THE HUSTLERS

Episode 9:Help

Before Jane could say much, he left and returned about twenty minutes later with several bags from the local grocery store. He had bought simple, nourishing food — a loaf of fresh bread, a carton of eggs, some cheese, bananas, apples, and a container of ready-made soup that could be heated easily. There was also a big jug of milk, a box of cereal, peanut butter, and a few cans of tuna and beans for easy meals. He added pain relief items like ibuprofen (even though she had prescriptions), a heating pad for the bruises, and extra bandages. The provisions were thoughtful — things that would last a few days and give her strength without needing much effort to prepare.

“Here,” Alexander said, unpacking everything on the small table. He poured a glass of milk for her right away. “Drink this first. It will help with your strength.” Jane took the glass with shaky hands and sipped slowly. The cool milk felt soothing on her empty stomach. He then heated a bowl of soup on the small hot plate in the corner and brought it to her with a slice of bread. “Eat slowly,” he advised, sitting on a rickety chair nearby. “You’ve had a long, hard day.”

As Jane ate, the warmth spread through her body. The food tasted better than anything she had in weeks. Tears pricked her eyes again — not from pain this time, but from the unexpected kindness. In her lonely life with no family, no one had ever rushed her to the hospital, stayed with her, and then brought food and provisions like this. Alexander watched her with gentle eyes. “I feel terrible about the accident,” he told her. “You were exhausted and hadn’t eaten. I should have been paying more attention too.”

When she finished eating, he made sure she took one of the pain pills with another glass of milk. He arranged the provisions neatly on the table and shelf — the milk in a cool spot, the bread wrapped, the fruits accessible. “This should help for the next few days,” he said. “Milk for strength, easy foods so you don’t have to cook much while you rest.”

Jane looked at him, amazed. “Thank you… for everything. You didn’t have to do all this.”

Alexander smiled softly, but there was something deeper in his expression for a brief moment. “I want to make sure you’re okay. Promise me you’ll stay at home and rest tomorrow and the next day. No going out to clean houses or fetch water. Your body needs time to heal from those bruises.”

He reached into his wallet and pulled out a thick stack of cash — crisp bills that added up to far more than Jane earned in a full year of her cleaning jobs. It was enough to cover rent for many months, groceries, and even some repairs to her apartment. He placed it carefully on the table beside the white card from Madam Cynthia. “This is for you,” he said quietly. “It should cover what you would make in a whole year of your work. Use it to rest and recover. Don’t worry about money for a while.”

Jane’s eyes widened in shock. Her hands trembled as she stared at the money. It was more than she had ever seen at once, even with what Madam Cynthia had given her the day before. “I… I can’t take this,” she whispered. “It’s too much.”

“You can and you will,” Alexander replied firmly but kindly. “It’s my responsibility after the accident. Stay home, rest, eat well, and take your medications. I’ll check up on you tomorrow to make sure you’re doing okay. If you need anything at all, just tell me when I come by.”

He helped her settle more comfortably on the mattress, adjusting the thin blanket and making sure the ice pack from the hospital was ready if she needed it again. His movements were careful and respectful. Jane felt a strange mix of gratitude and confusion. This handsome man who looked like a god had come into her hard day like a sudden light, helping her when she was at her weakest.