CHAPTER 3

'What will I wear for this outing tonight? What about my hairstyle, what will go with whatever dressing I later find?'

Thoughts like these clouded Clara's thoughts.

She couldn't sleep since Gabe left this morning by 3:00 AM

All she could think about was the party Gabe promised to take her to tonight.

She was scattering her room looking for a perfect outfit for the party.

She is just 18 but she loves dressing herself up.

"Clara... Clara..." her mom's voice calling for her again. She quickly heads down to find out what's happening

"Mom, what is it? It's just 6:30 AM."

"Exactly, it is and what were you still doing in your room?"

"I was just..."

"Whatever, make breakfast for the family, you know Olivia would be going to school today for some extracurricular activities, so make sure we all eat this morning, and there are people who have places to be this morning unlike a certain someone"

"But mom, I am tired. Why can't anyone else do the chores?"

"You dare question me? Okay then, it seems you want to be grounded"

"I will get on with it"

"You should have said so earlier, anyway make some green tea for your father, we will be heading to the hospital in a bit"

"I want to come along, mother, can I?"

"No you can't, you need to stay here and keep things in order until we get back"

"Okay mom"

After she made breakfast, the entire family of the Coopers ate to their fill and everyone went to their various places for the day, while she headed back to her room as usual.

She never gets to leave the house except when they send her grocery shopping. The only time she gets to leave is when Gabe comes over that's why the years he wasn't around have been torture. She can't seem to communicate with outsiders due to her being a loner.

She would wish to have lots of friends so that she mingles and do some sleepovers, but that's impossible because she never goes out.

But tonight, she wishes to make up for a lost time, she will do everything she can to do that.

Back to her original thoughts of what to wear.

She opened her wardrobe again and saw a crazy black Jean trousers, she decided to look thoroughly for what to match them up with.

After long hours of going through her closet, she found a white turtleneck crop top to go with it. And when she wore the cloth to see how she looked on it.

She could see she looked good so she mutters to herself

"I still got it"

She turned and turned in front of the mirror, and said yet again

"Wow, I am going to make heads turn today"

She pulled off her cloth and went into the bathroom to freshen up.

When she came out it was still noon, she slumped on the bed and slept off.

At the hospital where Clarissa and her husband Caleb went, the doctor said Caleb was diagnosed with some illness of some kind but, he can get treated only if they brought some ridiculous amount of dollars, before he could be treated.

And there was no way they could come up with that money except maybe if a miracle happens or If they went gambling and win by impossible chance, because over the years they've accrued more and more debts due to their son's misbehavior.

"What will we do honey?" Clarissa asked her husband Caleb on their way home.

"I don't know Clarissa, I knew this was going to be the case, but not to worry I will be fine if I keep fighting"

"You have fought well enough, it's been six months now that you have been ill so you have fought long and hard enough, I just need to find a way to raise that amount so you can get back on your feet quickly," Clarissa said reassuringly to her husband.

"How? Clarissa, how do we do that?"

"I believe something will come to mind, even if we have to sell this car and our house, we will."

"No way, you can't do that, I'd rather die, Clarissa, than see everything I have worked for go down the drain just like that"

"That's why we need to look for another alternative Caleb, one that does not involve losing the house, the car, and you. So keep shut and let's go home and please never say something as crucial as you die, this isn't what we agreed on"

"Fine love, I will keep fighting for us"

"That's the spirit, by hook or crook we will get you treated, one way or another"

They drove back home from the hospital, since it was a bit far from their home to meet, Clara making lunch. This took Clarissa by surprise because she had in mind that when she gets home she'll vent out her frustration on her. But now, she escaped all this by making lunch for them. This made her weak and she couldn't utter a word.

"Welcome back Mom, Dad how was the trip to the hospital?"

"Fine, it was fine."

Clarissa sluggishly walked alongside her husband into their room. She has a lot on her mind rather than pick a fight with an eighteen-year-old.

After making lunch, she went to call on them to eat.

She knocked on the door and said

"Mom, it's time for lunch"

"Bring it in, and add a cup of orange juice for your dad and make me a cold one, I need it for hydration"

She was in no mood to go to the dining, she was stressed to the core, and not just that her head is filled with thoughts.

"Okay mum, will be right there," Clara said and went to get their lunch and orange juices she left their room and went to take her meal.

After taking her lunch, Clara slept off.