Page 14 of Bought and Paid For

I walk into the apartment and jump when I see Adeline curled up on the mattress. She shouldn’t be home yet and I rush over to her immediately.

“What are you doing home already?” I ask.

“I wasn’t feeling well so they let me leave early.” She says.

My stomach sinks at her words. She’s been getting worse the last few weeks but she’s still been able to go to work. To function.

“Maybe we should make another doctor appointment.” I say in a shaky voice.

When she only just nods her head, I know things are really bad. Tears form in my eyes and this time I can’t hold them back. I curl up behind her on the mattress and just hold onto her. She feels warm and I just feel so helpless. I don’t want to lose her. I don’t want to be all alone.

Roman and Flynn’s offer floats through my mind. Even when things were really dire, I never once considered prostituting myself. This is Adeline though and I would do anything for her. If one night could save her then isn’t it worth it? It will be one night of my life but it could mean that Adeline lives another sixty years.

I tuck the blankets tighter around us as Adeline sleeps and I ponder what I should do. At five I get up and get ready to go clean offices. Adeline is still asleep so I make her some food that she can heat up if she wakes up and is hungry. I log into the hospital system and schedule an appointment for Adeline to be checked over tomorrow afternoon. It will be a rush for me to head there and then to work but I haven’t missed an appointment yet and I’m not going to start now.

I change into my cleaning clothes and kiss Adeline on the forehead before I head out the door, locking it behind me.

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