Chapter 1

• Kayla's pov
• "I don't think she'll be able to make it past Sunday If she's not rushed into the operation room sooner." The doctor said, and I just sat there on the chair, feeling my heart drop to the pit of my stomach.
• My throat hurt as tears sprang to my eyes, and I could see my own fingers trembling as I slowly shook my head.
• "Doctor… " My voice was muffled with tears, but nevertheless, I shot him a pleading glance. "We don't have that kind of money for the operation. I gave you everything I had for her medication and her feeding. That was literally all I had, I promise you. I have nothing else and I don't want to loose my mother." The tears finally rolled down my eyes as I clasped my hands together and dropped to my knees.
• "Please Doctor. Please."
• "Miss Jules… " The Doctor got up, but he made no move to console her physically, he felt It wouldn't be formal like nor appropriate.
• When she wouldn't stand to her feet and had her hands still clasped together, he sighed, his heart grew heavy with empathy.
• "I wish I could help.. even the cost of the operation seems ridiculous. Yet you know how this hospital works, we can't begin any sort of treatment unless we're paid. It's the rules."
• "The rules?" I finally raised my eyes to meet his and he could see how red the rims were. I had spent a night over at the hospital and had cried all through out. I was just 18. I was supposed to be in school by now. I was just a child. I didn't deserve to go through all these.
• "But another rule of yours states that no patient dies without a valid reason, doesn't it? You will all let my mother die because her 18 year old daughter couldn't pay 500,000 dollars for her operation?"
• The doctor was left tongue tied, but when I saw he wasn't willing to change his mind, I finally got up and picked up my handbag before giving him a calm look which meant I had accepted his decision.
• "I will try to get the little money I can before tomorrow. Thank you, Doctor." With that, coldly turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, guilty ridden.
• As I walked out of the office and down to the exit, I could hear the nurses exchanging snarky comments and whispers between themselves, and even though I couldn't hear them audibly, I knew they were talking about me.
• My mother have been in the hospital for over six months and I had stopped school to take on several part time jobs so I could be able to pay for her treatment.
• I worked more than 100 hours a week, including on weekends but no matter how much I got at the end of all my toiling, I barely made anything worth buying more than medications for her.
• Where was I supposed to get 500,000 dollars before Sunday? That was three days from now. I wanted to head back to my friend's hostel where I stayed throughout the time my mum was in the hospital because it was much closer, but I decided to visit my boyfriend, Chris.
• I've been trying to call him all week but he hasn't been responding. During the time my mother was in the hospital, he had only visited twice with the excuse that he was busy at school.
• He was in computer-tech school so I could understand, but he hasn't called nor texted- he always busied my calls, and I was sure he must have blocked me even.
• I took a cab with the last cash I had to his place, and when I got down, a gust of wind blew across the streets, tossing my hair out of my face.
• As I paid the driver, I took note of my reflection in the rear view mirror. It was like I had grown two times older than my age over night. I barely got any sleep so my eyes were sunken in like that of a raccoon with dark eyes bags, and I was so skinny It felt like any more wind blowing my way and I would break into pieces.
• As the car zoomed off, I took a deep breath and turned towards Chris's apartment. As I got close, I couldn't help but feel a dreadful feeling in my chest. I was uneasy like something bad was about to happen, but I brushed the thought off and rang the doorbell.
• I rang it for several minutes that I almost gave up, but his motorcycle was in the garage and he never goes anywhere without it. Besides it was a Wednesday. He normally had Early morning classes, so it was 5pm already. He should be home now.
• I decided to look for the spare house key under the mat which I normally used to get in after lessons at the school but it wasn't there.
• I became worried and attempted to knock on the door, but to my amazement, the door was pushed open, and I realized it had been left open the entire time.
• Immediately, I walked in and shut the door behind me, calling out.
• "Chris?"
• No answer. My eyes moved to the T.V where a movie was playing. No one was there watching so I found it odd that it was just turned on.
• As I moved closer to turn the TV off, I kicked something out of my way unknowingly, and when I looked down, my face paled on seeing hot pink stiletto heels.
• I slowly bent down, leaving my handbag to drop on the floor as I picked a shoe, finally letting my eyes roam around the floor.
• On the floor, on the cushion, were clothes scattered all across in a messy heap. I recognize Chris's black turtle neck shirt strewn across the floor.
• I had gotten it for him for Christmas last year.
• His shorts were also lying across the table where a bowl of unfinished popcorn sat.
• But the undergarments- the lingerie, the chiffon blouse and skirt… I didn't recognize them, but I definitely knew who had worn them.
• A woman.