Chapter 3

I stepped out of the Taxi to find my landlord next to the blue building with peeling paint that was my abode which I shared with my mum and little sister.

Seeing him, my first thought was to get back into the taxi and flee that Arena; maybe returning when it was almost morning or sleeping back at Lucia's place tugged at my mind.

But then he immediately turned, spotting me on the sidewalk, and his face turned a shade of red, and it wasn't the cold.

Squaring my shoulders, I scaled past running bicycles of rebellious teenagers before dodging balls of children trying to hit their goalpost made of piled stones; then finally, I stopped before Squalo, my landlord

Squalo wasn't his real name, but few people knew what it was, and most of his Tenants weren't one of them, but I heard the reason he was called Squalo was because of his ability to instill fear in his debtors.

And now I was one of them.

Standing before him, I jumped into action, "Signor Squalor, things have really been tight lately; just one more week, and I promise unfailingly..."

He held up his hand, and immediately I stopped talking.

He was such a small man, but everyone knew the power he held or the power it was rumoured he had.

His grey wavy hair was packed in a bun, and his brows were as full as his moustache, which was so thick that one couldn't see his upper lip, and when he chewed, which he always did, it moved.

"Ti ho dato abbastanza tempo," —I gave you enough time— He spoke rapidly, and with each word, his voice went higher, attracting attention from passersby.

I tried not to wince, wishing I could disappear into my black hoodie; the eyes penetrated my back.

"Look, Lily, I do not run a charity organisation here. It's been three months!"

More like two, "I paid half of it last week, you remember? It was everything I had on me" I panicked, taking a step close, and begged, "Give me the grace of two weeks. I promise I'll pay."

"Two weeks too far."

"Then one week, " I jumped in, but his gaze was unflinching

And finally, he said, "Three days are all I give you, then I kick you out."

"But Mr. Squalor .."

"Non gestisco un'organizzazione di beneficenza" —I do not run a charity organization— he began to walk away, "Last warning Lily."

I sighed, watching him go; the pieces of paper in my hands reminded me of Greg's offer. Could I do it? And it seemed fate was making my decisions for me.

Taking the flight of stairs for although there was an elevator, it never worked, for the rent that was collected here, it was a slap on our face.

But it was the cheapest and closest for Mum to get her health care.

Reaching the door of our two-roomed apartment, finding the door locked, I opened the door and walked in, immediately finding a note right on the only sofa in the apartment.

"We had to go to the hospital, Lily; Mum had a rushed appointment.

Eva.

Dropping the paper, I sighed hard, the throbbing in my legs reminding me that I still had to race to the hospital.

I wondered what the doctor's rushed call was all about, and inwardly I prayed it was good news. Maybe I wouldn't have to go through with Greg's deathly offer.

Dropping my bag and the paper the strange, crazy man at the restaurant gave me, I began my journey to the hospital.

****

I opened the door of my mother's ward to find her lying still, her hollowed eyes shut, her breath was the only sound in the room, and it filled the space alright, her once thick luscious hair now a scanty dull brown.

Sitting next to her was Eva, holding her hand, squeezing some comfort in while watching her face strewn in pain.

In front of Eva, speaking to the doctor, was Luciano, a neighbor who had become a friend and helped me out in many ways, including lending me money I always made sure I paid back.

Shutting the door, I walked towards the doctor...

"...We found another organ ready, judging that she has just a week to live. If we don't do this early, we will lose her."

Behind him, I panicked, "You said two weeks, doc, didn't you?"

He turned to me, looking a little surprised as to when I had appeared behind him, and Luciano, pushing back his sandy blonde hair, walked around the doctor; stopping behind me, he placed his hand comforting on my shoulder

"I'm sorry, Lily," he shook his head, "I've done all I can, but if we don't have the transplant done in the next few days, then ..." He sighed, "That's all I can say."

I looked past him, back to my mother on the bed, looking almost lifeless. Nasal cannulas were the only reason she had any life left.

I covered my nose, the urge to sob creeping in, the lump in my throat increasing with every minute.

"I'm trying my best," I whispered.

The doctor tapped me on my shoulder, "I know, and I'm sorry, Lily."

He left the ward, and for minutes the silence stayed. I watched my mother struggle for her life on the sick bed.

Luciano, wrapping his hands around my shoulders with the side of his face against my head, whispered, "It's going to be alright, Lily, don't give up yet."

"I don't know, Lucian," my voice came out in a whimper, "It seems like every day I'm losing hope, "

"The meeting with your cousin didn't go well, I guess."

I shook my head, "I don't know if he wants to help me, " I rubbed my eyes. "I don't know how to feel."

I and Lucian's first meeting was hilarious. On our way to work, we fought over a Taxi, claiming we flagged it first because we were both late. He worked as a bartender in one of Silvianno's bar chains.

The following morning there was a knock on the door, and there he was with a box of chocolate and a mouth filled with apologies.

Since then, we've remained friends.

"We'll sort this out, alright?"

I nodded. When he released me, I walked over to Eva, who raised her eyes briefly and returned them to our mother's hands.

Her center-parted hair accentuated the long face she got from our father, blue eyes like the ocean showing off her emotions, and right in it was annoyance.

"Hey Eva, are you okay?" I squatted before her.

And she rolled her eyes before glaring at me, "And of course, we want to pretend like all of this isn't your fault Lily."

I expected it; it wasn't the first time she had thrown the guilt on me, for when mother had fallen ill, it always arose in her fights and wasn't something I was proud of.

"I did what I had to do ..."

She sneered at me, tears rolling down her eyes, "You are the reason Uncle Claudio kicked us out; if it weren't for you, Mum would have been getting the help we need right now!"

"But I had to say something," I croaked.

"Look where it ended us,"

"Eva," when I tried to reach for her hand, she snatched it away from my hold, pain eating at my chest. I croaked, "You weren't expecting me to die in silence?"

She glared at me, "You're just so fucking selfish, thinking about your fucking self all the time!"

"Eva, you are being insensitive, " Luciano's voice held heat.

"back up, Lucian, it's not your fucking business."

"you spoiled, insensitive stupid bi..."

"Stop!" I stood up abruptly, turning to Luciano. I forced a smile, "Could you help me ask Doc if there are meds we are taking home?"

He eyed me, shaking his head. He left the ward, shutting the door after him, anger in his gait.

Turning to my sister, I pulled the paper and phone from my pocket and typed in the number, "I know how to get the money for Mum's treatment."

She eyed me as if I was mad, "Are you about to rob a bank? Or elsewhere, where the hell do you expect to get a million Euros?"

Looking at my mother's frame on the bed, I confessed, "Greg wants me to marry Enzo before he can give me the money for Mum's treatment."

She froze, her mouth dropping open, "Are you..."

"Yes," I replied, placing the phone against my ear, "If that's what it takes, then I'm ready..."

"But Enzo, you aren't even of his interest? You think he'll want anything to do with you?" She eyed me, still in doubt and puzzled.

Before I could answer, Greg picked up the call on the other line, "You made your decision Lily."

"Yes," I increased the sound of my voice, "Yes, I'll marry Enzo; where should I meet you."

And he gave me directions.