Two Worlds, Two Lives

CHAPTER 4: Lost my Job

BACK TO THE PRESENT: BEFORE THE GALA

As the bus stops at every road andstreet Jones's gaze never shifted. Frustration filled his eyes. He had mixed emotions. He lost his job and has no idea on what to do next with his life without a job. The job was his only surviving option, though the pay is low but it fits the bills and covers his mom's health insurance.

The company was going bankrupt, possibly due to financial instability or because they crossed the wrong person. The release of a tape featuring Kai Won, a renowned artist, accusing him of counterfeit painting, all in the name of telling the "truth".

The unemployment rate in New York city was higher than the employment rate. Youths are miserable, pushing them to commit crimes which also increases the crime rate of the country. The rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. Jones slammed his head hard against the window in anger. He felt a sharp pain, but it can't be quantified with the pain he's feeling about being a failure. "Why me?", he muttered to himself, throwing his head against the window. Everything has to be a struggle for him.

The phone rang, drawing him out of his thoughts, he pulled it out of his pocket. The caller ID showed no name, "Hello, am I speaking with Jones Walterson?", the other end asked. For some crazy reason, Jones wished it was a job opportunity.

"Yes, you're",he said, "We need you at the hospital, your mother Sarah Walterson was just admitted." "Shit", he mutters.

"Hello, hello!!", the caller said, all Jones could respond to her was pure silence. He ended the call without asking for the hospital name, because he knows there's only one that's a bit affordable in his hometown for people around the neighborhood.

"Stop! Stop.. stop the bus", he yelled to the chauffeur drawing attention to himself.

He jumped off the bus with his bag and coat to the hospital like a criminal escaping his greatest prison.

Breathing heavily, he stumbled to the nurse desk, scaring the young lady. " Hey I'm Jones I got a call that my mom was admitted. Where's she", he asked panting. "Over there sir, the third room by your left". Jones fled immediately.

He slowed his pace when he saw his mother lying on the bed with oxygen support. He wiped the tears streaming down his eyes. A hand held him back from going into the room, he turned his gaze from the knob to the doctor standing in front of him.

It was Dr.Julian, he's been treating his mother for years, he respects him so much for his help. "Hey man, come with me ", Julian says drawing him out of his mother's view to a corner. "Her heart is failing and she needs the surgery immediately..... before her heart stops", Julian said with concerned looks. "I can't afford it. Is there any medication or treatment you can offer?......l-l...like the last one", he says stuttering, tears streaming down his eyes.

"No, there isn't. It's either the surgery or she won't survive", Julian said facing the ground. Jones felt like all hope was lost. "I lost my job today. What am I suppose to do?", Jones said laughing out his pain with tears. He walks out of Julian, to take a seat before meeting his mom. Julian eyes lingered all over Jones with pity. "Doctor Julian, your attention is needed", a nurse on blue uniform said, Julian withdrew his eyes from Jones and followed the nurse.

When he got inside room, it scent of lavender, he could only hear the beeping of the machine in the beside his mom. Her short brown chestnut hair was spread on the pillow, her strands of her bangs covering her eyes, her white glowing skin looks paler than in the morning."Hey mom, it's me", Jones whispered. His mom's face lit up with a warm smile mixed with pain she doesn't want me to be aware of, but I know. "Are you okay?, how you feeling?", he asked in hesitation. "I'm fine, how you doing?, don't lie to me". Yeah she knows, I'll definitely lie about how I'm feeling. "I lost my job today, but nothing to worry about, I'll get another", I told her the truth, yet I know getting another job will be difficult.

"I know you will, this is just a bump in the road. You get passed it", she said holding tight to my hands, the world would see your light and talent", he giggled along with her.

The room echoes with conversations of mother and son bonding.