That afternoon passed with so much discomfort for Mariana. She couldn't wait to go home,but wait, she still needed to help her friend pick out an outfit for her date.By the time it was 3pm,Her whole body was feeling feverish. She took slow steady steps to the bus even as Lisa run to catch up with her.
"Mariana what is it? Why are you walking like that?Are not feeling well? Should I cancel my date and go with to your house ?" She bombarded her with questions.
Mariana got in the bus and only then did she turn to Lisa to reply to her many questions.
"Am not feeling too good,my whole body is aching and am feeling cold.But no you don't have to cancel your date,just go I will be okay when I get home.I think I just need to rest."
Lisa placed her hand on Mariana's forehead and said," You do feel kind of warm,are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
"Yes am sure.I will be okay I promise."Mariana answered
Mariana placed her head on the window and dozed off.Good thing is, her house was the first stop before Lisa's,so Lisa woke her up when they got there.
She got off the bus slowly and walked to her house,Lisa who was still in the bus just looked at her with a worried expression.Then just before the bus left she shouted,"call me If you need anything okay!"
Mariana just lifted her hands with a thumbs up not even being able to turn around to face her friend.Then she heard the bus leave.
She walked to the front door and didn't even get to it when she collapsed.
Duf!
Jennifer who was in the house prepping dinner heard a loud sound coming from outside,as if someone had fallen hard on the porch. She put the knife down and rushed to the door,as soon as she opened the door she screamed running to her daughter who was on the floor.
"Mariana!" She shouted patting her daughter on the cheek. "Mariana wake up! Please sweetheart wake up!" She now started shaking her. Mariana opened her eyes still feeling dizzy.
"Where am I? Mariana asked trying to get up.
"Sweetheart you are home but I guess you fainted before getting inside the house."Her mom explained. "I thought you said you were not coming home early.."
Mariana sat up holding her head which she felt was pounding hard. She blinked a few times and put her hands forward signaling her mom to help her stand up.Her mom stood up first and helped Mariana stand which she did with so much effort.
"Am not feeling okay mom,I think I might be getting sick or something."Mariana told her mom. "Can you help me get to my room please?"
Jennifer didn't ask anything else and held her daughter giving her support to walk to her room.She led her inside and placed her slowly on her bed.She took her school bag and placed it on the floor.She then knelt on one knee and helped Mariana remove her shoes after which she lifted her legs positioning her to lay down.
She hurriedly went to the bathroom and wet a towel which she used to put on Mariana's forehead. She still felt hot. She sat down on the bedside and asked Mariana caringly."Mariana what happened?"
Mariana who was still feeling delirious,put much effort into answering , "I don't know,at some point today I just started feeling Unwell.And my shoulder..it still hurts..I feel like am burning....I don't know what is wrong with me.."
Jennifer removed Mariana's jacket and pulled up her sleeve. Her eyes opened wide on seeing that mark and quickly stood up saying,"I have to call your grandmother!"
"..what?.." Mariana tried to make sense of what her mom was saying but she had no strength to even think.
Jennifer literally ran out of the room to grab her phone. She dialed her mother- in- law's number and as soon as the call was received she didn't even wait for greetings and said,"What you said...I think it's happening..she doesn't look good,what should I do?"
There was silence on the other end for a minute before she heard a response,"it has started earlier than I anticipated,that's why I had told you to come here. Am on my way,you cannot move her in that condition.No matter what do not give her any medicine or take to hospital do you understand!.. I will be there as soon as I can."
After she hang up, Jennifer went back to her daughter's room to check on her. She found her curled up,folding her knees to touch her forehead.
"Oh God, Mariana can you hear me?" She knelt down on the bed close to her daughter. Mariana was in such a bad state she could not even give her mom an answer.
"Mmmm." Was all the sound that came from her mouth.
Jennifer felt helpless, Mariana was all she had. She hadn't gotten any other children since her husband's(Mariana's father)mysterious disappearance. All her life she knew how to comfort her daughter.
She had remedy for everything,and this was the first time she didn't know how to help her daughter. If only she had listened to her mother-in-law and made an effort to learn what she had tried to tell her. She had always ruled them as rumblings of an old woman.
Jennifer started soothing her daughter as she rubbed her back which was facing her, "Mariana mwanangu usijali..utakua sawa..tulia tu shosh anakuja." This words were more a comfort to her as they were to her daughter.
Mariana turned to face her mom and said in a weak voice,"Mom.. please.. niletee.. maji ya kukunywa." Her mom heard her and went to the kitchen without hesitation,she got a glass and put warm water. She then went back to her daughter's room and sat her up so she could drink.
*Mariana mwanangu usijali utakua sawa,tulia shosh anakuja* Swahili meaning * Mariana my daughter don't worry you will be okay, just relax your grandmother is on her way*
*Mom please niletee maji ya kukunywa* Swahili meaning *mom please bring me water to drink*