ONE NIGHT WITH THE KING

Rain hit the bus window as Ava Thompson leaned her forehead against the glass. Outside the city was alive with neon lights and cars moving fast. It was like the city had a lot of energy. Ava did not feel that way. It was ten o'clock at night. Most people were going home from dinner with friends or family. Ava was going home from her job of the day. Her shoulders. Her feet felt heavy. Even her eyes felt too tired to stay open. The old bus moved forward. The people on it shook a little. A man in a suit said a bad word and a teenage girl laughed at something on her phone. Life was still happening around Ava. It always kept moving no matter what. Whether someone was doing well or really struggling the world did not stop. Ava looked down at her hands. The skin was rough from washing dishes at the café. She had worked at the café at a bookstore and then delivered food. She did this every day of the week. Three jobs, seven days a week.. It was still not enough money. Her phone started vibrating in her pocket. Ava felt a knot in her stomach. She already knew who it was before she looked. It was the hospital. Ava slowly answered the phone. "Hello?" she said. "Miss Thompson this is Mercy General Hospital " the woman on the phone said. Ava closed her eyes. Course it was the hospital. "We wanted to remind you that your mothers next treatment payment is due on Friday " the woman said. Friday was three days away. Ava had to find money she did not have. "I understand " Ava said quietly. There was a silence. "We don't want treatment interrupted " the woman said. Ava wanted to say that she did not want that either.. She just thanked the woman and ended the call. Ava stared at her phone screen for a few moments. The face looking back at her seemed older than twenty-four. Being very tired can make a person look older. The bus finally stopped near her apartment building. Ava got out into the rain. Pulled her thin jacket tight around her. The neighborhood looked the same as it always did. The streetlights were not very bright the sidewalks were broken and the old apartment buildings stood together. It was not a place but it was home. By the time Ava got to the floor her legs were very tired. She unlocked the apartment door. Went inside. It was very quiet. Ava saw an envelope on the floor. She froze. Her heart started beating. She slowly picked up the envelope. It said FINAL NOTICE in red letters. Ava stared at the words for a moment. Then she laughed. Not because it was funny. Because sometimes laughing is easier than crying. She put the envelope on the kitchen table. Went to her mothers room. The door creaked when she opened it. Moonlight came into the room. Her mother was sleeping peacefully. Avas heart felt tight. There was a time when her mother was very strong. She worked two jobs. Still came home smiling. She had energy to dance while cooking dinner. She thought every problem had a solution.. Cancer had taken a lot from her. It had not taken her kindness though. Ava adjusted the blanket around her mothers shoulders. Her mothers eyes opened. "Ava?" she said. Ava smiled. Her mother smiled back. It was a smile that made Ava feel pain. Because it reminded her of what she was fighting for. "You should be sleeping " Ava whispered. "So should you " her mother said. Ava laughed softly. "That's true " she said. Her mother looked at her carefully. "You worked hard again " she said. "I always work hard " Ava said. "You always worry much " her mother said. They both smiled. For a moment everything felt normal. There were no hospital bills, no debt, no fear. Just a. Her mother.. Then reality came back. As it always did. Ava kissed her mothers forehead. Left the room. Back in the living room she opened the envelope. The amount of money owed was even higher than she thought. Avas breath caught. The paper shook a little in her hands. She did not know how she would pay it. She did not know where the money would come from. For the time in a long time she felt really trapped. Her phone rang. It was Emily. Ava almost did not answer.. She did. "Hey " she said. "Please tell me you're sitting down " Emily said. "Why?" Ava asked. "Because I have news " Emily said. Whenever Emily said that trouble usually followed. Ava sat down on the couch. "I'm listening " she said. "I got us invitations " Emily said. "Invitations to what?" Ava asked. "A masquerade gala " Emily said. Ava was surprised. "A what?" she asked. "A masquerade gala " Emily said again. She was excited. The kind of excited that meant Ava was going whether she liked it or not. "No " Ava said. "You haven't even heard the details " Emily said. "I don't need details " Ava said. "Ava—" Emily started. "No " Ava said again. "Ava " Emily said, warningly. "This is a in-a-lifetime event " Emily said. "I need money, Emily. Not parties " Ava said. "Then maybe you need one night away from your problems " Emily said. Ava looked around the apartment. The overdue bills, the medicine bottles, the peeling wallpaper. One night would not change any of that.. Would it? Outside thunder sounded across the city. Away Alexander King stood on the top floor of King Tower looking out at the storm. He had power, wealth and success.. As he looked at the city he felt nothing. The night he would go to a masquerade gala he did not want to attend. He would shake hands with people he did not trust. It would be another thing he had to do.. So he thought. Neither Alexander King nor Ava Thompson knew it yet. In less, than two days their lives would collide.. Nothing would ever be the same again.