Another Bad Day

Jessie's POV

The rhythmic beeps of medical equipment filled the air as I entered my mother’s hospital room.

Mom lay lifeless, her small figure was connected to a web of tubes and wires too many to count.

At this point, I knew that these equipments were the only thing keeping her alive. What would happen if I didn’t get the money to pay the hospital bills?

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stood there thinking if my life would have been better had my father not left us.

Had he not left us drowning in a sea of debt, would I be leading a different life?

But such thoughts were just wishful thinking.

Just when I thought being kicked out of our house due to the bankruptcy was the final blow, mother’s health took a drastic turn.

I was forced to drop out of college and started working multiple part-time jobs just to put a roof over our heads.

My mom was the only good thing left in my life, the thought of not having her by my side scared me more than anything else.

The doctors were very clear: without immediate surgery, mother had less than a week to live.

A familiar voice suddenly broke the silence. “Jess, dear, you’ve done enough.”

I turned around to see Uncle Sam gazing at me with concerned eyes.

Uncle Sam was the only person who cared about us, he was more than just a family servant now; he was like a second father to me, the one person who stayed with us even after my father abandoned us.

“Uncle, when did you get here?” I smiled sadly.

“A while ago.”

“Jess, you’ll be lying right next to your mother if you don’t eat and have some rest, dear”

“Uncle Sam, I must find a way. I can’t let mom die, I can’t…”

“But no one’s willing to help me, no one is willing to lend me any money. I’ve gone to everyone I know, Uncle Sam.” I broke down in tears.

The people who once claimed to be friends had all turned their backs on me just when I needed help.

Perhaps, they were all afraid of Greg Ben- my father’s long sworn enemy, a man whose name alone made people shiver. Perhaps, everyone was too scared to help our family because of him. It felt like every door was slamming in my face.

“Jess, my dear, $50,000 is huge money and people are really selfish nowadays…”

“No, Uncle, there must be someone that can help us. I must keep trying. Please take care of my mother.”

Without waiting for Uncle Sam’s response, I was already out of the hospital, storming the town in search of anyone who could help me.

I didn’t know when I ended up in front of Ryan at a fancy restaurant, a kind of place I only wished to go with him.

He had brought his new girlfriend, Anita Beckham, a woman whose class and elegance seemed to mock everything I had lost.

My heart pounded as I approached their table.

“You must be obsessed with me.” Ryan scoffed, “how many times will I break up with you for you to actually get the message?!”

“Ryan, please…” I pleaded, “I really have no one else, you’re my only hope, please help me Ryan.”

“Excuse me, who are you?” Anita interjected, “Can’t you see we’re on a date?”

“Anita, darling, please give me a minute to handle this,” Ryan said.

“Who is she, Ryan?” Anita persisted.

“My ex-girlfriend and worst mistake.”

Ryan’s answer left me in shambles. I was his worst mistake?

Anita glanced at me with a look of disdain, turning to Ryan instead.

“I don’t want to see her, Ryan. She's killing my appetite, make her leave.”

Without thinking twice, Ryan sprang to his feet and grabbed me, pulling me roughly out of the restaurant.

My eyes glistened with tears but I swallowed it all and begged him. “Ryan, please, all I need is $50,000 and you'll never see me again, please.”

“Fine,” Ryan blurted out.

“What?” My eyes sparkled with shock and relief. “Will you give me the money?”

“Why would I do that?” Ryan sneered,

“I'm reporting you to the police for stalking!”

“What?! Wait, Ryan, please, don't this,”

“Then stop following me around, don’t contact me ever again. You're making my new girlfriend uncomfortable. I will never give my money to you, you're not worth a dime!”

I tried to speak but no words came out, tears streamed down my face instead as Ryan turned his back on me, heading inside the restaurant.

I didn't know what was more painful, being treated like a dog by his girlfriend or Ryan’s behavior towards me.

I left the restaurant feeling so shattered and broken. My mind drifted to mother and it seemed my nightmare was getting even more terrifying.

Unexpectedly, my phone rang, and the hospital’s number flashed on the screen. My heart sank.

The voice that answered the phone sounded curt and stern.

“We’re stopping your mother’s treatment now, Jessie. We are not running a free clinic!”

“What?! No sir, please, the money… I will find it,” I stammered, almost losing my mind. “I will be there in a minute please, sir.”

I raced through the streets of the city in a panic. As soon as I entered Doctor's Brian’s office, he bellowed angrily

“If you don't pay your overdue bills by tomorrow morning, we will have no other choice but to stop all treatments and pull the plugs.”

My stomach tightened with horror, even words failed me.

Pull the plugs? That meant taking my mother off all the equipment that kept her alive. Could a hospital do that? Would they really unplug the sockets? Why is life so cruel to me?

I thought about going to see my mother before heading out but I couldn't, I couldn't face her after such news.

Instead I walked out of the hospital, my legs heavy and unsteady.

I held onto the door frame for support and took a deep breath of the cool air, hoping it would cleanse the ache that settled in my chest.

There and then, shockingly, I caught Gavin walking out of Doctor Brian's office to his car.

Shivers ran down my spine, the realization hitting me like a hard brick.

Gavin!

Only Gavin could have pressured the hospital to threaten me, he had the hospital at his beck and call.

Why was he doing this? Was it still because of what happened five years ago?

The anger and frustration had me in a chokehold, I couldn’t even hear myself thinking.

Quickly, I flagged down a taxi, my heart racing in a frenzy.

“Follow that car,” I told the driver, pointing at Gavin’s sleek black car. “Follow him to hell even if that's where he takes us!”

My mind was hardened with determination.

I couldn't bear any more of this suffering.  I wouldn't let him take out his anger on my mother. No, not anymore!