Chapter One

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The sharp pain in my back awoke me once again. That was the fourth time tonight since I slept past eleven. I started to lose count when I thought I would be up all night, but it wasn't hard to keep track when the intensity quadrupled as well.

It was nothing like pulling a muscle or straining it even; it was like a rope soaked with toxin was tied to your leg bone and as you tried to take it off, it hinged all the more: nibbling away all your flesh until all that's left was the thing it was knotted to — a naked, delicate, and vulnerable piece of bone. Then when you thought that was how it ended, the venomous rope turned to a line of incredibly sharp and pointy knives of all sizes. 

One second my eyes were closed shut from exhaustion since the third strike that happened twenty minutes ago, then they were opened wide the next. A rainstorm of sweat crowded in the temples of my head and dripped to my neck and my chest shortly after.

Panting uncontrollably, I moved carefully to sit erect. I wanted to scream but I didn't want to wake Stuart. My palms clenched on the pillows as I held the pain inside for as much as I can. However, not for long. I couldn't take this anymore.

Screaming fervently, I put pressure on the bottom part where it hurt by pressing it hard with my right hand. It was an awkward position; I could barely reach the exact spot where the incessant agony was coming from.

My cry for help was loud enough for the street dogs in the neighborhood to hear. And we were on the fourth floor. They barked back; and suddenly all of the dogs were barking: causing clamor to the rest of my sleeping neighbors. Everybody ranted. I didn't mind.

"Mary!" My brother Stuart entered the room with panic and turned on the lights. His eyes were as tired as mine, but he ran to me like he had slept for more than eight hours. "I heard a scream. What do you need?"

"Stuart," I groaned, still touching my back. A smile of relief plastered on my face as I saw him. My eyes searched for the medicine on the metal tray then I told him weakly, "Give me the morphine."

Hastily, my brother grabbed the morphine and gave it to me. "Here, have some water," he said, tilting the rim of the glass to my mouth. As I drank eagerly, I thought about the many times he showed up and assisted me in moments like this. His tired face expressed worry towards me all the time, and sometimes, I hated that he took care of me more than he did for himself. I wished he would stop wasting his life for me.

"Fifty dollars," I muttered quietly as I finished drinking.

"There you go again," Stuart shook his head in disappointment, taking the glass from my hand. "Could you stop thinking about expenses for once?"

"Money doesn't fall from trees, Stuart. I've told you that before. It's wise to be mindful," I replied, wiping all the sweat in my face.

I leaned to my pillow and told him to leave. "Thank you. Now, go, you have to get some rest."

"Not until you're resting yourself," he said firmly.

"It'll take a while for the morphine to kick in," I replied, "But you have a big quiz tomorrow and now you have to sleep."

Being the caring brother he was, he convinced me otherwise. "I'm pulling an all-nighter anyway. I'll just stay here with you until you feel better." He poured the glass with water.

"Now, Stuart," I looked him in the eye, "Don't make me tell you twice."

"Alright, alright, no need to glare your eyes at me," he raised both of his hands, "but if ever you need me, you know what to do."

He kissed my forehead. "Don't be too hard on yourself," he said, walking to the door.

"Okay, sweetie," I covered my lie with a smile as he left.

This had always been a damned life as I understood it — waking up terrified that one day my spine would give up on me was the ultimate fear. Barely getting enough sleep was not something new. With all the responsibilities I juggled, here and there, it would be too selfish to even take a nap.

My brother's future depended on me. He was all I had. Everything I did was for him.

Before this day ended, it started the same as any usual day in my damned life — tedious, hectic, and impossible. Six o'clock in the morning and I was out doing all of Dr. Kelly's errands for the entire week. Seeing to it that I would not fail her like last time was a daily predicament.

Without her, how else would I pay my two-months overdue rent to our ruthless landlady? Dr. Kelly, although very tough and ridiculously strict, had a good heart. And I counted on that good heart since my parents left.

After some time, the morphine worked. The dogs had gone quiet too. Finally,  I could make the most out of the two hours before getting out of bed. 

*****

When morning came, I felt better. Morphine for lower back pain was the new sleeping pill.

I got out of bed and started my daily personal routine. Shortly after I headed downstairs to start my daily responsibility as both a mother and an older sister to my fifteen-year-old brother. To the kitchen I went, heating a lightly-oiled non-stick pan then did what was necessary to get the chores done.

"Stuart!" I called him as I picked up the scrambled eggs and put it on a round plate. "Breakfast is ready. Get down here."

The quick thudding on the stairs caught my attention. "Coming, Mary," Stuart said loudly.

Wearing his uniform with an unzipped backpack on one shoulder, he sat down with wet hair. "Yum," he muttered as he looked at the food on his plate.

Stuart took a book from his bag and started reading it while chewing on the sausage. As he was eating, I prepared the things I needed to bring to Dr. Kelly. I kept pacing around the kitchen, from one place to another, when I almost slipped. There was a little puddle of water on the floor.

"Your hair is dripping, young man," I said, raising a brow. "And I'd appreciate it if you eat without doing anything else. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to enjoy the food...which is," I recalled, "...worth three dollars."

"Not again," Stuart groaned while his mouth was full, putting down his book. "You're always putting a price in everything."

"Because there is a price in everything." Nothing's free, Stuart. Better sink that in while you're still young."

"See you later, sweetie." I walked towards him and kissed his head. "Gotta head to work as early as now before the subway gets filled with perverts," I said, putting on my sweater. "But more importantly, Dr. Kelly needs me."

Stuart drank his water then said, "But you haven't eaten breakfast yet."

"I'm not hungry," I said confidently, pretending like my stomach wasn't growling as I lied.

"Be home soon," I pointed, "And no going out with your dumb friends."

*****

I arrived at Velmont Hospital.

Entering through the back door, I heard the voice of a man resonating through the hallway. As I continued to walk, his voice grew louder with my every step. Later did I realize he was banging on Dr. Kelly's clinic. "Dr. Thompson, tell me what's happening," said the angry man.

Carrying a tall pile of paperwork at eye length, I couldn't quite see nor reach the doorknob.  "Excuse me, can you open the door for me please?"

He opened the door without saying anything. I assumed he would come inside after he gave me a hand, but he didn't.

I came inside and shut the door with my leg. The man yelled and yelled. I could tell he wanted to talk to Dr. Kelly. I wondered why she was ignoring him.

"Good morning, Doc," I greeted with a strain in my voice, carrying the pile of paperwork at eye length. She wasn't in her office.

I put the things on her office desk anyway. When I was about to leave, Dr. Kelly approached me from the other room hastily.

"Mary, great, you're here," she said in a strict tone as if she waited too long before I got here.  "You see that boy?" She pointed to the guy outside the clinic.

I glanced at the guy she was referring to then returned to her. "What about him?"

"He's been standing there for quite a while now. Even before the clinic opened," was his reply.

Okay? And? My eyebrows arched while pondering what was wrong with it. "Maybe he's just waiting for someone here," I said innocently.

Dr. Kelly shook her head to and fro and put her arms on each of my shoulders. "Here's the thing, Mary," she sighed, "That kid is filthy rich. He could travel around the world, gamble all of his trust funds, and still be rich. But currently, his father is terminally ill and dying. He left me specific instructions not to tell his son about his condition until he passes."

"It won't be long. He's not going to have dinner tonight," she added.

I stood there, confused. "So what do you want me to do with the guy outside, Doc?"

"Talk to him. Tell him I'm doing rounds. Tell him to disappear," she answered firmly.

"But I'm not an employee here, Doc. I'm not even your assistant or your secretary," I reasoned, "I'm just your errand girl, which I am very grateful for."

"Exactly. And now I'm telling you to get rid of that gentleman outside." Dr. Kelly returned to the room she came from, expecting me to do as she asked.

Sighing, I turned around and walked to the small reception area near the door. I opened the window and rang the bell to catch his attention. "Sir? Can I help you?"  I asked straightforwardly.

He approached me with a condescending look on his face, muttering words I couldn't hear. But as he began to come closer and our eyes had met, his tight face muscles suddenly loosened and he didn't seem so scary anymore. He had fine facial features—light brown eyes, thick brows, and a sexy, fat upper lip. They weren't as visible when he was mad. He was like a different person.

I didn't exactly know what was going on in his mind, but his face beamed, leaving him in a stutter. "I—I need to speak to Dr. Thompson."

"She's busy talking to another patient right now. If you have a message for her, I'd be happy to pass it on," I managed to put on a front. "Also, Dr. Kelly would very much appreciate it if you lower your voice."

"My concern is urgent," he stated frankly, no longer looking like he was flirting with me. "Why don't you go call her again?"

"As I said, Dr. Thompson's currently —"

"Do you have some paper?" he interrupted, grabbing the ballpen from the desk.

I took a blank notepad sitting beside the desktop monitor and gave it to him. "Here."

"You know what?" Why don't you just call me when Dr. Thompson's available?" he murmured as he locked the ballpen pen cap in between his lips then started writing down. "Here is my phone number."

"No, wait— you're mistaken. I don't work here."

"Sure you do."

"No, I'm not. I'm just Dr. Kelly's assistant. You don't even know my name," I said.

"Then what's your name?" was his question.

"Mary."

"Mary..." he repeated my name as his eyes refused to leave mine.

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