Kiara's world came crumbling to the ground once again. She didn't expect her life to take another dark turn.
She held the CT scans in her hands, trying to make sense out of them, but nothing added up.
Anyway, she didn't even need to make sense out of anything; the doctor's words were enough, but she failed to give in to the bitter truth.
She was dying in two years, he said it so casually, but the seriousness in his voice carried undeniable weight.
For heaven's sake, why is this happening to me? She couldn't believe it.
"But it's been just a year. How come? .... How did it go from 10 years to 2 years?"
"That's what we had earlier anticipated." The doctor sighed.
"But then what happened?" Kiara was getting impatient.
"In this one year, it's gotten worse, and according to how it's escalating, I'm afraid you won't make it past the next two years."
"You've got to be kidding? Is this a prank or something of sorts?" Kiara let out a humorless laugh. But the doctor wasn't laughing; that's when she realised it was a serious situation.
"At least tell me there's something that can be done... I mean, other than me waiting for the day I die."
"Well..." The doctor hesitated. "The best solution would be a bilateral transplant. But for such a case, it takes months, sometimes even years, to come across a suitable donor."
"So what are you trying to say? Are you sending me to my death?" She snapped.
"Please calm down. I put you up for a donor search, but I don't want you to keep your hopes high, as I said, it could take months or even years. For now, all I can say is make use of the time you have left, spend it with family and friends."
"Family?" Kiara said inaudibly. That means I'll have to go back home. Ooh God, that place makes me nauseous."
Kiara sat back in her seat, her thoughts occupied by the place she called home. She couldn't believe she had to go back to that place. The place that had broken her.
Her thoughts ran back to that night, and everything poured like a broken dam.
----
Two Years Ago.
It was one fateful night when it all happened, when her world crumbled to the ground the first time.
That night, she was called by Edward, her boyfriend to his apartment. Eager to meet him, she left all she was doing and headed straight there.
What befell her eyes left Kiara frozen in place.
Her gaze shifted to the bed. There, tangled in sheets, the person she called her best friend, Jessy, nestled against him, the man she had foolishly trusted. The man she had loved.
"What's all this?" Kiara whispered.
"Oh... you're here?" Jessy asked with a smile. "It is what you see," she added.
A slow, mocking smile stretched across Edward's lips as he ran a lazy hand through Jessy's hair.
"Honestly, Kiara, you didn't actually believe I loved you, did you? Anyway, meet the love of my life." He said in amusement.
"I don't love you, I never did. You were just convenient. A stepping stone. But, turns out, you're not even good for that." He added.
Jessy chuckled, sitting up, the sheets sliding down to reveal just enough skin to twist the knife deeper.
"Poor Kiara," she whispered, tilting her head.
"Always thinking you're so smart, so put together. But, honey, you're a terrible lawyer. Without us, you're nothing."
Kiara felt her lips part, but no words came out. Her throat burned, her body trembling as she tried to process the betrayal.
"You were supposed to be useful," he continued with a scoff.
"I mean, with a father like yours, you should have been able to pull some strings. But no. You couldn't even do that right. So pathetic."
Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Not yet.
Jessy swung her legs over the bed, reaching for Kiara's hand with sympathy.
"Don't look so shocked. You were always so easy to manipulate. Desperate for love, for friendship. We just took advantage of what you so willingly gave."
Kiara yanked her hand away. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but she couldn't bring herself to it.
Edward smiled again. "You should thank us, really. At least now you know the truth. You now know your worth. You don't belong in courtrooms, Kiara. You don't belong anywhere important."
Jessy giggled. "Face it, sweetheart. You're nothing but a failure. No case, no career, no boyfriend. Just… alone."
The final word shattered something inside Kiara. The room spun, the walls caving in, suffocating her.
She wanted to cry, scream her lungs out, but she held herself back. If she was going to break, she wouldn't do it in front of them.
"You should have seen yourself," Jessy added. "Coming to work every day like you actually mattered. Sitting in meetings, arguing cases, thinking you were one of us."
Kiara felt her lips part again, but still no words came out.
"You know," Edward sighed.
"We talked about firing you, but then we thought… why bother? You still have some use. You can stay at the firm if you want. Be the little workhorse, running around, doing the grunt work. Just… stay in your lane."
Jessy giggled, placing an arm around his chest.
"It's really the best option for you, Kiara. I mean, what else are you going to do? You're not exactly a star in the courtroom, and let's be real, you don't have what it takes to make it on your own. Ooooh.... maybe I guess baby girl should run to sweet daddy."
Kiara's fingers curled into fists. She felt like putting up a fight, but what good would it be? Not like she could actually beat them up, and let's say she could, that wouldn't make anything right either.
"You want me to stay?" she whispered.
He smirked. "It's not a bad offer. Otherwise, you'll forever move in your parents' shadow. You won't be able to do anything on your own."
Something inside her snapped. The pain, the humiliation, the sheer rage. Kiara lifted her face, her vision blurred with unshed tears, but her voice, when it came, was steady.
"I quit."
For the first time, their smiles faltered.
"You what?" Jessy asked, her amusement fading slightly, but a soft, unreadable smile tagged on her lips.
Kiara stepped back, her pulse pounding.
"I quit," she repeated. "And I swear, both of you will regret this."
"You won't last a day without us, Kiara."Edward mocked.
Jessy let out a pitying sigh. "Oh, sweetheart. You're nothing without us. Without me."
Kiara turned on her heel, forcing her legs to carry her out of the room, out of the place that reeked of betrayal.
But as she reached the door, she paused. With one last glance over her shoulder, she whispered, "I really loved you two."
Then she walked out.
-----
Met with uncertainty, Kiara had to make a decision. It was unfortunate, but she had to go back home.
Standing up from her seat, Kiara made a decision, a decision she would come to regret. She was going back to the place she called home.