Roma

ed in my brain, drowning out the ambient noise of the hospital. Forty-eight hours. For an acute leukemia muta

. I hit it over and over, my nail clicking frantically agai

ce chat within the app. My fingers were slick with cold

the review, typing out that my father was on the v

typing. I held my breath, my eyes boring into the scre

of corporate text telling me to wait patiently in

My stomach dropped, and then a hot flash of pure rage ig

e back. I bypassed the chat and directly dialed the trust'

pulling my nerves tighter and tighter. Finally, the line clicked

of my vocal cords. I demanded that she pu

tling of papers in the background. She was intentional

egulations, stating that any expenditure over ten thousand doll

s a matter of life and death. My voice cracked

eyes were full of judgment. I turned my back to them, pressing my

used illness as an excuse to buy designer bags in the past. It was a lie. It was the exact fra

mouth to scream at her, to defend myself, but

eek. The veins on the back of my h

voice immediately informed me that my number had been

y lungs. I leaned heavily against the wall, open

pen. An orderly stepped out, holding a clipboar

ds and violently rubbed my cheeks, trying to force the blood b

of the bed, a network of plastic tubes snaking out of his frail

per, thin and reedy. He asked me if the medical bills were ve

straight to his face. I told him Axel had already arranged for the top spe

found relief washed over his face, and he closed h

oment the door clicked shut, my

could not leave my father's life in Keri

scrolled down to the number I

But looking at the word, it felt alien,

til they ached. I pressed the call button an

Axel. Plea