Chapter 1
Ava
“Night, Tanya,” I said as I hurried out the back door of the Gilded Lily.
“Night, Ava!” she yelled.
I hurried out to the sidewalk and sped-walked all the way to the bus stop, hoping I didn’t miss the last bus downtown. I didn’t use the car today; it was on its last leg, and the Gilded Lily was five minutes away from the hospital. I was trying to save everywhere. The night was cool, cooler than normal, and something felt different. When I went to the bus stop, two other girls were there; I’ve seen them multiple times. I checked my phone for the hundredth time, making sure I didn’t miss any calls or messages.
After a short ten minutes’ wait, the bus pulled up and we got on. I took the seat all the way at the back so I could clear my mind. It has been almost one year since we moved to Axton City, and it was not what I was accustomed to. The hustle and bustle of the city was too much for me, but Axton General was the only hospital that did the surgery, and it was the best shot at recovery my mother had.
My phone vibrated, jolting me out of my thoughts. I looked down and saw the message. All the messages said was "911." My heart began beating faster than ever. I replied.
MESSAGES
AVA: I AM ON THE WAY.
CLARA: HURRY
There was only so much I could do. Clara was a godsend. When the bus stopped, I hurriedly paid and ran out. I burst through the automatic doors of Axton General, the cold night air still clinging to me. My exhaustion no longer mattered, but desperation propelled me forward. I spotted Dr. Evans, his face etched with worry, waiting in the sterile hallway. His gaze met mine, and the familiar calm of his demeanor was gone, replaced by a grim set to his jaw.
“Dr. Evans?” I said between breaths.
"Ava," he began, his voice low,
"I'm so sorry. Your mother... there's been a rapid deterioration. Her aggressive lung disease is progressing much faster than we anticipated. We need to move her to the specialized unit immediately for a chance at a last resort procedure. We need the funds for the advanced treatment, and we need them now." The words hung in the air, a cold, hard slap that stole my breath. There was a new, terrifying wave of panic in my chest.
“One Hundred Thousand.” I said quietly.
“Yes. I am truly sorry, but she needs that surgery. If you can have the money by tomorrow evening at the latest, then it will be worth a shot.” He said, patting my shoulder, and I nodded, afraid to speak lest I break down and cry.
I stood in the hallway letting it sink in. I took a deep breath and walked down the hallway. When I got to her room door, I stopped and composed myself. When I walked in, Clara was sitting by her bed.
“Ava, you’re here.” Clara said, and I nodded, still too afraid to speak. I walked over to the bed and held her hand. She was only forty and so frail.
She wasn't just sick; she had been engaged in a losing battle against an insidious, aggressive lung disease, advanced pulmonary fibrosis. It wasn't a simple cough or cold; it was relentless and irreversible scarring of her lung tissue, progressively stiffening her airways until each breath became a monumental, agonizing effort.
Her every day was defined by profound fatigue, a persistent, racking cough that shook her frail frame, and the constant, desperate struggle for air that rarely brought true relief. The ever-present hiss of the oxygen machine was a stark reminder of her dependency, her lungs slowly losing their ability to transfer life-giving oxygen to her blood. The disease had advanced unpredictably, and the idiots at Bedingfield Hospital had no fucking clue. Which forced me to bring her all the way to Axton City because I heard Dr. Evan was the man.
“Ava?” Carla’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.
“I don’t know what to do, Clara. I work three jobs, and it’s still not enough. Where will I find that amount of money?” I whispered and let the tears fall.
“There is a way, but….” Clara said, stopping. I grabbed her hand.
“Anything, she is all I have, Clara. I can’t lose my mother. I will do anything I have to.” I said desperately.
“Would you sell your honor?” She asked,
“Yes,” I replied instantly, and she looked at me with shock.
"You would go that far to save your mother?” She asked with shock and confusion.
“My honor is nothing compared to her. I wouldn’t even have an honor if she didn’t bring me into this world,” I said.
“Very well.” She said, opening her bag and pulling a card out. She handed it to me. I took it and looked at it. All the card said was
Madam G.124 Lane 2C Silvercrest
“Go to that address and show them the card. I will call ahead. And Ava?” She said seriously.
“Think about this carefully because once your honor is gone, it is gone, and you will live with that regret forever.” She said
“I know. Can you please stay with her?”
“Go ahead; I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
I hurried out of the hospital and walked over to the taxi stand. I jumped into the car without wasting time.
“124, Lane 2 C, Silvercrest,” I said.
“Sure thing,” the older woman said, starting the car.
The entire drive I was worried, not nervous, and I should have been. What 22-year-old just decides to sell her virginity? I can be remorseful later when she is all better.
When the car stopped, I looked out. It was a store. I hurriedly paid the driver, and he drove off. I stood looking at the storefront and looking at the card in my hand. Was this the right place? Suddenly I heard a door open. I looked up, and an older woman dressed in an elegant two-piece suit was standing in the doorway.
“Ava?” She asked,
“Yes,” I replied hesitantly.
“Follow me. Clara has called.” She said
I hurried up the steps and walked through the door. She locked the door behind me and stood looking at me. She seemed to be in her forties; there were a few wrinkles on her face, but she had striking features, and her hair was neatly done.
She sat down on the chair by the doorway and looked at me.
“Clara said you need money and will do anything. You are beautiful, but so are other women. How old are you?” She asked in a tone that said this was business to her.
“Twenty-two. I’m pure. I want to sell my honor. A hundred thousand.” I said, looking her in the eyes. She stood up immediately.
“You may say you are….”
“I spent the last five years working various jobs. I had and still have no time for relationships. My sick mother comes first. If you want to verify, go ahead.” I said, making it clear I was not taking no for an answer. She stood there looking at me as if she was trying to understand me.