her meeting with King was officially ruined because for one, her mother would never allow her to go out in this condition.

Laura soon returned with a small bottle. Makayla took two pills before downing it with a glass of water. She laid back down a bit to clear her head while her mother left to return the pills.

She came back soon and Makayla was grateful for her company. She needed someone she could talk to while the drugs kicked in.

”I saw a waitress job at the Royale restaurant yesterday”, Makayla said.

Her mother knew all about her job hunting and how long she had been searching for something tangible to do. She was tired of working for her current boss who was making life unbearable for her unless she dates him. Makayla was a beautiful girl and she could easily get anything she wanted but most of the job offers she received had a lot to do with nudity.

Makayla had her honor to keep and she knew that she’d rather die than expose any part of her body all in the name of getting money. She wanted to make her mother proud and had vowed never to do anything that would cause her any pain. She had suffered enough to take care of her when her father died a few years ago.

Her mother had literally killed to protect her from her abusive father and Makayla knew that if given the opportunity, she would do it all over again.

”You’re thinking again”, Laura smiled, gently.

New stress lines were at the side of her eyes and Makayla knew it was as a result of old age. Her mother was getting on in years and Makayla didn’t know if she was ready to say goodbye.

”I just can’t help it. I want a better life for us, a life free from poverty and struggles. I want to change our situation Mom”, Makayla said.

”A step at a time dear, a step at a time. You do not have to rush anything. You have the whole world at your feet, take your time my darling”, she said.

”But I’m going to go for this job. It’s the highest paid i’ve gotten so far, i can’t afford to miss it”, Makayla said.

Already, the pain in her chest had already subsided and she was feeling much better than before. She still had thoughts about her meeting with KIng but Makayla decided it wasn’t worth it. Two people had already warned her concerning him and she knew she’d be a fool if she failed to listen to their warnings.

It was better she let them go than roping herself into something she wasn’t capable of handling. From her research, she discovered that the Williams brothers were really connected but yet, there was something sinister about their activities.

”Yes, I can’t stop you from going because I know you want to do this. All I’m saying is, you have to be careful. I know how stubborn and hot headed you are, it wouldn’t do you any good if you bring in that attitude when your interview is going on”, Laura said.

Makayla knew what her mother was talking about. She was stubborn, that she knew but it was justified. Just because she was poor and drove an outdated car bus doesn’t mean she’ll allow anyone to just walk all over her.

She had pride and she was going to use it to the best of her abilities without going overboard. The job she had seen was something that could conveniently take care of her bills without her breaking a sweat and she was going to try as much as possible to secure it.

”I want to sell the car bus”, Makayla said.

”Why? But it’s been really helpful, don’t you think?”, her mother said.

”Yes Mom, I know it has been but the maintenance is really high. I would even prefer going by cab. I calculated the cost of maintenance last week and it was double the amount we even spend on food. I think it has to go Mom”, Makayla said.

”Alright dear, whatever you say. You run this show”, Laura laughed.

”No Mom, you do”, Makayla said, giving her mother’s hands a gentle squeeze.

”How is your chest now? Any improvement?”, Laura asked.

”Yes, I can hardly feel anything”, Makayla smiled.

”Thank goodness. I was beginning to get worried”.

”I’ll look for a buyer for the bus from today. The earlier we sell it off, the better. I’m just hoping we get a good amount for it”, Makayla said.

”If we get a thousand dollars for it, we’ll be lucky”, Laura laughed.

”Mom, it can’t be that bad”, Makayla laughed.

”Have you seen the state of that car? It’s terrible to be honest”, she laughed.

”Well, let’s just keep our fingers crossed”, Makayla smiled.

”We will. I need to go get started on breakfast, just rest okay. You’ve been doing so much these past weeks”, she smiled.

It was true. Makayla had nearly died as a result of the different jobs she took over the weeks. From being a maid to interviewing clients for a blog where she was paid peanuts to even working on a farm. It was too much for one person to do and Makayla realized that her chest pain was as a result of that.

”Do we still have any food?”, Makayla asked.

”Of course, we do. Remember you stocked the house with food last week from all the paychecks you received”, her mother said.

”Oh yeah”, Makayla chuckled.

”What day are you going for the interview?”.

”I have to be there by ten tomorrow and I have to dress smart”, Makayla said.

”Of course, you have to. The Royale restaurant is one of the biggest in the country and is host to top personalities and celebrities. I heard Taylor Swift has dined there before”, her mother said.

”I feel kind of nervous Mom, I feel like I won’t do my best”, Makayla said.

”No darling, don’t feel that way. Remember that the first agent of failure is fear. You have to remove that fear and face your task squarely. You are a beautiful darling and there’s nothing you can not achieve if you put your mind to it”, her mother said.

Makayla smiled, giving her mother’s hands a gentle squeeze. She had no idea where she’d be if her mother wasn’t there to support her. She was her biggest support system, one she could always rely on.

”I will Mom, I’ll face it”, Makayla smiled.

”That’s my girl”, her mother beamed.

”What are you making?”, Makayla asked.

”Spaghetti and meatballs, your favorite”.

”Yum”, Makayla grinned.

Her mother left soon and Makayla was glad she had that conversation with her. She was relieved and she knew she would do excellently well in her interview because she had never failed and she wouldn’t begin now.