Chapter 3

’m rich, I’m filthy rich,” 

I yelled to myself as I walked down the street, heading to the hospital. Well, I wasn’t really rich, but the cash I got today would cover about 10% of my dad’s hospital bills. The night air was cold, and I remembered how soaked I’d been a few hours ago. Now, I could feel the chill creeping up my spine.

I’m freezing, starving, and about to pass out, but at least I didn’t get a bullet in the head. I’m still holding onto some dumb bit of luck, even if it’s just the rabbit’s toe. I escaped that mess without too much trouble, somehow.

Brookstone Hospital’s red lights lit up in the distance as I walked closer. When I pushed through the automatic doors, I saw a woman tugging at her screaming six-year-old daughter, begging her to come along. The little girl wanted to see her daddy, but her mom was crying, looking like she was trying to hold it together. Eventually, the mom snapped and lifted the kid up like a bag of groceries, pushing her way out of the hospital. It sucked to watch. I want to see my daddy too.

Inside, there weren’t many people at the reception. A guy was paying his bill, a nurse was delivering bad news to a couple, and the wife was crying her eyes out. Two girls about my age were scrolling through their phones, making me wish I had one. An old lady in the front row was dozing off. 

I spotted the old granny cardigan and the beach hat—Mrs. Hagrid. She’d been sitting in the same spot for over Fifteen years, ever since her son left her here after her surgery. No one could convince her he’d abandoned her. She still waited for him every day, thinking he’d come back and take her home. It was heartbreaking.

I walked up to the receptionist desk and knocked on the window, giving my biggest smile.

“You’re supposed to wait like everyone else, Lyla,” 

the nurse said, looking at me with a raised brow, clearly annoyed.

“But no one else is up here, so I thought I’d take the liberty of doing it for them,” 

I replied, grinning.

She rolled her eyes and didn’t even bother to look up from her computer.

“Come on, Miss Rachel. Don’t you miss me?” 

I whined, giving her my best puppy-dog eyes.

Miss Rachel was in her late thirties, beautiful but tough. She had a round face, dark brown eyes, and a permanent scowl that made people back off. She probably hated her job, but she was damn good at it. Her brown hair was a messy bun, and her olive skin stood out against the pale blue of her scrubs.

“Not one bit.” 

She didn’t even glance up, keeping her attention on her screen. Hurt, I knocked on the window again, this time repeating it to annoy her.

“Lyla, just go see your dad. You know his room number.”

“I’ll go right after you tell me how much you miss me.”

“Not a chance, kiddo. You’re annoying as hell.”

I gasped dramatically, holding my chest like I’d just been stabbed. 

“That’s not how you talk to your patient!”

“You? A patient? Maybe in a psych ward,” 

she shot back.

"Ouch!"  

That one hit a little too hard.  

"You do know it's your attitude that's keeping you single, right?" 

I shot back, trying to be mean.

"Trust me, my attitude has saved me from a lot of Assholes over the years..." 

she said, struggling to hold back a smug grin.  

"I’m not changing for anyone," she added, glancing up at me.  

"Fine, but this isn’t over.”

I scowled at her with a smile.

I pulled away from the window, rolling my eyes, and walked over to Mrs. Hagrid. She looked like she was half-asleep, drooling a little, and snoring like an old truck. Her skin was all wrinkled, making her look like she’d been around forever, and her fingers looked like they might snap off at any moment. The doctors said she developed dementia after being abandoned by her son. It was sad, seeing her sit there every day, waiting for someone who’d never show up. 

I don’t have any family of my own, no grandpa, uncles, or cousins. But I knew what it felt like to lose someone you loved.

“Lyla, just leave her be, okay?” 

Miss Rachel said, walking over to me, gently urging me away.

“Go see your dad, and here.” 

She handed me a wrapped sandwich.

I stared at it, and my stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten all day, and she probably knew. 

“Turkey sandwich, your favorite.”

“Thanks, Miss Rachel,” 

I said, unwrapping it and taking a bite as I walked down the hall to the elevator. After pressing the button for the third floor, I waited for the doors to open and hummed a song my dad used to sing. It was my small way of holding onto something familiar.

The ding signaled my stop, and I made the usual trek down the hallway, turning the corner toward my dad’s room. The sterile smell of antiseptic hit me like a punch to the gut. I held my breath, adjusting, and finally pushed open the door.

My dad lay motionless under the hospital sheets, tubes snaking from his mouth and crisscrossing his face. I hated seeing him like this…..hooked up to machines I didn’t understand. The beeping and hissing sounded like a constant reminder that this was our reality now. The ventilator kept him alive, but I could never accept it.

I grabbed the nearest chair and dragged it over to his side, sitting down next to him. His hand was cold, but there was a little warmth still there. I squeezed it, wishing he’d squeeze back.

“Hey, Dad,” 

I whispered. 

“School was good today. I’m finally done with senior high, so... Thank God for that.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. 

“I’ve been thinking about colleges, but I can’t afford anything too fancy yet. I’ll figure it out once I’ve covered all your bills. But don’t worry, I’ve got it under control.”

I looked around the room, pushing back the tears that threatened to fall. 

“Oh, and I got some money today. Not from the part-time job, though. Now that I’m done, I can work full time if I want. Maybe take on a few more part-time jobs. I haven’t decided yet.”

The words felt small, but I had to keep talking. It felt like if I said it all out loud, maybe he’d wake up. Maybe if I talked long enough, I’d pull him back from whatever dark place he was in.

“I miss you, Dad,” 

I whispered, biting my lip to keep from crying. But the tears came anyway, hot and painful. The frustration I’d kept inside for so long spilled out all at once.

“I’m exhausted,” 

I whispered, leaning my head on the edge of the bed. The cold sheets felt sharp against my cheek.

“But I’ll keep trying, I promise. You keep fighting, and I’ll do the same.”

A knock at the door startled me.

“Lyla? You okay sweetie?” 

Miss Rachel asked, walking in.

I quickly wiped my tears and looked away, trying to hide it. She walked up to me, sitting down and rubbing my back for comfort.

“Must be tough, huh?”

“Yeah... it’s getting pretty exhausting.” 

I tried to laugh a little.

“It’s gonna be okay,” 

she reassured me.

“Same thing you’ve been saying for the past Six years. I’m sick of hoping.”

She patted my back softly. 

“Your dad’s doing his best, trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”

“Yeah, I know.” 

I sighed, leaning into her. It felt nice, the warmth of her being here.

“Okay, time to go, Lyla. Visiting hours ended hours ago.”

“I know, but I get special treatment.”

“Because I allow it. Don’t get ahead of yourself, kid.”

“I’m not a kid anymore, you know.”

“Well, you sure act like one.”

I grinned. 

“When my dad wakes up, I’ll make sure you become my mom.”

“No thanks, I can't deal with a little monster like you.” 

she laughed.

I smiled, but deep down, I really meant it. I kind of wished she was my mom.

Before I left, I pulled out the money I’d gotten today and handed it to her.

“I was able to get some cash. Maybe it’ll help with the bills.”

“All of it?”

“Yeah, all of it.”

“Lyla, this looks like your life savings. Are you doing okay in school? Getting enough sleep? Eating properly?”

“Of course I am. No child labor or anything weird like that. I promise.”

“Wait, what?” 

she asked, laughing.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m fine. And I’m well over 18 now, so you don’t have to worry.”

I held her hand, leading her out of the room, laughing. She shook her head.

“God, what am I gonna do with you?”

“I don’t know, but when you figure it out, let me know.” 

I said , giving her the biggest smile I could muster.