Life Bank: Exchanging life for money

Chapter Nine

What was happening? This could not be true. He relooked at the number. He was thirty-eight this year, and he'd received the bankbook when he'd been twenty. Based on the balance, he should have lived to more than eighty. So why was the number just $217,862.34?
"Why?" he cried out, tears dropping onto the bankbook.
"Do you really need me to tell you?"
Daniel was stunned by the sudden reply. "Who is it?" he demanded, his head jerking up. He looked around and saw a man standing in one corner.
"Who are you?" Daniel shuffled back into a corner, hoping to find some protection from the strange man.
"Don't tell me you have forgotten me. It is I, Raphael."
"Raphael? Raphael who?"
The name named Raphael slapped his forehead. "The one who gave you the book in your hands, of course. Who do you think?"
Daniel looked him up and down and suddenly remembered. "You look the same."
"You mean I didn't age." Raphael smirked. "Thank you, but I am a demon, after all. I get to choose my own appearance, so why would I age?"
Daniel pretended he hadn't heard that Raphael was a demon, he really didn't need another horror story right now.
"Why are you here?" Daniel asked.
"I heard your cry, so I came to answer your question."
"What question?"
"Seriously? The one you were screaming just now." Seeing Daniel's puzzled look, he swished the red liquid in his wineglass and continued, "I will tell you why your account is so low."
"You know why?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"So why is it so low?"
Raphael snorted. "Do you really need to be taught that smoking, drinking, bingeing, and promiscuous sexual practises will shorten your life?"
It finally dawned onto Daniel that it was his lifestyle that had taken his life away from him. He cried and cried for the longest time in his life. He only stopped when Raphael turned to leave.
"Wait!" Daniel shouted. "Wait! I'll trade you back! I'll pay you back all the money I took before if you give me back time I've already spent! I'll buy more years from you!"
Raphael put his hand to his chest and his mouth popped open in mock surprise. "What a generous offer!"
"I'm serious. I... I don't have the money now, but I'll earn it!"
"Will you?"
"Yes! I'll pay you back everything. I'll double it! I'll pay whatever you want!"
Raphael grinned, his teeth sharp as a shark's. "Too bad it doesn't work that way," he said. "As I told you before, the Life Bank only allows withdrawal." He laughed and disappeared in a puff of smoke, his laughter continuing to echo through the room even after he was gone.

***

Daniel sat on the floor, distraught. His life was in pieces... and going to end in about twenty-one months. He was at a complete loss. Money was least of his worries now.
His mind cycled from his mother to Linda to his two kids before going back to himself.
He regretted everything he had done, except for marrying his true love, Linda, and having a pretty daughter with her.
What was his daughter's name again? What was the name of the son Linda had adopted? How could I forget my own child's name? How could I let so much time slip away? Do my children even know who I am?
Daniel made up his mind to do something for them before his end caught up with him. He wiped his tears away with a brush of his forearm. There was no point in crying over spilled milk, what was done was done.
Daniel began making preparations. His journey to redemption would be harder than his walk with HIV, he judged.

***

Daniel stood outside the house of Linda's family, looking up at it. He reached to ring the doorbell, then retracted his hand and began to pace. Asking for forgiveness was truly a difficult task. He walked to the doorbell again, and this time he pressed it.
The domestic helper came out to answer the door. "Yes, what is it?"
"Erm, I am here to look for Linda."
"She is not at home, she went out to fetch the kids," she replied. "Do you want to come in and wait?"
"It's okay, I will wait outside." And he waited, sitting on the step. The hot sun punished him mercilessly, but he did not seek refuge from it.
From afar, Daniel saw the familiar shadow of his ex-wife, together with a child, likely the adopted son. It was nearly an hour later. Their shadows became bigger as they neared, but Linda's face was darker than what even the blistering the sun could shine away.
As he'd expected, she gave him the cold shoulder. She said nothing as she fumbled for the key to open the gate.
"Linda," Daniel blurted out. When there was no response, he added, "Linda, I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"
Again, there was silence. The gate opened. There wasn't a moment to lose. Daniel knew if he let go of this chance, he won't have another, so he stretched out his hand and grabbed her wrist. "Please, just give me a few minutes."
Linda turned, her eyes burning with anger.
"I know I have no right to ask you for forgiveness. I know, but I may not have any more chances, so please just hear me out this time. I promise I won't bother you again," Daniel pleaded sincerely.
Her mouth quivered as she wanted to say something but couldn't make a sound.
"It's okay, you don't have to say anything." Daniel waved his hands up and down, signalling her to simmer down.
"Isaac, go inside," Linda said stiffly, barely moving her lips.
"Mum, who is this man?"
"You don't need to know that. Now go in." Her stern voice, paired with her sharp eyes, was all that Isaac needed to quietly follow the order.
Daniel waited for Linda to shut the gate. She faced him and stood with her hands folded.
"Hmmm, I don't know where to start also. Erm, first I sincerely apologised for all that happened. I know I was obsessed with money and didn't give you and the kids the time you needed." Daniel bit his lips before saying, "And for the adultery I committed." He dropped his head for a few seconds then said, "I am truly sorry." His voice broke as tears rolled down his face. "I am not asking you to accept me again or anything. I am asking for your forgiveness and..."
"And what?" There was softness in her voice.
"And I would like to have a meal with the kids, so that I can ask them for their forgiveness also."
"They don't have a father."
"I know. They don't have to acknowledge me as a father, or at least boy doesn't. But please let me say sorry to my Sally."
"Ha, ha, ha." Linda gave him a bitter laugh. "Glad you still remember her name. And the son is yours. He's the one you had with Lucy."
"Lucy, which Lucy?" Daniel asked in bewilderment, before he could stop himself. It was a bad question, and Daniel could see Linda's anger bubbling back up.
"How many Lucys have you had?" Her stare burned worse than the scorching sun.
"Erm." Daniel looked embarrassed. "Two."
Linda took deep breaths to calm herself. She should not let this bother her again. "Your ex-manager, the Chinese girl. I told her to keep the kid and I adopted him for your sake." She emphasized the for your sake.
"Oh. I thought she went back home to deliver."
"You think! When did you really stop and think about what you were doing?" Linda shouted, unable to control her anger anymore.
"I told you I was sorry about that! I was drunk and it was a one-time affair."
"You didn't tell me, Lucy told me." Linda rolled her eyes.
"Oh, I didn't." Daniel faltered. "Yes, I know it was my fault too. I am sorry," he apologised again.
"Go back. I have heard enough. I will think about what you asked." She turned and passed through the gate, not turning her head.
Daniel stared after her till she disappeared into the house. He looked down and wondered how much wrong he had done.
Then he left.

***

Daniel sat at the table, waiting, rubbing his sweat-covered hands. The anxiety was killing him.
The trio entered, Linda holding Isaac's hand while Sally walked beside her. Sally was tall, taller than her mum. She would be in her teens now, Daniel calculated.
"Thank you for coming." He directed his words at Linda before looking at the kids. "Take a seat."
They sat down without much fanfare. Sally knew him as her father, but since he'd hardly spent time with her, he was a stranger. Isaac had been a baby when Linda had left him, so he couldn't remember anything about Daniel other than the fact that he had been at the gate of the house the other day.
After the food was ordered, the air filled with an awkward silence.
Daniel smiled as he looked around the table from Sally to Isaac and then back to Sally. "I am truly happy to have a meal with you all. Thank you for coming. I hope you can enjoy the food here."
They were still silent, and so Linda spoke. "Sally, Isaac, this man here is your father. Yes, he didn't do his job as a father, but nonetheless, he gave you life. So greet him before we eat."
This news shocked Isaac, Daniel could see the confusion in his brown eyes. "Fa-father?" The kid barely managed to squeeze it out.
Daniel nodded an acknowledgement before looking at Sally. She kept mum, unwilling to greet him. Daniel understood that she must be angry with him for so many things. "It's okay. Don't worry about such formality."
There were tears welling up in Sally's eyes.
"Sally, how old are you this year?"
"Sixteen."
"Secondary four, O-levels this year. All the best in your exams. I may not have a chance to see you graduate from your secondary school." Daniel felt misery whelming him. He wiped off a tear that threatened to escape from his eye.
Sally looked at him, unable to guess what was going on, Linda was doing the same.
"How about you, little boy? How old are you?"
"I am six."
"Nice. When you grow up, you must take care of your mummy and your sister, okay?"
"Okay, I love them."
Daniel ruffled his hair. Isaac was such a cute kid. He was sure his mother would love to have both children by her side.
"Linda, I know this is a bit much for me to ask of you, but can you bring them to visit Mother at least once a month?"
"Are you going to dump your mum too?"
"No, but I may not be able to take care of her soon."
"Why?"
"I am unwell." And he coughed, as if to prove his point. He got a handkerchief under his lips in time, and caught the blood that emerged from his mouth. He tried to hide it, but Linda caught sight of the red stain.
"Is it that bad?" Linda looked alarmed. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"
"No, it's not serious."
"Not serious? That is blood, you know. How can it be not serious?"
"I will tell you another time. Today, let's try to enjoy ourselves as much as possible, okay?"
Linda wanted to say something, but stopped. She finally knew why Daniel had appeared at her house out of the blue. He was unwell, possibly dying. She made a mental note to find out more about it when she had the opportunity, like when she next spoke to her ex-mother-in-law.
The lunch went on, filled with small talk. It ended without any major outbursts or anything else that Daniel had been worried about.

***

Linda called up Daniel's mother in an attempt to find out about Daniel's condition. The call ended up with her meeting a wall, Daniel's mum knew nothing. If Daniel hadn't even told his mother, Linda realized, his condition must be quite serious.
Reluctantly, Linda sent a text to Daniel, asking for the missing information.
The reply came and shocked her: Daniel had advanced stage lung cancer coupled with an HIV infection. Linda was worried. How long did he have to live?
Linda began to cry uncontrollably. She realised that she still loved him and loved him a lot more than she cared to admit.
After she recovered from the outburst, Linda blasted Daniel one message after another, everything from asking him about his treatment to seeking alternative ways of healing, including the possibility of spiritual healing. In the end, her only achievement was that she convinced Daniel to go in for spiritual healing, since all other ways seemed like literal dead ends.

*****