chapter 1

The sound of the dark crickets along the dark alley hastened Jack’s footsteps as he hurriedly rushed towards the direction of the town hospital, not wanting to break down. It was a dark, cold evening with rain pouring down in its own large quantity while Jack hurriedly rushed. But it seemed like the more he rushed, the more the road seemed Farer. What could he do? The sound of his footsteps was also the only thing that could be heard as he kept running. Everywhere was deserted expect few cabs which were moving in search of desperate passengers.

He didn’t have the money to go with a cab. The least he could do was just to get drenched in the rain in a bid to save his dying mom who was lying sick and needed the urgent money for surgery.

“ I have to save mother?” he whispered within himself continuously until he got to the hospital. He checked the time. It was few minutes to 8. That means he was still early to get the money deposited for the operation to take place that Wednesday. He had enough time to get her name enlisted also.

“ Mom, just hang in there! I promise that after I have this money paid, you will be fine!” He whispered within him. He wouldn’t want her to leave that way, after all, that was why he was desperately searching for the money for her surgery.

Diagnosed with breast lump which seemed fatal, she had been sectioned for surgery but Jack had no money to save his mother. Having found the means to get the money, he ran speedily constantly checking the time which kept on ticking. He would go any miles to do whatever he had to do just to save the woman he loved aside his girlfriend.

The moment he got to Oakland hospital, it was already very late because he had jogged a very far distance to meet up with her.

Few minutes later, he had deposited the money and went towards the hospital ward where his mother was laying, feeling very happy with himself.

His hopes crushed when he realized what he just met. He was shocked to see that his mother was placed in the corridor alongside some nurses while the attending doctor watched. He checked the time angrily and discovered that it was just few minutes past 8.

Just few minutes and they had to do this? Even after letting them know that he would get the money for the surgery ready that night? He thought angrily and walked towards them.

“ What the hell is going on here?” He asked angrily.

“ hey! Take your mother away from here! After all, you have no money to pay!” a nurse yelled and pushed him out of the way while he looked at them angrily. If only he had the money to sue them, he would surely do that. How dare they? What had they done to deserve this?

Money was surely an important element to have. Maybe if they were wealthy enough, they would not dare to talk to him that way and he was sure that he wouldn’t even bring her to a hospital which lacked a lot of medical facilities. But what could he do? He had to let them carry on with their job even though he just felt humiliated or else, they would forcefully chase them out.

He sighed angrily and looked at them.

“ you were late! Do you think your mother is the only patient we have to treat here?” the nurse asked rudely.

“ doctor, I thought we had an agreement that..”

“ young man, we have to let out the room also for people that are willing to pay!” the doctor said

“ Do you think we will wait for you? You don’t even have any money to pay!” A nurse replied him. The nurse wondered where someone as poor as them would get the money for surgery. They were literally the poorest people she had seen ever since she started working in the hospital.

“ just let her die!” another nurse said and glanced at how poorly he was dressed. They did not think he would get that money. After all, judging by his appearance, they were poor.

“ Do you think this is a charity hospital or something?” The doctor asked again.

He should let the woman that has struggled so much for him to die? They even had to say it nonchalantly as if they had no one they would go extra miles for.

His heart broke to pieces when he realized how much he was humiliated all because he was a bit late. It wasn’t fair at all.

If only he had the money, he would make sure to sue them all for looking down on him. He would make sure that they would eat up their words. He would make sure that they go through hell.

He thought bitterly within him.

“ I guess you don’t have the money than to come here and beg as usual. We will…”

“ I have had the money paid already at the cashier’s desk! Will you let her in now?” he asked calmly, feeling humiliated within himself for not being able to stop the mess. He hated how they looked down on him. But his hands were tied all because of money.

“ hey! If you’re here to scam us into letting this woman in the room for a night, we can’t agree'

“ here’s the receipt!” He said and showed him angrily. It took everything in him not to yell at them. After all, he was powerless.

“ Wheel her back inside the room!” the doctor said and looked at him, still with eyes full of scorn.

Not looking at the doctor’s gaze at all, he hurriedly walked towards his mother and sat beside her.

“ Mom, how are you doing?” he said and paused as he tucked her hair behind her ears. He knew she would not hear him. After all, she was in a coma. But he heard that talking to people who were unconscious also helps.

“ mom, please just hang in there, okay? Everything will surely be fine.”

“ Just a matter of time. I’m sure that by this time next Wednesday, you would have gotten better” he said and smiled as he took his hands in his mother’s hand.

“ I love you so much and will do anything to see you get better, okay?” he said and stared at her. He wished she could hear what he was saying but then, it was only a matter of time before everything comes back to normal. He thought and consoled himself as he sighed for the umpteenth time.

He brought out his phone and looked at his screen to see if there was any message. But then, as usual he found nothing. He was not surprised. After all, that was how it had always been.

With no expression on his face, he stared at his phone wondering whether to send the text.