A letter came one afternoon, for my Dad.
Dear Aaron,
I've heard about your daughter Olive Mae Carney, and her sickness. This made me very sympathetic to your situation, so I would like to give you the money for your daughters operation and to get you back on track, I didn't enclose my name because I just want to help you and your daughter sent my best wishes to your daughter and other daughter Carmen Louise. Thanks for your time and understanding.
A friend.
The letter was a mystery to my father, but I could tell he was grateful to this mystery person. I was also grateful, I would have another chance to live.
My father walked into my hospital room, his face clearly showed shame. But shame for what? ''Dad, what`s the matter?'' I ask as he takes a seat next to my bed. ''I`m sorry Olive... My dear Olive, I`m so sorry...'' He said. I looked at him, what was he sorry for? We had the money now, so he didn't have anything to feel sorry for... did he? ''Dad? What are you saying sorry for? We have money now...'' I was saying but I stopped as I saw he was shaking his head. ''No... We don't have the money, Its gone... It`s all gone.'' He told me. ''What do you mean? How is it all gone? We just got the money yesterday... I saw it...'' I said, tears were starting to form in my eyes. ''No, I`m sorry... I was trying to get us more money, but I just lost everything... Olive, I lost it...'' He said. I felt like throwing something at him. Something hard, but I was too weak to throw anything. I knew my Dad had a gambling problem but, I thought he would keep this money... I thought he wanted to save me.
That letter that had came from a friend, had somehow found out that Dad had lost all the money and had sent another letter but this time it was sent straight to me.
Dear Olive,
I heard of what your Dad did, you don't need to know my name, but you should ask him something, tell him that you know and ask him to tell you everything cause you don't like being lied to anymore. Maybe it will help you to understand him. Say nothing about me to him.
A friend.
I took the advice from "a friend" and asked my Dad if there was anything that he wasn't telling me and he told me. "Dad, is there anything you need to tell me, something that I need to know. If you have nothing to tell me I would like to see my birth certificate!" I had told him "..Olive..." "Dad don't mess around with me, you have hurt Carmen and I already a lot!" I almost screamed. ''Olive... Even if you saw your birth certificate, it wouldn't help anything, it`s a fake...'' He said, ''I`m not... your father... that bastard Tom is. Your mother was having an affair with him while we were married and then she couldn't take it anymore and left for him. But she soon learnt her lesson and disappeared from this world for good...''. I looked at him, not able to believe what he was saying. ''Are you saying... you were responsible for Mum`s death?'' I said looking him in the eye. ''Possibly, but you should also ask your sister some things too...'' He said, smiling now. He no longer looked shame faced or sad about the fact I was dying.
"Did you lose the money, that could possibly save my life on purpose..." the question lingered in the air. "Olive...I may be a killer..but yer I did, I lost the money on purpose. Your mother should have been faithful to me, I had to father you!" "I can't believe you, whose Carmen is she even my sister?" ''Carmen is your half sister. She doesn't know that you are only half her sister yet. But she was upset when your mother left us. She abandoned us and that made Carmen upset with her so she helped me... If you get what I mean...'' "Why are you telling me this..." a realisation came to Olive, "So Olive is your daughter and I am not, did you make me sick?"