SAVE ME

Annabelle Dennis

“Yes,” I say, my phone between my ear and shoulder. I was at Gale Hall, checking up on everything, just making sure that everything is going smoothly.

“Ma’am” I heard someone say from behind me so I turned to look at him and then told the person I was on a call with that I would call them later “There’s some kind of issue,” he said and I frowned.

“What could that be?” I asked him.

“Err… err… the guys that were going to bring the decorations had a little accident and…” I gasped as I looked at him in panic.

“Oh my GOD, when did it happen?” I asked, “Are they okay?” I could feel my heart race and my limbs shake from the scare… I am really hoping that it’s not a terrible one.

“Earlier this morning and they will be fine. It’s a minor injury and they will be fine soon” he replied and I let out a breath of relief, at least I know that it was not too serious.

“Thank GOD” I put my hand on my chest and thank GOD internally.

“So… ma’am” he began but I interrupted.

“It’s okay, I understand. Send my love to them” I say and he turned to leave after saying thanks to me.

I looked around the hall and it was looking good. The renovations did a great deal in making this hall look this beautiful. The guys were almost done and I can say that they are doing a perfect job. I went outside to check on them and it was looking nice from the outside too.

The event comes up in a few weeks and I don’t think I can ask Morgan for her help with the further decorations, her exams started this week and they will go on for like two or three weeks, not sure but I don’t want to distract her. She already has a gig she needs to do too, so not much work for that girl.

I want her to concentrate. She already helped me with a few that Mr. Roberto checked when he met her again.

I don’t really know how to go about this since the guys that we contracted are in the hospital and I don’t know when they will be out.

I think I will look for an alternative just in case and to avoid any form of delay.

It was almost evening when I checked the time and the guys were done with the painting. I love it and they even put up the ‘Lewis Firm End of Year Party’ sign. It looks pretty.

I went around the hall to check all that has been done, what needs adjustment, and what need to be attended to.

Food & Drinks = Check!

Painting = Check!

Renovations = Check!

Snacks = Check!

Decorations = Needs to be attended to…

MC = work on that.

I went to the bathroom to check, seems okay though but needs a bit of extra work here and there. I will make sure it’s fixed on Saturday, I made a mental note and set a reminder on my phone.

When I was done with checking everywhere and noting down what needs to be attended to, I bumped into someone thankfully it wasn’t too hard so I steady myself before I could fall.

I looked up and saw Mr. Roberto standing in front of me with a smile on his face. He wasn’t wearing his work clothes and I know why. Rather he had a navy-blue fitted V-neck shirt and a pair of blue jeans, his slightly gray hair isn’t styled like it used to be but his overall look is okay… better than last year.

It’s a Monday and I got some days off because of the task he handed to me.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Sorry, are you okay?” he asked and I nod my head with a smile.

“Err… yes sir, I am” I answered and he nods his head. “Are you okay?” I asked him.

He does look like he didn’t get enough sleep though.

“Um… yeah, you know, just a little bit stressed… that’s all” he shrugged and I nod my head in understanding.

Today is November 15th, his wife’s death anniversary. On this day, he is always at the cemetery spending the entire day there as he mourns her death.

Mr. Roberto was a very lively and outgoing person, he isn’t one to boss people around, he is calm, humble, friendly, honest… there’s a list of all the good qualities that he possesses. His outgoing charisma changed when his wife lost the battle with cancer.

It was the most devastating time of his life. We were close, he was a father to me and I saw how he was emaciating when it happened, how he was trying to look okay when he and his wife found out that she had triple-negative breast cancer.

They both wondered why she never showed early symptoms of the disease because if she had shown signs, there might be something that could be done that wouldn’t make it worse or continue to grow in her. It was really devastating for them both, especially him. Sarah started the neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment immediately after they discovered it.

Their doctor said that they should start with that treatment not to shrink the larger tumor and if after the treatment, there’s still a residue of cancer then he will have to prescribe capecitabine (oral chemo0 for her to take for eighteen to twenty-four weeks.

Everything was going fine, her body was responding to treatment and he was assured that his wife would make it. He believed so and she believed too. Then one day, he was at work handling a very sensitive case when he got a call from the hospital. That was when things changed. His wife passed on.

It was still shocking how she was able to die in that manner but no one was prepared for that news and since he was handling a very sensitive case, he had to try and concentrate on it and by GOD’s grace, we won the case but he was left with grief afterward.

We all at the firm showed our support to him with all the condolence visits, gift and we all tried to cheer him up in ways that we could, and he was happy with our efforts.

Sarah had a foundation that helped cancer patients that can’t afford treatment raise money and since most of them tend to lose hair, they get to have wigs from some of their sponsors.

There was a lot of support from the foundation too and almost all patients there were attached to Sarah and it broke their hearts that she passed on.

During that time, he became a little snappish and didn’t talk much to anyone, his daughter Brianna had to come home early from school because of what happened. She too was really affected by her mum’s death and was at the same time trying to be strong for her dad.

I guess everyone grieves differently.

My grieving phase wasn’t easy at all.

I watched this man who is like my father, grieve in a not-so-great manner. He would sometimes indulge himself with so much work like there was no tomorrow that it nearly cost his life after the life-threatening heart attack he had in the office. I was glad that I came in just as he had it and he was rushed to the hospital immediately.

The doctor advised that he took a lot of rest because the one he had was severe and the next might take his life. I and Brianna had the opportunity to talk to him and tell him not to end it all for his daughter as she too is grieving Sarah’s death. We prayed and hoped for the best.

Sarah was buried two weeks later.

Today, four years ago Sarah Roberto died and he doesn’t come to work on her anniversary. It’s just how he was dealing with losing her.

“May her soul rest in peace” we said in unison then smiled.

“She was also my mother,” I tell him and he nodded and then gave me a side hug which I returned.

“I am glad that I have you and Brianna,” he told me and I lean my head on his shoulder.

“Me too” I replied.

We lean away from the hug after a few minutes then he asked.

“How are the preparations going?” I handed him the clipboard and he went through them

“It’s going great” I replied “Look around, the renovations did a great deal here, eh?” I asked and he nodded then looked around before his eyes settled on me.

I grinned and continued.

“Those guys are really good and I am glad we choose their services, you know I was doubting because they were a new company and they didn’t disappoint at all,” I tell him.

“Okay, so the catering is checked, and okay, nice” he comments

“Thank you, sir” I smiled “But the guys that are supposed to decorate had a little accident and are in the hospital. I don’t know when they will get out but I will look for an alternative just in case” I said and his brows furrowed.

“I am hoping it’s nothing serious?”

“According to their manager, it isn’t too bad”

“Okay, but how about Morgan? That’s her name, right?” I nod “She’s an amazing designer” we began walking back to the hall.

“Well, she’s my other option but she started her exams today and I don’t want anything to distract her, she did some designs though and we will pay her for that if we use any of her designs,” I said to him and he nod his head.

“Hmm… okay, but do you have anyone on your mind?” he asked and I shook my head.

“Well, for now, no, but I will work on that and also we need an MC, I will see to those two and update you”

“Okay then,” he handed me the clipboard and smiled “You are really doing a great job Ann, well done,” he says to me.

“Thank you, sir,”

He checked the time on his watch and then looked at me.

“It’s almost six in the evening, have you had dinner yet?”

“No sir”

“Come, let’s have dinner,” he said and guide me outside the hall.

When we came outside, we ran into the manager in charge of the hall we rented for the event.

“Miss Dennis” we shook hands.

“Mr. Welburg” I greeted him back and introduced him to my boss “This is my boss Mr. Roberto and sire this is Mr. Welburg the manager of this hall” they both shook hands.

“Nice meeting you Mr. Welburg”

“Same here Mr. Roberto, it’s a pleasure to finally meet the man that saved me and my family from shame,” he said and my boss looked kind of confused with what he said.

Mr. Welburg saw the confusion on his face and chuckled.

“Oh, don’t think too much about it sir, I just wanted to say a big thank you for what you did for us, please keep up your good work,” Mr. Welburg says to my boss and he just nods.

We talked for a while before we bid ourselves goodbye and parted ways.

“You know, I still can’t remember from where I know him,” Mr. Roberto said and I smiled. “Do you know him?” he asked me.

“No sir, maybe one of your clients” I shrugged and we settled in his car before he started the car and headed for a restaurant we can dine at.

“I don’t remember any Welburg case,” he said.

“You don’t need to, just keep up your good work”

“Yeah, okay” he replied and focused on driving.

“Brianna will be home soon,” he says after a while and a smile grew on my lips.

“Really? When?” I asked with excitement.

“In a week” he replied.

“Okay, I will be expecting her” he nodded then stopped the car and I looked around to see that we were parked by the roadside, I was going to ask what happened when he honked at someone, I looked at who he honked at and saw that it was Morgan who was walking in the direction of Gale Hall.

She looked at our side and Mr. Roberto waved at her which confused her but when she saw us clearly, her face brightened up and she looked to her left and right before crossing to the side of the road we were parked in.

He unlocks the door for her to get in and I turned the heat up. She looked like she was freezing and I was worried that she might catch a cold later. He continued driving.

“Thank you,” she says and greets Mr. Roberto, and he greets her back.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” I say to her.

“Ricardo has done some work to get done, he finished his exams before me and left immediately after, so I decided to come here so that we can go home together” she explained.

“Okay, maybe you should call next time,” I tell her.

“Will do” she replied.

We chatted for a while and Mr. Roberto asked Morgan about her exams and some other questions. We arrived at the restaurant in no time and ate when our order was brought.

These are times like this I love, enjoying time with the people you care about and just being happy. You don’t need to be related to each other before you become a family

Love binds us together and love will keep us together.