Chapter 2

“Get off the road you moron! I’m not the one who is going to kill you, son of a biscuit!” The driver screamed and showed his middle finger at Tyler as he managed to swerve him to the other side.

Tyler winced in amazement and fear as he realized he got close to death but overcame it. The young man drove away in his white Mercedes. Tyler roamed for more than an hour before he finally reached the hospital. He needed to see his mother but it scared him more of how he was going to break the news to her. How was she going to take it? How was he going to care for her and pay for her bills?

“Stop!”the security stopped Tyler just as he was about entering the hospital

“What is wrong?” He quizzed totally dumbfounded. The security personnel frowned. “You are not allowed in here anymore” the security man let out.

“what gives you the right to say that to me?” Tyler read his name from his name tag on the right side of his breast. Soberness slowly creeped back to him.

“The management has instructed me not to let you go to the hospital until you pay up your debt for your mothers hospital bills, '' John said emotionlessly, displaying signs of disgust towards Tyler.

The sound of that made Tyler rethink his whole life. He didn’t know what to make out from what John said. It just had to be the moment when he lost his job. If frustration was a person, Tyler was that person. He remained mute and just gawked with tears in his eyes.

“Fuck! Fuckkkkkk!!!” He yelped and reclined on the wall, slowly sliding down to the floor. He didn't even have the strength to argue his way in.

Other persons walking into the hospital gloated at him as they went in and out. In the process of sliding down, his pants tore behind in between his arse.

His teeth gritted firmly on each other. Where would he get such an amount to pay for his mothers bill? The only money he had left was $500 which he had given to Clara when she requested for her tuition fee. The thought of it made Tyler even more irate with himself and he cursed him.

In that moment, Tyler found himself at the crossroads of despair, with seemingly no other options left. He had made a solemn vow to his mother, promising her that he would never sell the cherished family house, regardless of the circumstances they faced.

As he stood on the bustling street, the gazes of passersby bore into him, their eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and pity. In that moment, he felt like a beggar, vulnerable and exposed under the scorching rays of the sun. Instinctively, he reached into his pocket, searching for his phone to call Andrew, his last hope for assistance. But to his dismay, his hand came up empty, unable to find the device he so desperately needed.

Panic set in as Tyler retraced his steps, frantically searching for his lost phone. He scoured his clothes, hope fading with each passing moment. It was then that he realized, with a sinking feeling, that his phone must have slipped from his pocket when he had slid on the floor earlier. Unbeknownst to him, a security guard named John had picked it up, unknowingly sealing Tyler's growing misfortune.

Overwhelmed by the magnitude of his predicament, Tyler whimpered in despair, shaking his head in disbelief. It seemed as though everything was conspiring against him, and the haunting words of Clara echoed in his mind. Perhaps, he pondered, he was cursed, destined to face a never-ending string of misfortune.

Just as despair threatened to consume him entirely, a glimmer caught his eye. There, on his right pinky finger, shone a radiant ring. It was a symbol of protection, passed down from his father to his mother, and eventually gifted to him. Hope flickered within him as he realized its potential value. With a renewed sense of purpose, he made his way to the Phoenix jewelry district, determined to sell the ring and salvage his dire situation.

Entering a store, Tyler became acutely aware of the disapproving stares directed his way. His appearance, worn and threadbare, clashed starkly with the opulence of the establishment. Ignoring the judgmental glances, he approached a bald-headed seller, his voice filled with urgency.

"Good day, sir. I'm interested in selling this ring. Could you assist me with that?" Tyler blurted out, desperate for a lifeline.

The bald seller's gaze settled upon Tyler, brimming with evident suspicion, casting a shadow of doubt on the young man before him. However, he forced a strained smile and replied, "Of course! I'd be happy to help. Could you please show me the ring you wish to sell?"

With a swift motion, Tyler slipped the diamond ring with its platinum band off his finger and handed it over to the seller. The seller's eyes lingered on the precious gem, then darted back to Tyler, a mixture of curiosity and caution in his gaze.

"I'll need to examine it," the seller stated, reaching for a loupe to inspect the ring meticulously.

Tyler's anxiety intensified as minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity. The weight of his mother's life hanging in the balance added to his mounting agitation. Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, he tapped his fingers restlessly on the glass table.

"Please, I implore you to expedite the process. My mother's life is at stake," Tyler pleaded, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation.

"Please, remain calm and patient. This process requires thoroughness," the seller responded, attempting to restore a sense of composure.

However, before the seller could finish his sentence, the door of the store swung open with a forceful gust, revealing a group of police officers storming

“That’s him,” the seller pointed at Tyler.

“What’s going on!?” Tyler questioned the seller.

“Sir, you are under arrest for larceny and possession of stolen property. You have the right to remain silent because whatever you say or do will and can be used against you in the court of law! Arrest him!” One of the cop said and in the twinkle of an eye, Tyler was handcuffed forcefully.