Chapter 1
1435 Words
Chapter 1
Tess’s POV
“You will not be graduating with your mates”
For a second, I was sure I’d heard her wrong.
The principal’s office felt suffocating, as if the words had sucked all the oxygen out of the room. I stared at her, waiting for the punchline, for her to sigh and say this was all a misunderstanding.
Instead, she folded her hands on the desk and looked at me with something dangerously close to pity.
“I’m sorry, Tess”
My fingers curled into the strap of my bag.
“That doesn’t make sense” I said, my voice almost a whisper.
“I’ve passed all my courses. I’ve never failed a class. I… I’ve done everything right.”
She sighed softly.
“Academically, yes. You’ve done exceptionally well. But your tuition for the past two years hasn’t been paid”
My jaw dropped open
“Wait… what?”
She slid a file across the desk.
“Your parents paid two years in advance when you were admitted. The remaining balance was never settled”
My mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Two years.
“My parents…” I swallowed hard.
They had both passed away two years ago. They were people who planned meticulously, I guess they just never thought they'd die.
“I understand this is shocking,” she said gently.
“But without full payment, your name cannot appear on the graduation list”
I shook my head at first but the look of serious pity on the principal's face made me pause. Fear crawled up my veins and a little briken laugh left my lips.
“So what now? You’re just… kicking me out?”
“No” she said quickly.
“You can still graduate if the outstanding fees are paid. The deadline is before the graduation ”
Two days
Two f*****g days
My knees trembled as I shot up from the seat.
“How much?”
“Five thousand dollars”
My jaw dropped instantly.
Five thousand dollars might as well have been five million.
How the heck was I going to get such an amount in two days?
I walked out of the office in a daze, the hallway buzzed with excited students. I couldn't relate to them anymore. It looked like everyone else was moving forward.
Except me
I was stuck.
I replayed the conversation in my head and a tear fell from my eyes.
My parents had paid two years in advance. That meant they’d planned for everything. Graduation. My future. My dreams of becoming a fashion designer with my own brand someday.
And then they died.
The accident had taken more than their lives. It had taken my safety, my certainty, my belief that things would always somehow work out.
I thought of my uncle for half a second.
The last time I’d gone to him, he had laughed in my face and threatened to do unspeakable things to me if I bothered him again.
My uncle took everything my parents left behind yet he didn't think helping me was his responsibility.
I was tired. I was confused. My head banged and all I could think of was how to make Five thousand dollars in two days.
It seemed impossible
But I needed to graduate. I had to.
My parents wanted this for me and I wanted it for myself even more.
I had my future all planned out.
This graduation had to happen.
By the time I got home, I was exhausted in a way sleep couldn’t fix.
Ella, my best friend and roommate, was curled up on the couch, her laptop balanced on her knees, hair pulled into a messy bun. She looked up the moment I stepped inside, her smile faded when she saw my face.
“Hey” she said carefully. “You’re back early. How did it go?”
I dropped my bag and sank down beside her. I didn't need to hide or pretend when I was with Ella.
“I’m not graduating”
She was shocked
“What? How?”
I rested my back against the wall and closed my eyes, my cheeks felt wet as hot tears glistened my face.
“Two years of tuition was never paid”
“I thought your parents paid in advance”
“They did… but only for two years, they…” I couldn't get the words out as my throat clogged up with tears.
“I'm sorry, Tess. I'm sure your parents planned to pay it but then the accident happened
“How much do you owe and how long do you have to pay it?” Ella was a realist. She was sentimental but she knew how to push aside all emotions and look for a solution when necessary.
“Five thousand dollars in two days… before graduation”
Her jaw dropped
“That's impossible”
I laughed, but it came out bitter.
“It seems the universe is against me”
There was silence between us for a minute then Ella’s eyes widened as if something just clicked.
“I know how you can get that money”
“How?”
Ella stared at her laptop screen again and operated it for a minute before turning back to me, her brows knitting together as if something was forming in her mind. She hesitated, then turned the screen toward me.
“I’ve seen this before” she interrupted gently. “A girl in one of my classes did it. Just once. She paid off her fees and was fine”
“Did what?”
She swallowed, then tilted the screen so I could see it.
EGG DONORS WANTED.
GENEROUS COMPENSATION.
HELP A FAMILY TODAY.
She wanted me to donate my eggs? Was that even legal or safe?
“Ella” I whispered. “No”
“Just listen” she said quickly.
“I know how this sounds. But it’s safe. It’s legal. They screen you, and they pay well. Really well.”
I was desperate but was I this desperate?
I stared at the words on the screen…
I needed the money but…
“You’re asking me to sell my eggs”
“I’m asking you to consider it” she corrected softly. “It’s not like surrogacy. You’re not carrying a baby. It’s just a procedure”
I didn't say anything. My brain was processing everything
“I wouldn’t bring this up if I had another option” her voice cracked “I hate that this is even a choice you have to make.”
The look in her eyes told me that she was really worried and only trying to help. Ella was smart. If she said it was an okay thing to do then I was going to believe her.
*********
The last time I was in a hospital, I watched the nurses wheel away my parents' dead bodies.
Being back in one brought back all the feelings again. The pain, the fear, the loneliness and uncertainty.
I wanted to turn around and go back home but my feet stayed rooted on the ground moving forward. My palms were sweaty as I approached the reception desk.
“I’m here about the egg donation program” I said quietly.
The receptionist smiled politely.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. We’ve reached our quota for egg donors at the moment”
“Oh” My heart sank. “So… you’re not accepting anyone?”
“Not currently”
I felt a blow to my chest. This was my only hope now it was shattered. Normally I would've faked a smile, thanked her and left but not today. Not when I had my future on the line.
“Please help me”
“What?”
“I really need this money. Just let me do this. Please, I can't go back home. My future is on the line”
“I'm sorry ma'am. There's nothing I can do” the nurse said with a polite smile but beneath her exterior, I could see her resolve breaking. If I pushed her just right, I could get something. I felt it in my guts.
I inched forward and pressed my hands together
“Please help me. If there are no spaces for egg donors, there has to be another opportunity. I can do anything”
Suddenly a glint appeared in her eyes. She raised a brow at me.
“Anything?”
I gulped hard, something told me this was not the right answer but I couldn't listen to logic with everything on the line.
“Yes. Anything”
- Writer
