Chapter one

“How are you feeling now?” He asked, worry etched in his eyes.

Suddenly the room felt like it was spinning and West had to brace up as the full impact of the shock hit him.

“I'm sorry for keeping it from you, West.” His mother said in a low voice, her eyes flickered as she struggled to fight back the tears. “I'm so sorry.”

“It's fine, mum ,It's not that important.” West said in a soothing voice. “Your health is more important right now.”

His mother tried to speak but she couldn't find the right words. She knew he was hurt even though he was trying hard to hide it and it broke her heart to know she was causing her son so much pain. She knew West didn't deserve any of it. He had his whole life to live and now when she was gone he would spend his life trying to settle her debts or better still sell the house he grew up in which was worse when she thought about it.

“I'm so sorry.” She said helplessly as the tears fell freely. “I don't want to leave knowing I've caused you so much pain.”

West could tell her mother was in pain. The sickness eating her up and the emotional strain she must be going through. West wasn't sure what to do or how to react but he instinctively moved forward and placed his hand on his mother's arm.

“It's going to be fine, mom. We will beat this together and if it comes to that we'll beat that too. It's not that much money when you think about it. I could easily make that amount if I put my back into it.” He said with a renewed conviction.

West knew he was being stupid thinking he could find a way to pay off that amount on his own but he also knew he had to be strong for his mother. His main priority needed to be her recovery but first he had to get the money for the surgery.

West strongly believed his mother was the strongest woman he knew and she proved it every day she fought the disease that was killing her. She had gone through five surgeries and the doctors were about to prepare for a sixth they assured him was going to be the last. She'd be better after this surgery, they told him and he believed them. After all, it was their job.

The only issue West faced was getting the money to fund this last surgery. They had barely been able to pay for the last surgery if not for the impressive donations they'd received from neighbors that he knew despised them.

“West.” His mother called out to him in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

“Yes, ma.”

“I need you to make me a promise.”

West wiped his eyes as the tears began to pool at the edge. “No.” He shook her head. “You are fighting this.”

“I know.” His mother chuckled. West saw a flash of the energetic woman his mother had once been in her sad eyes that were now sunken deep into her skull.

“I know.” His mother repeated. “But I need this.”

“No.” West shook his head, crying. He squeezed his mother’s hand tight, afraid of what might happen if he let go.

“West please—” Her mother said, almost out of breath. “I— I need this.”

“You need to rest.”

“West.” She groaned.

West could see she was working herself up. This was important to her. West couldn't bear to see the pain in his mother's eyes—to hear the agony in her voice.

“What is it?” West asked as he knelt closer to the bed.

“Promise me you'll live your life to the fullest. You won't be afraid to live. To love.”

It was a weird request but West made the promise without thinking about it. The only thing he was concerned about at that moment was getting his mother to rest and it was only when he shut his eyes that West's heartbeat became steady once again.

West left the hospital determined to get the money they needed for the surgery by any means necessary. He went to the people he knew would be able to give him the money without breaking a sweat but all he got were excuses and good luck wishes. He got a few insults too but he was used to that by now. By the end of the day, his spirit had been broken to the point of depression.

The next day he tried again but it was only a repeat of the previous day. The whole week turned out to be a constant disappointment and all he had to show for it was the little he made working his ass off juggling two very demanding jobs.

His mother’s condition deteriorated to the point it became hard for West to stay by her side telling her it would be okay. Ge knew it wasn't going to be okay and he was sure his mother knew it too.

A month went by and even though West had been able to raise a little substantial amount, it was nothing compared to what was needed for the surgery. The doctors talked to West about their fears. They were concerned about his mother's condition getting critical because of the time elapsing before the surgery.

“I'm sorry, West but if we waste any more time then we might—” Dr. Elsa’s voice broke off.

West sat in the cool office, pale-faced, listening to the kind doctor share her concerns. West felt numb and his numbness was the only thing that had kept him from falling apart all this while but Dr. Elsa’s words managed to crack something deep within him—something he felt.

“We might lose her.” West completed in a low voice.

Dr. Elsa felt bad for Amelia. She knew he didn't deserve what he was going through. He was too young to shoulder all the weight and pressure yet somehow he was. Dr. Elsa admired his strength and she wished there was something she could do to help him.

West left the office and went straight to the restroom where he cried until his eyes hurt. In the quiet space, West unleashed everything he had kept bottled up for so long. He cried until he had no tears left. Until he had exhausted himself completely.

That's enough. Crying won't solve anything. She doesn't have long. You have to try harder until you get the money she needs. Now get going, West thought as he used the warm water from the faucet to wash his face.

West lost his first job as a waitress in fast food because he made a habit of mixing the customer’s orders. Juan, The manager, knew what he was going through and he could understand how expecting him to stay focused was like expecting rain to fall in the desert. He sympathized with him but his business was more important.

It was a struggle keeping the only job he had left which didn't pay as much as the one he lost. Working as an assistant for an aged librarian was a far throw from his dream job but being around books gave him comfort. It was therapeutic.

“How did you meet the down payment of the Rolls?” he heard a pork-faced woman ask her friend as he sorted books on the shelf.

West recognized the friend as a constant reader. She was one of those trophy-wife soccer moms who went out of their way to create book clubs in their neighborhood as a front for daily gossip with the other wives.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” She shook her friend away but her friend clung to her like a tick.

“C’mon, Stella. We both know Allan didn't give you that amount.”

“And what if he did?” She rolled her eyes.

Their conversation caught West's interest and even though he wasn't one to gossip, he hovered around, listening.

“He didn't.” The friend chided. “We both know.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine.” She lowered her voice as she said, “I met a loan shark.”

Her friend gasped in shock which was the exact reaction West would have given if he was part of the conversation.

“A loan shark?!”

“Keep it down, Velma.” She hushed. “We're in the goddamn library not the mall.”

Her friend apologized. At this point, West should have lost interest in the conversation after the mention of loan sharks but he stayed hidden in plain sight as he listened further.

“How did you meet one of those?” The friend asked with intense curiosity.

She looked around to make sure no one was listening. West almost stumbled against the shelf by his side but he regained his composure and stayed silent.

“The alleyway at Ipswich park.”

That night West stayed up thinking about what he had to do. Loan sharks went against everything he believed in and he would have died if it was his life at stake but his mother was important.

West knew there was no other way for him to get the money and when he got the call from Dr. Elsa that morning, he made his decision to meet with the loan shark.

He got dressed in a casual shirt and clean pants. West examined himself in the mirror for a long time and hesitated before leaving the house.

When he got to Ipswich park, West took a deep breath to steady his nerves before making his way into the alley. He reached the end of the alley and found it was empty.

“Hello?” He called out to the dark space, his voice echoing off the walls.

He felt trapped in the darkness and a crawling sensation moved along his spine. He wanted to jump and run as fast as his legs would let him out of the place but he chose to be brave instead for his mom.

“Hello, tough guy.” A croaky voice sounded from behind. “Are you lost?”

He turned around to stare into the beady eyes of a man who looked like he was made purely of bones. The sharp edges of his face would have made a perfect crafting tool. The man reminded him of a popular cartoon character he enjoyed as a kid.

“No.” West didn't recognize his voice laced with fear. “No. I'm not.”

“Then tell me what's your business here?” His smile was deadly.

Out of the shadow, two men slithered out and West wondered how he hadn't been able to sense their presence.

West kept his composure knowing the facade could slip away any moment. He knew they would eat him alive if he showed the slightest sign of weakness.

“I want to see your boss.” He said holding his head up, his legs wobbled beneath him. “I have a business proposal he'd be interested in.”

The thin-looking man laughed making a loud sinister noise that tore through the night. West stood steady refusing to let him intimidate him with his evil laughter.

“And what could you possibly offer him, Mr. Vincente?”

West's eyes went wide with terror and his mouth fell. How does he know my name?