Barrett was bloodied because of the beating that the security guards had given him. So he went home to change before returning to the hospital.

Barrett observed some trash in front of his house. He grimaced and approached.

“F*ck!” He cursed when he realized that those were his clothes!

Barrett ran towards the house to check for any more stuff damaged, but his key could not open the door!  

Barrett also found another envelope, addressed to him, hanging on the door.

“What now?”

The owner of the house sold it, and you can’t access it!

“Damn it!”

He tiredly sat on the floor. Barrett still could not believe what was happening. But he knew he could not stay there.

He sighed and stood up to get his clothing. Barrett grabbed some before heading to the park. It was the usual place where homeless people stayed for the night.

Barrett washed his face and changed his shirt, and then went to the hospital.

He was feeling so heavy and gloomy at that moment. All options were closing on him.

Barrett got to the hospital quickly. He couldn’t wait to see his children, who were his only saving grace.

He scowled when he entered and spotted a man. Rose intently listened as he explained something.

“Is this man a doctor?” Barrett asked, worried.

Rose shook her head, her expression distressed.

“How good, Mr. Barrett arrived. I need to talk to you!” the man in a suit said loudly.

“Why?” Barrett was confused. He saw that his kids were okay. Melanie slept on the sofa, and Emily in bed.

Rose seemed disturbed by what the man said.

“The sale was not permitted by the director. This young woman said your money was paid for the hospital. My client understands your need, and that is why he says the following,” the man said while looking at Barrett.

Barrett stared at him. He had a bad feeling already.

The man continued, “That money from the sale can be left as a guarantee that you will never appear in her presence, never... If you do, we will proceed with the investigation, and you might go to prison, and you could not see your girls. The house where you lived was sold. The money went to my client in the same way, do not try to fight, or you will be hurt.”

Rose gasped while looking at the man in disbelief.  

“That’s all, Mr. Barrett. Please, don’t be reckless. Think about your daughters!”

And with those words, the man left.

Barrett stuck a wall and collapsed to the ground, tears running down his eyes.

How can Claudia do this?

Barrett saw Rose crying. Ashamed, he quickly tried to recover.

He sighed and said, “Rose—”

His words cut off as Rose suddenly hugged him.

Rose said in between tears, “She is a bad woman. We have to fight! She can’t do that... At least it should be joined property….”

“Actually, yes… She can do it...” Barrett tiredly replied, holding Rose’s arms, trying to console her.

But it was hard when he was having a hard time consoling himself.

He sat on a nearby chair, looking at his daughters.

“What do you mean, boss?” Rose asked, confused.

“Rose, everything I had, I did have really had it in her name... I could never put my name on anything because, well… I am a fugitive.”

“The police are looking for you?”  

“No, it’s not the police... It’s much worse...” He said weakly. “I managed to get out of hell and all for Claudia. When I met her, I thought she was the reason to live and risk everything to be with her. I made powerful enemies, but it was worth my daughters, and I had her. Things were improving, but now she showed her the true colors...”

Barrett gambled. He felt free and happy. He gets bit, anyway.

It was disgusting. His savior was his downfall. It was all an imaginary freedom.

“But wait, if you can’t put your name to anything, then….” Rose paused and glanced at the sleeping girls.

Barrett firmly replied, “Yes, they only carry their mother’s last name. But they are my daughters.”

“There you have it. We will report it as the mother’s negligence. She will have to pay somehow...”

Barrett shook his head then responded, “Maybe, but I will go to prison, and then I will disappear...”

“So what will we do? You need money to pay for the treatment...”

“Okay, I have only something else to do. But I don’t know what will happen. I need to ask you for one last favor,” he said as he stood up.

Rose nodded. She was about to say something, but Barrett continued speaking.

“If you don’t hear from me in two days. Turn that cunt in, and please, take care of my daughters...”

Rose did not understand what he was talking about. 

“What are you thinking of doing?” She suspiciously asked.

Barrett breathed deeply and said, “I’m going to ask my brother for help... and… that might not go well.”

Rose couldn’t reply. She seemed to be absorbing Barrett’s words and could only be watched Barrett kiss his kids.

“You are a great girl. Without you, I could not do anything,” he said gratefully.

Rose grabbed his hand and begged in tears, “Please, I beg you, don’t die.”

“I’ll try!”

Barrett was broke, but he’d play his last card for his daughters.

Several hours passed. Barrett took a bus to a mountain. Then he started walking. The place was not somewhere anyone who wanted safety would visit.

Barrett walked to a large, unfenced house. Large but not a mansion.

Outside was empty. He knew the camera had him.

He waited outside, but the door was locked. He was unwelcome.

Barrett muttered. He approached the door, assuming it was unlocked.

He entered and started walking. Barrett quickly arrived in the house’s large, treeless backyard.

The tree had two people. Two people. Both sat casually as if waiting for him.

The woman looked young. Beside her was a bearded man who was glaring at Barrett.   

“Bobby, is that you?” Barrett forces a smile.

The man’s expression darkened further. He walked barefoot to Barrett.

His ponytail-tied hair was a disaster. His black shirt and jeans were frayed.

“I have known all kinds of garbage in my life… of all sizes and shapes. God knows that I work with garbage, and I may be garbage too.” He looked at Barrett with disdain. “But I swear in all my years working with garbage, even watching garbage, never in my life I’ve seen garbage as big as you, Barrett.”

Barrett cleared his throat, “Nice to see you too, Bobby!”

Bobby snorted. As soon as he was close to Barrett, he punched him.

His fist landed on Barrett’s face throwing him to the ground.

Barrett had received blows in the last four years, but none like that. His mouth spat blood while his head throbbed. He gritted his teeth, contemplating if he should return the blow or not. After all, he does deserve to be punched by his big brother for what he did years ago.

“Damn you, Bobby! I hope that makes you feel better!” Barrett complained.

“No, it does not do it!” Bobby pounced on Barrett. Two more blows left Barrett stunned, but it looked like Bobby was still not satisfied.

“Five years, you cursed bastard! You didn’t even say goodbye. Do you know how many times I was in trouble because of you?! Huh?!” Bobby screamed.

Bobby strangled Barrett with his hands. Barrett, getting fed up with being attacked, hit back hard, allowing him to get himself away from Bobby’s grip.  

“She was pregnant, I told you. Damn, I could not be a father in there!” Barrett retorted through clenched teeth.

Bobby got up, throwing a kick that Barrett managed to block.

“Then you send everyone to shit!”

“I don’t see you suffering!”

Bobby attacked Barrett’s stomach before he pushed him towards the nearest wall.

Barrett groaned and said, “Your hits are weaker. This all you got?”

“Shut up! Damn bastard! For five years, I paid your debt. For five years, they called me the traitor’s brother, and you come to say Bobby is that you? How the hell you dare to do this!?” Bobby attacked once more.

Barrett managed to avoid it, but Bobby was able to grab his arm.

“My daughter is dying, Bobby!?”

Bobby froze. His grip loosened.

“Would I do this or not? I don’t have anyone else in the world. Bobby, my daughter, dies!” Barrett said desperately.

“That’s not my problem!” Bobby spat out.

“She is four years old…!!!” Barrett replied in tears.

Bobby, eyes widened. His expression showed signs of agitation. Barrett was crying, and he was not used to that!

Just at that moment, the woman approached.

Barrett looked at the woman. She smiled at him. She was very young, almost of the age as Rose.

“Why not talk about this inside, where you guys are not allowed to destroy things?” She said, and Barrett nodded.

Barrett went inside the house. As he walked, he heard the woman talking to Bobby.

 “It’s your brother talking about your four-year-old niece who dies. Listen to him...”

Bobby did not reply.

Barrett entered the house and spat on the ground, and there was blood on it. A familiar sight.

“Well, here goes nothing…” he mumbled to himself as he walked further inside the house.