The deal that changed everything

chapter 2

I hadn’t eaten all day, but my stomach didn’t even care anymore.

All I could think about was Mom. Every second that passed, I felt like time was slipping through my fingers. I needed a miracle or at least a job. Something that could help me raise money. Anything.

The hospital had Wi-Fi, but it was weak and only for staff. I had tried standing in the hallway near the nurse's desk, pretending to scroll through photos, but it hadn’t worked.

So I left.

I hated leaving Mom even for a minute, but I needed to do something fast.

There was a small café a few blocks from the hospital called Bean & Brew. I remembered sitting there with my mom last year when she was stronger. She loved their cinnamon tea. That memory alone nearly stopped me from walking in. But I pushed through the pain and stepped inside.

The café was warm and smelled like fresh bread and roasted coffee. Soft music played in the background, and most of the tables were full. I saw a couple of students tapping away at their laptops. That was my plan too but I didn’t have the money to actually buy anything.

Still, I had to try.

I walked up to the counter and forced a smile. “Hi. Um… I’ll need a few minutes to decide what I want.”

The guy behind the counter nodded. He had curly hair and a bored expression. “Sure. Let me know.”

I picked a small corner table near the back and pulled out my old phone. It was slow and cracked, but it still worked. I opened the browser and prayed the Wi-Fi wasn’t locked.

“Please,” I whispered, tapping the network name.

To my surprise, it connected.

I sighed with relief and opened a job site. My fingers moved quickly. I searched for anything waitress, cleaner, cashier, anything with fast pay.

But every job I clicked needed qualifications I didn’t have. Most wanted degrees or years of experience. Some paid so little it wouldn’t even cover a meal, let alone a life-saving surgery.

Others had crazy schedules—overnight shifts, ten-hour days, or “must work weekends, holidays, and overtime.” How could I leave my mom for that long?

I rubbed my eyes. My head was pounding.

And then I saw it.

A short post. No company name. No job title. No description.

Just this:

“Help needed urgently. female person only. Serious inquiries. Call 555-0198.”

No pay was listed. No location. Just a phone number.

I frowned. That could be anything. It could be a scam. But something about it pulled at me.

I stared at the screen for a while before saving the number. I didn’t call. Not yet.

“Miss?”

I looked up quickly. The guy from the counter was walking toward me, wiping his hands on his apron.

“Are you ready to order?”

I swallowed. “Oh. Um…”

He tilted his head. “You’ve been here twenty minutes.”

I panicked. “I’m just waiting for a friend. She’s supposed to buy. I’ll order when she gets here.”

He gave me a look like he didn’t believe me, but he didn’t argue. “Alright. But if you’re not ordering, I can’t let you sit here too long.”

“Of course,” I said, nodding fast. “Just a few more minutes.”

He walked away, and I grabbed my things quickly. I walked out before he could come back, embarrassed but also numb.

I stared at the street. People were walking by like everything was normal. For them, maybe it was. But my world was burning, and nobody even noticed.

I walked all the way back to my mom’s old house. The place was small, worn down, and cold, but it still had her smell—lavender and lemon. It was strange being here without her. I sat on the bed, holding a photo of us from three years ago. She had her arms around me, smiling bright. She looked strong then. Healthy.

I closed my eyes and whispered, “I’m trying, Mom. I’m really trying.”

I stayed there for about an hour before heading back to the hospital.

When I returned, something felt off.

The lights in her room were dimmer. The beeping from the machines was faster. I rushed to the window.

Mom’s eyes were closed, and her chest moved shallowly. A nurse was adjusting the IV.

I stepped inside quickly.

“Mom?” I whispered, moving to her side.

Her eyes fluttered open. “Ava… you came back.”

“I told you I wouldn’t stay away too long.”

She smiled weakly. “You always say that.”

I sat beside her, holding her hand gently. It felt cold.

“I’m going to find the money,” I told her. “I promise. I’ll get it somehow.”

She closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly. “Don’t. Don’t waste your time.”

“What are you talking about?” I frowned. “You need the surgery. It’s not a waste.”

She opened her eyes again, tired but serious. “Sweetheart… I’ve lived my life. You’re still young. You shouldn’t carry this kind of burden.”

“Mom—”

“I mean it,” she said, squeezing my hand. “If we can’t afford it… then maybe it’s time. Maybe the money should go toward… my funeral. Not a surgery I might not survive anyway.”

“No,” I said, firm. “Don’t say that.”

“Ava—”

“No,” I repeated, my voice shaking. “I can’t give up on you. You didn’t give up on me when I failed college, or when I couldn’t get a job. You’ve always been there. Now it’s my turn.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I just want you to be happy. Even if I’m not here.”

“You will be here,” I whispered, crying now. “I’ll find a way. I don’t care how. I’ll do anything.”

She didn’t speak again for a long while. Just held my hand, and we sat in silence.

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

I sat in the hospital waiting room, staring at the number I had saved earlier. I had no idea who or what was behind it. Maybe it was dangerous. Maybe it was stupid.

But what choice did I have?

Mom wasn’t going to make it if I just kept waiting.

I took a deep breath, held the phone tight, and dialed the number.

It rang once. Twice. Then someone picked up.

“Hello?” a deep voice said.

My voice shook. “Hi… I saw your listing about the urgent job. Is it still available?”

There was a pause.

Then the man said, “Yes. Are you available to meet tomorrow?”

I swallowed hard. “Yes. I am.”

He gave me an address and a time. That was all. No name. No other details.

Just: “Don’t be late.”

The line went dead.

And I sat there, heart pounding, with no idea what I had just agreed to.