Hoffman's Illegitimate Son

Chapter 2: Unprofessional Nurses

Arthur's face finally came to life as he read through the system in front of him. Although it wasn't evident, it was at least the only hope he could hold onto.

Without realising a small smile curled around his lips as he shifted his attention back to his mother lying motionless on the bed.

“Mom, there is still hope…”

He threw his arms around her frail body, gripping her even tighter.

“Don’t worry… I will definitely do my best to get you back on your feet.”

He sobbed uncontrollably, pressing his face against her cold hands.

“Mr. Arthur, we are still here. You think just because you say there's hope there's actually hope, listen well and listen good sir.” The head nurse said walking forward with an annoyed look on her face and hands folded. “Your mother is pretty much ‘DEAD’ even if the doctor couldnt tell you honestly, I will, there is nothing you can do but wait until she slowly wethers away, but you won't even be able to enjoy the sight of that.” She signalled to the other nurse standing just behind her.

“What's happening?”

Arthur scrambled forward, wiping the tears from his face with his wet sleeves.

The nurses walked towards Miss. Vance’s bed without a word of comfort. They gently removed most of the machines connected to her, then began moving the bed towards the exit.

“Where... where are you taking her?” he murmured, his voice cracking violently.

The lead nurse looked at him with cold and emotionless eyes.

“We are moving her outside the ward, Mr. Vance. According to hospital policy, since you are unable to pay your already large debts, we can no longer create room for her, as we are already short on bed spaces for other paying patients,” she said, continuing to help the others prepare the bed before pausing mid-step to turn back towards him. “Also, sir, she won't be able to go on life support considering how expensive it is and will remain outside the ward until all outstanding medical bills are paid in full and documented.”

“Are you insane?!” Arthur lashed out, his voice echoing through the hospital hallway.

The lack of human warmth displayed by the nurses made him rage. The look in their eyes as they stared down at his unconscious mother, as though she were no better than livestock.

“Her condition only just became worse, and you are already thinking of throwing her away because of bills! My God, she was your patient who spent so much time with you guys, and all you care about is money? Don’t you people have any human sympathy at all? Have you lost your mind?!”

Security guards stepped into the room immediately, their faces stern as they moved to calm him down.

“Mr. Vance, please lower your voice,” the nurse said calmly, unfazed by his outburst. “This is standard procedure. Until the balance is cleared, she won't be able to stay in the ward, and her bed will be assigned to another patient.”

Arthur was about to lash out once more, and this time even more than before, but right before he could snap, his phone began ringing in his pocket.

He pulled it out with his hands shaking heavily.

The caller ID displayed the name saved as ‘David My Blood,’ a childhood friend whom he had drifted away from months ago—back when his ex-wife had forced him to choose between her and him because she felt he wasn’t a good person. At that time, he had chosen his wife, not knowing it was due to his constant warnings about her and her cheating lifestyle.

He swiped to answer.

“Arthur?” a familiar voice called out urgently. “Bro, I heard about your mom. Someone mentioned you needed money for her operation of some sort. Anyways, I managed to pull together everything I could find—I just transferred thirty thousand dollars to your account. It’s all I have right now, but give me a little time and I can borrow more from some other guys—”

Arthur swallowed hard, his throat tightening as a small tear slipped down his face.

“Thank you, man... but you’re too late.”

The other end of the call became silent.

“What do you mean?”

“Her condition… her condition just became worse not long ago and now even the doctor is advising on removing her from life support.”

A sharp intake of breath echoed through the phone, followed by a heavy, choked sound as his friend broke down on the other end.

“I’m... I’m so sorry, Arthur. I wasn’t fast enough. God, I’m so sorry...”

“It’s okay. Thank you, man. I really appreciate it,” Arthur whispered, his voice trembling before he ended the call.

He turned back towards the nurses, who were already resuming their movement towards the door.

“Wait,” Arthur said, wiping his face one last time. He stood up straight, his eyes red and swollen, but he was still sane, at the very least. “Please wait. I’ll make the payment right now.”

The nurses paused, looking at him in confusion.

“Why are you suddenly in a hurry, trying to run away from paying after displaying those tantrums earlier?” the head nurse said with a smug look on her face. “Honestly, you were playing big earlier and acting all high and mighty for someone who’s a useless son who couldn't even prevent his mother from entering prolonged coma state, hahaha.”

Another noise came from behind. A large smile played on her lips.

“Anyways, let's start going… I think it's even best if we began getting the documents for the deceased ready already because, looking at her current state, she won't last a day at the very least.”

They all turned back, pushing the bed once again.

“I told you I will pay the bill…”

Before Arthur could continue, he was quickly cut off by a nurse who flagged the head nurse down to the side.

“What did you do, rob a bank on your way back?”

Megan, a thin nurse with sharp features, snickered.

“More like he's planning to write a bad check. We're not falling for it, buddy. We won't cover for a patient who's already has half her body in the grave, especially a poor one at that. Hospital policy.”

“I'm not asking for free treatment!” Arthur’s voice cracked with raw desperation. “I will pay the bill. Just wait a moment. I could go to the counter real quick or, if possible, pay it here.”

“Fine.” Vanessa’s, the head nurse’s, eyes glittered with malicious amusement. “You won't have to walk up to the counter.” She pulled out a portable card reader from her pocket, holding it up like a weapon.

“Swipe your card right now. Forty-five thousand dollars. Let's see this miracle money of yours.”

Arthur’s hand instinctively went to his pocket, then froze. His stomach dropped.

His bank card had been missing for months now, and he never felt any need to get another, as he barely went out or went shopping.

“Well?” Vanessa tapped her foot impatiently. “We're waiting. Swipe the card.”

“I... I don't have the physical card with me,” Arthur said, his chest tightening. “But I can just do a mobile transfer. Give me the hospital's account information…”

The three nurses burst into laughter.

“A mobile transfer!” Ashley slapped her thigh. “Oh my God, that's rich. That's the oldest stalling tactic in the book!”

“He probably doesn't even have a bank account,” Megan added, her voice dripping with scorn. “Look at him. Soaked to the bone, wearing cheap clothes. That's a man who's probably never seen a thousand dollars in his life, let alone forty-five thousand. If we aren't careful he might even fake the transaction.”

“Please.” Arthur pulled out his phone, his hands shaking violently. “Just look at the screen. A friend just wired thirty thousand to add to what I had, and the notification just went through. I can show you—”

“Show us?” Vanessa’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, this I've got to see. What are you going to do, show us some photoshopped bank statement on that piece of junk?”

Arthur’s fingers trembled as he navigated to his messages. He found the alert and thrust the screen toward Vanessa.

“Look. See? The transfer just came through.”

Vanessa snatched the phone from his hand, scanning the display. Then she read aloud, her voice dripping with mockery:

“Your account has received a wire transfer of thirty thousand dollars, new balance $50,920.”

She paused, then burst into the loudest laugh yet.

“Are you kidding me with this?”

Ashley and Megan crowded around, both erupting into giggles.

“Fifty thousand grand?” Megan wheezed between laughs. “You couldn't even make up a realistic fake number?”

“This is the most pathetic scam I've ever seen,” Ashley added, wiping tears from her eyes. “Did you code this text message yourself? What app did you use? 'Fake Bank Alert Generator'?”

“It's real!” Arthur shouted, snatching his phone back. “I will pay the forty-five thousand for my mother's bill now! Check the system and confirm!”

“Sure, sure.” Vanessa pulled out a small notepad, scribbling down an account number with exaggerated slowness.

“Here. Go ahead and check your imaginary money while we move the body to the morgue.”

Arthur's fingers flew across his phone screen, opening his banking app. But his phone—a battered model he'd owned for years—lagged, the screen freezing dead.

“Come on,” he muttered, tapping harder. “Come on!”

“What's wrong?” Vanessa leaned in with mock concern. “Having technical difficulties with your phone?”

The nurses laughed again.

“Is this what a phone someone with that kind of bank account would use?” Ashley pointed at the cracked screen and faded case. “Shouldn't you have the latest model? Or is that another thing you forgot to upgrade with your imaginary fortune?”

Arthur ignored them, his entire focus on the frozen interface. He tapped the transaction history button again and again, but nothing happened. The app had locked up completely.

“This is pathetic,” Megan said, shaking her head. “We're wasting time here. Let's finish moving her.”

“No!” Arthur's voice was raw. He jabbed at his phone frantically.

“Just wait. It's loading.”

“Give it up,” Vanessa said, reaching to swat his hand away. “You're just stalling. We're not idiots—off to the morgue with her.”

The screen suddenly flickered to life.

Arthur's thumb hit the transaction log with desperate force. For a heart-stopping moment, the text populated.

STATUS: COMPLETED

AMOUNT TRANSFERRED: $45,000.00

RECIPIENT: St. Jude Hospital General Billing