Prologue

...

"Dear mother, I love you and would always stay by your side, you just keep on fighting and I would do whatever it takes to save you. You are the only one that I have...

"You are the only one that I have". I repeated again, as I tried holding back my tears, but the more I tried, the more it spilled. The words are still fresh, they kept on dancing in my head.

"Seven million".

"We need to perform the surgery on your mother or else, she might...

"Enough!"

I remember yelling at the doctor, even though I knew his words were true, she needs it, but the money is something I would never be able to earn, even if I work from day to dawn, I would never be able to get that amount.

"I don't want to lose you Ma" Burying my face on my mother's sick body, my eyes bled tears again, but at last, crying would never solve anything, it would never pay the bills, I needed to accept that fact.

My shaking hands reached for my phone, as my swollen eyes traced down, staring at my contact.

I have already called almost all of my contact list, only to realize that I have useless people numbers saved to my phone, people who would never help you in time of need, they all turned their back on me.

The quote is right: Indeed in time of need, you know who your true friends are. Staring at my phone miserably, I have only two option left, only two phone numbers that I haven't reached out to.

Technically it was only a number left to call, the second told me the same story: "Am sorry but I can't help you, I don't have anything to support you with, am sorry"

It's always the same news, but still I don't blame Audrey, my second best friend. Life has been unfair to her as well, life has been shitty and unfair to everyone, everyone except her...My last and only hope.

I stared at the number with pounding heart, before dialing it. The long beeps seems endless, only when am about to give up that she eventually picked up.

Loud cheerful noises in the background, it seemed she's having a blast, while am here surviving to the point of dying. I will repeat again, life is so shitty!, to say I envy Camille is an understatement, I wished I had her life. I wish I was rich, happy and famous.

"Hello!, Hello!" Her ever so confident voice brings me back to life, out of my forever misery. I cleared my throat and braced myself, this is the only hope I have left.

"Hi Camille, I..my mom.." Not five sentence, I find myself shedding countless tears again. Well done Iris, you can't even control yourself, I yelled at my inner self. I feel so ashamed knowing that Camille will hear me crying, but am sorry that I can't help it.

"Camille...

"Iris sweetie, what's wrong?" I hear her voice at the other end. I know her too well, her sweet tone could all be a big lie, but again, it seemed she actually cared, partially.

I wiped my eyes and bite my lips to stop the tears. Trying to control myself before speaking, I hear her voice again.

"Iris?...

"My mom is sick, I..I ..need money" Swallowing the lump on my throat, I voiced out.

"I...

"Hush dear, it going to be alright. You know where to find me, meet me in the next 5 minutes, Got it?"

I, who could barely be able to say anything, waited until the call ended. As soon as it disconnected, my legs start running. I don't think I have ever been this desperate before, but I don't care.

All I can think about is one, just one person lying on the sick bed with closed eyes, I don't ever want that eyes to be closed forever. No, I don't think I would ever be able to bare it.

Dashing out of the hospital, my heart keeps on pounding as I boarded a cab, I needed no one to tell me to hurry, if I could fly I would.

Paying the cab driver the last dime on me, I arrive at the one place Camille could ever be.

People running all around, the smell of expensive perfume in the air, glorious expensive season dresses lying on the chair to the worn by the diva herself.

I wish I could steal one of those dresses to sell and earn a little cash, but I don't want to tarnish Camille image, after all she would help me right?

My eyes on the glorious place, it's like a whole new universe, where everything works out for her. Oh damn I envy her, I have said that earlier, I would say it again. I wish I could be her, I wish my life don't stink.

My swollen eyes searches around, it meets the one I find, people around her, she looks just wow. The artist applies the makeup to her face and make her look a whole lot prettier, who wouldn't want to be her.

The famous actress, the talk of the city, if she gives me the money, she would be my savior and I would forever worship her.

I am an actress too, but my career went downhill, I acted in one movie and that's it. The director thinks I don't have what it takes, I don't understand why I can never be good at anything.

I am the nobody who needs money like hell, it's embarrassing, but I am in no place to feel embarrassed now.

"Ca.. Camille". I whispered in order not to draw attention, hoping she would hear me, but she didn't. After all, she's in her own world, in a universe where everything's right from her.

"Camille!" I called again a bit louder, she turns around and noticed me at last, she beams. Even though we are best friends, it makes me wonder if she is that willing to help, either way I would forever be grateful.

"Leave us alone" She said in a commanding tone to the artist and just like that, the woman vanish from our sight, so much authority Camille has.

"God Iris, you look horrible" That was the first word Camille spoke. "Gee, am so glad my misery is obvious for everyone to see" I thought heartbroken, as my eyes glued on her ever so fair glowing skin.

It's hurt to realize my situation was so sad, my eyes unable to bare it, it blurs my vision again, am crying for the hundredth time once again. It hurts to know the person you love so dearly is on the brick of death.

My eyes goes back to Camille face, I see her twitch, she's disgusted by my tears and does nothing to hide it.

"Enough with the tears" I hear her voice, it was more of a command than pity, I don't want to annoy her, cause she is my only hope, so I wipe my tears immediately.

"I need money Camille" Wiping my swollen green eyes, I go straight to the issue that had been bleeding my heart.

"My mom's sick, she'll die, she'll... Her phone rings.

She picks the call and hurry to leave, ignoring my tears. Even though she was far away from me, I could hear her yelling at the unknown on the phone.

Waiting for her seemed endless, my heart's bleeding again, every minute counts for my mom's health, sooner the better.

Click clack in rhythmic movement, her heels returns.

"You need money right?"

"Yes, I would do anything, I would do anything, please" I cried, it didn't take me minutes to plead to her. My swollen eyes on her face, she looks at me straight in the eyes.

"You'll get any amount you name"

It's sounded like a dream, she would get the treatment, my mother would be well again, tears found it way round my eyes again, as I reach for Camille, but she stops me halfway.

"You would do anything right?" The question comes as a shock to me, but I manage to keep calm, as I wipe my eyes again.

"What. do. you. mean." I stammered.

"Business darling" She replied, giving me a smug smile.

"I have a urge photoshoot, can't miss it. Wet desires, 254 street, I need you to go to that address"

"N..no" I stammered, shaking my head continuously.

"Go, room 55. He would give you the money, not me" Camille grinned, as my head kept on spinning. Even though, it was completely obvious for everyone to know she's wealthy, yet she was giving me a stupid disgusting deal.

"W..why do you want me to go to a stranger, w..who is he?" My lips stammered.

"Does it matter" She replied back, giving me a annoyed look.

"I can't do this, no I can't" I protested, staring at her big blue eyes in horror, hoping she would change her mind, but she didn't. Tears found it way in my eyes, yet again.

It felt like we were stranger, not best friends. What was I thinking, that she would help me willingly?. I was so wrong.

"Wet dreams, 254 street" She repeated staring at me blankly, before curving her lips into a smile.

"It's just for one night and you'll have a healthy mother again, you do love your ma?" The grin wider, my best friend turned out to be the villain.

"Choose wisely" Her words echoed straight into my head.

I hate her right now, but all I feel is pain, am hopeless. It's true, everything does has a cost.