FROME RUINS TO ROYALTY

EN

n minutes or else I will call the police o

me in the narrow hallway of the

did it come to this? Ever since Mom and Dad died in that horrific pile-up on the inter

I whispered, hating how my voice

ple willing to pay double what you're paying now. Either come up with three months' ba

at as I rushed to Sarah's bedroom. Her small frame looked even tinier against the hospital pillows we'd brought ho

h asked, her face pale

ied, forcing a smile. "N

The transplant? Ten thousand dollars we didn't have, even with the hos

thes, and a few family photos I couldn't bear to leave behind. My phone buzzed

everything just goes

?" Sarah asked as I helped

g to sound excited rather than terrified. "It'll b

s made her look older than fourteen. "Is

n't worry about that.

steps, Sarah leaning heavily on me with each step. "Clock's ticking," he

was already shivering due to the cold outside and her f

to sound cheerful as we stood on t

wheezed. "I don'

until Friday, three days away. We couldn't afford an emergency

ed against me, occasionally wincing in pain. When they finally called her

o a whisper that somehow felt louder than a shout. "Your c

h?" I in

ialysis? Eight h

ave been eight million. I

who heard. "She's all I have

d slightly. "I'll see wh

I'd never seen before, a

rvices will meet with you after. But I have to be honest, without

tter, but the social worker had nothing but

d. "And without stable housing, you're at a disadva

head. "It

accommodate Sarah's medical needs. By nightfall, we were back on the str

spered. Her face, briefly improved

ah a bowl of soup she barely touched and refilled our water bottles in

cleaning," she finally said aroun

h was shaking now, not j

al lobby," I suggeste

an hour. "No loitering," the

ing fitfully against me, her breathing labored. I counted our remaining mo

p. I half-carried her to a public restroom wher

pt whispering. "Thi

pped, more harshly than I intend

h's condition and asked uncomfortable questions; a mall until security started following

right in front of my eyes. Desperate, I swallowed my pride and approached a church we passed. The door

ed, her voice faint.

he church. Rain started to fall, light at first, then h

s a shelter three blocks that way," she said, not stopping.

e we were garba

st my shoulder. Her skin was burning up even as rain soaked

left. And it needed to be taken with food. The gr

s," I urged, breaking the ba

ites before turning awa

did little good. Sarah drifted in and out of consciousness, occasionally mumbling inc

car cruised by slowly. I t

through his open window. "No camp

ating how my voice broke. "Pl

a flashlight b

cing our sodden ID cards. H

d, shining the light on Sarah'

I admitted. "The

aling with a problem they didn't want. "I can

id. "Please, just let us

"Can't do it. Either you come with me to th

ger momentarily overr

t move. An hour later,

old her as her body jerked uncon

re lasted nearly two minutes before her body went still

thing. It was there, but shallow and real

on my dead phone. Nothing. Frantically, I

all skin and bones. I staggered to my feet, slipping in the mud, and started

ng scream stoppe

, her eyes flying open,

ixed with my tears as I rocked her. "Help!" I s

s.And then, headlights cu