Numra was in a state of blur. A REAL blur. Instead of hanging out any longer with the men, she decided to leave and go home. She wanted to spend a lot more time with her mother and daughter. When she arrived at the hotel, she seen Christina eating a sandwich while her grandmother laid in bed.
"Hey mom!" Christina cheered. "I seen James at the park today."
"That's good, sweety." Numra said, putting on a fake smile and kissing her on the cheek. "How are you, mama?"
"Still sick." Athena said in Persian, coughing and sitting on the couch. "How's school?"
"It's fine." Numra asked in a concerned tone. "Mother, do you need any medication?"
"No, sweetheart." Athena sighed. "I have some."
"Are you sure that you don't want any different one's?" Numra asked again. "I figured you would since these aren't working as much."
"It's okay, Numra." Athena coughed and smiled. "Thanks dear."
With that, Numra took a long shower and prepared for bed. By now, Christina had missed a week of school. Numra had to figure out a way to take care of her grandmother, but she wasn't sure how. In the middle of the night, Numra heard some more coughing. It was 2:41am. She lifted up and seen her mother, leaned forward and coughing heavily and harder in her bed. Numra turned on the lamp and looked at her mother. She was sweating all over. Numra lunged up and grabbed some ice out of the small freezer, placing it on her head.
"Mother!" Numra whispered loudly to avoid waking Christina up. "Are you okay?"
"Oi......." Athena groaned. "I...I feel......."
Numra grabbed some NyQuil and put a little into some orange juice, then gave some to her.
"Here." Numra said. "Drink this."
After drinking the medicine with orange juice, Numra opened her mothers mouth and sprayed the inside of her mouth with some more medicine. This wouldn't help the HIV, but it would sure help the coughing or the moment. Numra waited until her mother drifted off into a deep sleep 7 minutes later, then sat in the chair.
She realized that enough was enough. It was time to call Dr. August.
"Hello?" Dr. August answered, picking up her call.
"Chresanto, I give in. Okay?" Numra said in a depressed tone, rubbing her eyes. "My mothers sick and.......can me, her, and Chrissy come back over? We're really-"
"I don't need an explanation. The answer is yes." Dr. August said in a serious tone. "I'll have the beds ready for you, your mom, and Christina. Okay?"
"Thank you." Numra sighed as she began to pack. "We should be over there in no more than an hour."
"Alright."
While Numra packed Christina and her mothers things, she told the front lady at the desk that she'd be leaving for good. After spending 35 minutes packing everything in the room, Numra woke both of them up once the taxi van arrived.
"Chrissy, wake up." Numra said in a low tone as her mother walked her suitcase out of the room. "We're going to daddy's house."
"Kay."
While Christina and her grandmother slept in the back of the taxi van, Numra sat in the front seat. Thinking. She laid her head on the window and watched outside, staring at the cars roll by as the taxi driver drove. She was thinking about the army, Christina, her mother, everything. She was wondering what she was going to do. Staying back with Christina and her mother was almost mandatory, but she had no job and no money. Going to the army has been her life's dream and ensured that she would get good money for Christina in the future, but that meant that she wouldn't be able to see her daughter until she was 14. She had a lot riding on her shoulders, so she had to figure out what she was going to do.
A half an hour later, they arrived at Dr. August's house. When Christina seen her father, she woke all the way up and hugged him as hard as she could.
"DAD!" Christina squealed as she hugged him extremely tight. "I missed you! Yaaaay!"
"I missed you too, Chrissy." Dr. August smiled as she kissed her on her forehead. "How have you been?"
"Good."
Dr. August looked up at Christina's mother and watched as Numra moved to the side, grabbing her mothers hand.
"Mom, this is Chresanto. Chresanto, this is my mother. Her names Athena." Numra nodded.
"Hello Athena." Dr. August smiled as he shook her hand.
"آیا خلق و خوی من مهم نیست. من فقط مریض هستم." Athena said to him.
"She said 'Don't mind her attitude. She's just sick.'" Numra said, translating to Dr. August. "My mother doesn't speak English. She understands some of it, though."
"Oh. Okay!" Dr. August laughed as they walked in. "Come in. I've got the guest bedroom set for you guys."
Dr. August set his guest room for Athena and allowed Christina and Numra to sleep in his room. As Dr. August got ready to walk out, Christina stopped him.
"Dad, you and mom can sleep in here." Christina said as she took her Barbie blanket. "I'm gonna sleep on the couch out here."
"No, Chrissy. You two can stay in here." Dr. August smiled. "I don't mind."
"No, I want you and mom to sleep together." Christina smiled. "Goodnight."
"Chrissy!" Numra said, stopping her.
"Yeah?"
"You're going to school after tomorrow, sweetie." Numra said in a serious tone. "Don't forget to get ready."
"Kay."
As Christina stepped out of the room, Numra eased her way into bed with her gown on. Dr. August shut off the lights and laid next to her. Numra flipped and turned, indicating she was uncomfortable in bed. Dr. August turned to her and stared to laugh.
"You can lay on top of me if you want, Numra." Dr. August said. "I don't care."
Numra looked at him, then grinned as she laid on top of his chest. Even though she hid it, it felt so good to be next to him. She laid there, sighing as Dr. August glanced down at her.
"What's wrong?" Dr. August asked.
"Nothing. Everything." Numra said as she shook her head. "I'm just..........wondering how I'm gonna take care of Christina when I don't have a job or anything to support myself. I was always living under Roberto."
"Don't worry about it." Dr. August said in a serious tone. "I'll handle it."
"But I don't want to live under anyone, Chresanto." Numra said as she shook her head. "I want to be independent, too. I've never had the chance."
"And you'll get it. I got nothing but faith in you." Dr. August said as he kissed her forehead. "Just keep trying in your army school, alright?"
"Yeah." Numra groaned. "Chresanto.....?"
"Yeah?"
Numra wanted to tell her that she was leaving for the army in 2 months, but she couldn't. She could feel herself getting choked up out of devastation.
"Nothing."
The next day, Numra got ready to go to her school for some more tough training. Dr. August was already gone to work. As she fixed her hair and grabbed her "man" bag, Christina was awakened by her noise. She knew that her mother was about to leave.
"Wait!" Christina shouted, jolting up. "Mom!"
"Yes?" Numra said as she turned around.
"Are you going to do some more intense training?"
"Yes, sweetie. I do it everyday!" Numra laughed as she fixed her hat to go. "Now I'm gonna be late. Bye Christina!"
"But but........you CAN'T!" Christina shouted again in fear. "I......please!"
"And why not?" Numra laughed as she looked at her.
Christina couldn't say anything. Numra waited for the answer, then scoffed and shook her head as she opened the door and prepared to leave.
"You're pregnant, mom!" Christina shouted as Numra stopped walking toward the bus.
"What?" Numra said as she turned to Christina.
"The doctor called your phone and I answered it the other day." Christina sighed. "You're a month pregnant, mom."