The phoenix: Rise of Liam Black

Liam trudged down the street, his heart was heavy with worry. He was on his way to the hospital to pay his mother's medical bills, he had juggled different jobs these past weeks, not limited from errand boys, bartender in a bar, delivery boy and so much more, he had managed to gathered this amount and he is rushing to the hospital to deposit this so they can begin treatment on his mother.

As he turned the corner, he spotted some people across the street, Ryan, Jake, and Alex standing by the wall, they were holding a cigarette by the alleyway.

Liam tried to turned back to avoid them seeing him, but Alex had already saw him. "Well, well, well, look what we got here." Alex sneered, calling the attention of Jake and Ryan.

Jake, the most vulgar of the three, catcalled, "You little punk, do you think you can run away from us?"

Alex, kill his cigarette fire with his hands, walking towards Liam he said, "You're a week late, and I know you're aware of what happens when you're late."

Yeah, they were loan sharks. You might be wondering what businesses a twenty six years old him, has with loan sharks. Well, Some father left inheritance for their sons, but what his father left for him was huge debts he didn't even spent a penny from, now he was responsible for paying back. 

They closed in on him, their fists was about to fly but he held out his hands, and desperately pleaded "Stop, Wait... I was looking for the money, I will pay back, just give me few days, please a few more days alright? I will pay it" 

For a moment, it seemed like they heard his pleas but the next second, Ryan landed a solid punch to Liam's jaw, sending him stumbling back. Jake followed up with a kick to Liam's stomach, doubling him over.

Alex grabbed Liam's hair, pulling his head back exposing his face to the punches. Liam's eyes watered as his nose cracked under the impact.

"Search him" 

Liam tried to fight back, but they were too strong and he was clearly outnumbered. They beat him mercilessly. And finally, Jake pulled out a bunch of money from Liam's pocket, about two thousands dollars.

"How do you know the bastard is hiding something in his pocket" 

Alex smirked, "Instincts" he shrugged.

Liam's body crumpled to the ground, his vision blurring. He felt a kick to his ribs, and then another. He curled up, trying to protect himself,

But they didn't stop. They kept beating him.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they stopped. Liam lay there, his body was broken and battered. Ryan stood over him and sneered, "You're fool to think you can owe the boss money without paying for a week! Do you think you can hide from us?"

Jake squatted and puffed his cigarette smoke on his face.

Whack! 

Jake landed a slap on his face, "Isn't your bitchy death sicken mother an enough lesson to you? Huh? Do you also wanna get a fucking bed in the hospital?"

He was preparing to land another punch, but Alex hold him back, "That's enough, we got the money, so let's get out of here, at least if he ended up in hospital, who will keep paying? His almost dead mother?"

Reluctantly, Jake stood up and they left, but Liam wanted to call them back, at least get the money back, the doctor had refused to treat his mother without paying any hospital bills. But in the end, he could only helplessly watch them walked away with every last cent.

Liam dragged himself to the hospital, feeling defeated. When he arrived, the nurse looked at him with concern. "Liam, where have you been?"

Seeing he didn't reply, the nurse continue, "You might want to be with your mother now,"

Liam shook his head, unable to speak. He felt like he had failed his mother.

The nurse led him to his mother's room, where she lay pale and weak. Liam's heart broke as he looked at her, feeling helpless.

His mother's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled weakly. But after seeing his dirty clothes, and his state, she almost cracked up as she asked, "What happened to you?"

Liam felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes as he took her hand. "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't have enough money to pay the bills."

His mother's eyes was filled with understanding. "It's not your fault, Liam. You're doing the best you can."

Liam Black's eyes welled up with tears as he sat beside his mother's hospital bed, clutching her frail hand. The beeping machines faded into the background as he focused his attention on the woman who had been his rock.

Sarah, smiled weakly, her eyes was sunken with illness "Hey," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Liam's throat constricted as he replied, "Mom." He squeezed her hand, trying to convey all the emotions swirling inside him.

Sarah's gaze drifted around the room, taking in the cards, flowers, "You didn't have to do all this," she said, her voice laced with a hint of sadness.

Liam shook his head, his eyes brimming with tears. "I wanted to, Mom. You deserve it."

Sarah's eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.

 He remembered the way his mother had worked multiple jobs to provide for him, the way she had encouraged him to pursue his dreams, and the way she had always been there for him, no matter what.

The machines continue to beeped and whirred around them. He didn't want to lose her, he didn't want to say goodbye.

Sarah's hand tightened around his, as if she sensed his emotions. "Liam, I'm proud of you," she whispered. "You're a good man, I could never ask for more"

Liam's tears spilled over, streaming down his face as he nodded, his throat constricted.

Sarah's eyes fluttered closed, and for a moment, Liam panicked, thinking he had lost her. But then, her chest rose with a shallow breath, and her eyes flickered open again.

"I love you, Liam," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I love you too, Mom," Liam replied, his voice was cracking in his throat.

"What are you doing?" Asked the nurse standing at the door holding her sheets, "I'm sorry for interrupting you, but the doctor want to see you, now." 

Liam tear his teary gaze away from his mother and nodded at her, "Okay" 

He squeezed his Sarah's hands for a brief moment before going out of the room to the doctors office. 

The doctor Mr Derek who has his eyes fixed on some documents look up at Liam who had knocked and entered into his office.

He sighed and said, "Take a seat" 

Liam sat before him, feeling his heart pounding in his chest, as he watched Mr Derek twirl the pen in his hands. 

"Liam... As you can see, your mom's condition has become really critical, and at this rate, I'm afraid if she failed to get into surgery in two weeks time, there's little to nothing I can do to save her" 

"I thought you said I should look for treatment bills and make payments to the pharmacy so she could be supplied medicine... So what do you meant by surgery?"

"As I said, there has been a lot of delays, thus, unless she got into the surgery, I'm afraid.... I believe you've been to her room, and as you can see her condition is really unstable, so I hope you can look for the money as soon as possible"

"Mr Derek... I.. I will look for the money, two weeks ... Right?" He wanted to cry, he wanted to screamed his lungs out, but he couldn't. Even though he said he's going to pay it, he knew enough that he didn't have the money to pay the bills.