Chapter 2

“I understand, Signorina. I'll be in my office if you need my help,” the manager said. “Meanwhile, I hope your sister will recover quickly.” With those words, the manager left the room and left me alone again.

I gently stroked the pale face of my sister. I have no idea why she's unconscious. “I hope it's nothing serious,” I whispered.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I quickly wiped them with my hand. “I need to be strong,” I told myself.

Then there's a knock on the door. I quickly got up and opened the door.

“I'm Dr. Rossi, and you're the patient's mother?” I heard the doctor ask in English with a heavy Italian accent.

“I'm Lisa Saunders, her older sister, Dr. Rossi,” I said, standing aside to let him in. He walked over to where Lilani lay. The doctor examines Lilani and asks, “How is her health, Miss Saunders?” He asked me.

“As far as I know, excellent doctor. She had just started complaining about the headache a few weeks ago, but I thought it was because she was missing out on her parents”. I told him truthfully.

“I told her to get ready to take her to a doctor and found her on the bathroom floor unconscious.”

The doctor struggles for almost fifteen minutes to bring Lilani around. “Your sister will have to be admitted to the hospital, Miss Saunders.” The doctor announces this as he carefully places his stethoscope in his suitcase.

“Your sister is in a coma, not just unconscious.” The words shocked me.

“Is My sister's condition serious, Doctor?” I asked with a lump in my throat.

The doctor looked at me with sadness and said, “Yes, I fear your sister's condition is serious, Miss. But exactly how serious it is, I do not know. I will get an ambulance to come immediately.”

I suddenly became concerned about her, and after the doctor's departure, I quickly got an overnight bag for her.

Just as I was done, the ambulance stopped in front of the hotel. The paramedic helped Lilani and asked, “Do you want to ride with your sister, Miss?” I nodded and followed them to the waiting ambulance.

I have been waiting all night for the doctors to come out with some news about Lilani.

I can't even ask one of the nurses; I can only flip through the magazines and look at the pictures while constantly thinking about my sister.

Dr. Rossi finally makes his appearance at the waiting room door.

I quickly stood up from the chair and walked towards him. “Doctor, do you know what is wrong with my sister? Is she still in a coma?”

The doctor looked at me and said, “Your sister is still in a coma, Miss Saunders, and I am afraid her condition is critical. She will most likely have to have surgery. But we will only know tomorrow after the brain specialist has studied the X-ray plates again. You see, the plates showed a tumor on the brain.”

I looked at the doctor as if he had just grown two heads.

“Thank you, doctor,” I said and left the hospital.

I quickly went to my room to think about this situation. I cannot believe that this is happening to us. How will I pay for the surgery? I did not budget for medical expenses such as an operation. After thinking about all this, I finally arrived at the hotel.

The following day, I woke up early to get ready for the hospital. I wait for the doctor, and after what feels like forever, he finally comes over to me and says, “Good morning, Miss Saunders; please follow me.” I heard him say:

I quickly followed him to a room.

Dr. Rossi introduced me to the brain specialist, and I became tense.

“Please sit down, Miss Saunders.” He invited me to sit down and begin to speak.

“Unfortunately, the result of my examination is not good, Signorina. Signorina will have to get an operation as soon as possible; her life depends on it. He explained everything about the operation, but I didn't understand all the medical terms he used.

“Your parents must be notified about the operation immediately, Signorina. The operation can only be postponed for a few days.”

“I am sorry, but my parents died in a car accident a year ago. I told the doctor. I am her legal guardian."

“I am sorry to hear about your family.” He replied.

“We need your answer by tonight to make the necessary arrangements.” Doctor Rossi informed me.

I thanked the doctor and walked out of the hospital toward the park.

I'm thinking about my sister's operation and don't notice the older man sitting near me.

The thought that I would also lose my sister breaks my heart. I wish our parents were here to tell me what to do.

I'm so sad that I don't notice the man watching me.

Mr. Mancini's POV

I watched the lady from a distance. “I wonder why she's sad?” I wondered out loud.

“Maybe a heartbreak.” Maria, my wife, said, “Then the man must be stupid.”

My wife laughed at me. “Why don't you go to her and find out what's wrong? Maybe we can help?” I heard Maria say, “What makes you so sure she will tell me her problems?” I asked.

“I can see she's got trouble, and maybe she will open up to you.”

I looked at the young girl as well. “Alright, I will talk to her. I hope she doesn't think I'm some kind of pervert.” I said it out loud, only for Maria to laugh at me.

I stand up and walk over to the brunette.

Lisa's POV.

I was so caught up in my grief that I didn't notice when an older man came to sit next to me on the bench. I sob, but then hear a male voice next to me asking, “Ti fa molto male, Signori ta?” Do you feel sick?

I shook my head and wiped away my tears. “I'm sorry, but I don't understand your language, Sir, and I don't talk to strangers. Please leave me alone. “

“Excuse me; I don't want to be rude, Signorina,” the old man said in a mixture of English and Italian, “but my wife said I should come and ask why you are crying. My name is Mason Mancini.”

I looked at the man, then at where he was pointing, and saw an elegant older woman.

They seem to be concerned. “Mr. Mancini, my little sister, and I are here on vacation. But yesterday, I got shocking news.” I informed him about what the doctor said today.

“When will your sister have surgery?” I heard the older man ask with sympathy clearly in his voice.

I shook my head, and the tears began to roll down my cheeks. “I don't have money to pay for the operation, Sir,” I told him truthfully.

“You are indeed in a difficult position, Signorina,” Mr. Mancini said.

“Yes, you do indeed have reason to feel sad. You haven't told me what your name is.”

“I'm Lisa Saunders; we stay in the Palazzo Veneziano, Mr. Mancini,” I said softly.

“You must wonder why my parents aren't here. You see, our parents died in a car accident a year ago. My sister can't process their death; she wants to know if they are coming home; this holiday was planned so that she could get away from everything that made her think about them. “ I paused and said, “I'm sorry I bore you with my problems, Mr. Mancini. I told him I just wanted to be alone for a while. I think your wife is calling you. Please thank her on my behalf".

“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Saunders.” I heard the older man say this as he quickly stood up from the bench and greeted me politely.

Masons POV

“Well, I have to say you were away for a long time, Mason,” my wife said when I sat beside her.

“Is it possible that you could not tear yourself away from the attractive lady?” My wife continues to tease me. I see she is no longer crying!”

“Her name is Lisa Saunders; she is indescribably beautiful.” I begin to tell my wife.

“She and her little sister are from South Africa and arrived here two days ago on holiday.” I continued to tell my wife about the car accident in which Lisa's parents died and that this holiday was meant to cheer Lilani up. I briefly told her about their tragedy yesterday and that Lisa cannot cover the operating costs. “However, yesterday she got sad news.“

“So, it's not a breakup then,” my wife said.

“I wonder if she's not just another gold digger hoping to catch a rich guy?” I heard my wife say, “I don't think it's a lie, Maria.”

“At first, she didn't want to have anything to do with me. She clarified that she doesn't talk to strangers and that I should leave her alone. No, she doesn't look like the girl who will make up lies to get money from a man. “

“It's true; one can always find out at the hotel and hospital if she's telling the truth,” my wife said.

“Did the lady tell you who the specialist is who is going to operate on her sister?” Maria asked.

“No, and I didn't ask.”

“Why don't we phone the hospital and ask?” I suggest.

“No, wait, I think it's better if you introduce me to the lady, so I can talk to her myself.”

Maria stands from the bench and continues, “Come, my dear."