The surrogate Truth

It can't really get worst, can it?

I get on the bus that connects me to my destination. I try to hold back the tears in my eyes but they just keep falling. I am always like that. I try not to but I am a big crybaby.

As I am thinking about my life and how I need to get a job quickly, I hear a couple of ladies talking about their husbands and and how their kids will be graduating College soon.

I try not to dwell on that too much. I never went to college, not because I was not good enough or anything. But because I couldn't afford to go their.

I was already racking up over a hundred thousand dollar debt when I was eighteen and going to college would have just made it a hundred times worse.

I clean my face with some of the tissues I pocketed from my ex job because I realised that I was approaching my stop.

I get down and start walking in the direction of the hospital. I try to make myself presentable because the last thing I wanted was for her to see my like this, but I just can't help it. I am so sad and I feel defeated.

I walk into the hospital and greet the nurses that are present at their station. Then turn left I go to the room I've come to become familiar with. It is the same room she has always been in since the beginning of her condition.

I stand outside the door not wanting to walk in there immediately because I know she will sense that something is wrong.

I take in deep breathe before summoning the courage to open the door. Inside, the first person I see is Nick. He is an eighty two year old man who used to serve in the army. His eyes are closed so I assume he is sleeping.

Next is Grace, she's a new patient that was moved in just last week. I don't know much about her because she seems very closed off. Our eyes connects and she gives me a small smile and turns to look back at her phone.

Everyone else is asleep so I quietly walk into the room and head for the last bed at the end of the room.

There I see her, my mom. She looks so small and weak. I reach for her hands and they feel so cold. Since she was diagnosed almost seven years ago, she has lost all of her glow.

I pull a stool from the edge and take it to sit next to her. I start to think of how i would have to cut back on groceries more now that I have lost one of my job. Minutes pass and I think I can try falling asleep on this chair when I hear the sound of the door knob going off.

I shoot my eyes to find out who this intruder might be and discover that it's Dr John.

Dr John has been my mom's doctor since I could remember. He quietly walks towards me while also noting if there was anything wrong with the patients. He reaches me and tell me he will like to speak with me outside the room.

I follow him out, but all I could feel was my heart beating against my ribcage. I tried reassuring myself that tonight can only better. It can't really get worst, can it?

The walk out of the hospital room has to be one of the longest walk of my life. We reach outside and he quietly shuts the door behind for me.

He shifts his glasses from his face and looks me dead in my eyes.

"Emily,I don't know a better way to tell you this but the hospital has come to a decision that your mom will be discharged at the end of the month."

"N-no, please don't say that." I say breaking out into tears.

"Emily, I really tried but the debt is just piling up. You're not able to afford her treatment or medication and quite frankly, your mother has not shown any improvement since the beginning of the year. "

I look at him with so much disgust. I can't believe I used to think Dr John was heaven sent.

In the most robotic voice I could mutter, I say to him

"There will be no need for you to remove my mom. All you need is your money and I will have it ready before the end of the month. "

"Emily

Emily darling, I don't want to be the bad person here but I really am serious. I've helped you the best I could. No hard feelings darling. This is a business institute and charity can only help so much"

"I don't have anything more to say to you sir, have a good night." I replied walking back into the room with no idea how I am going to get at least a quarter million.

####His pov####

"So I know you come up with crazy ideas but this has to be at the top of the most dumb things you have ever come up with.

Are you crazy dude?

This is a disaster waiting to happen. I can't believe I got my hopes high for nothing." I say trying to suppress my anger.

When Micheal said he had a plan, I certainly didn't think this was what he had in mind. I take a sit whilst also reaching for a bottle of scotch and a glass. It was too early for this but at the moment this is the only thing stopping me from punching my i***t friend.

"Stop being impractical. This is too perfect and it will work a 100%.

When Alessia and I were coming up with this PowerPoint yesterday, we put everything into consideration and my wife said it was an amazing plan and also well thought out."

"And she's never wrong"

Micheal says with so much seriousness I consider having him get checked by a psychiatric doctor.

"Okay, let's say I want to follow through with this. Your plan says to put an ad out saying I am looking for a surrogate. Don't you think a lot of women will jump on this idea. We will never be able to get through the process of the interview because there will be alot of women present. So yea my idiotic friend. This is just drama waiting to happen." I say going in with my second drink of the day.

"You're always so quick to jump the gun. If you had let me finish, you'll know that this is intended to be something anonymous. No one will know it's you until the interview stage and they will he forced to sign a NDA so that part is covered. "

"You know I am really f****d if I am even considering this." I place my head on the counter and close my eyes.

"And there are still alot of protections you can place on this. You can have your rules there and since you would be paying this person, they sought of have to compile."

I turn to look at him because I know I don't have any plans or ideas that can help me out of this situation.

"So let's say that I want to follow this plan... I start

"Already ahead of you my friend. I posted this ad early this morning" He turns his phone towards me

"My design team pulled an all nighters on this one but it turned out perfectly. The location for your date is at The Three star Michelin restaurant downtown." He says starting to pack up with stuffs

"Do you really think this is going to work? I asked

"Well, we will never know if we don't try. Show up on time and be on your best behaviour.

Also I had the response to the app linked to your phone so you should get a notification when someone applies. I have to get back to work but I'll see you tonight. "

"Peace"

I look at my phone and see I have a notification. With beating heart, I open the message and see it's a positive response. I find out the woman's name is Ruth and she is thirty three years old. I also find out some other important things like her general health assessment, her Involvement in any serious crime.

All these are criteria required for an interview. I go back to look at the message and completely read it. it's states she's out of town at the moment and would like to have a zoom call if possible.

I send a simple yes and we settle on doing it 4pm this evening.

I sit at the table waiting for the sixth interviewee to arrive. So far, all the applicants who I have attended to signed the NDA. I just have to get through this last person for today and call it a night.

I think I sense her when she enters a petite girl who looked so out of place. She was not even trying to be subtle with her amusement that she crashed into a server and caused a big commotion.

I feel myself smirking and trying to force back my straight face but the moment I looked into her eyes, I was completely lost.

I think to myself

This is probably chaos, but I don't mind being a part of that

I get up to greet my quest and introduce myself

"I am Jason Black, pleasure to meet you." Extending my arm

"Emily Knight, thanks for having." She said in the most captivating voice ever

Damnnn!!! I whisper with a gulp

Things just got really interesting now