Lost and damned

Chapter 7: Descending Depths

"Faith is the highest passion in a human being. Many in every generation may not come that far, but none comes further."
-Søren Kierkegaard in his book "Fear and Trembling" (1843)

Michael's face froze in a mix of surprise and confusion. "Melissa? What are you doing here?"

"I came because Jason told me what's been happening," Melissa explained, stepping closer. "About the drugs, the debts... everything. I want to help."

Michael's expression hardened. "Help? You left years ago without a word. Why should I trust you now?"

Melissa's eyes filled with remorse. "I know I disappeared, and for that, I'm truly sorry. But I never stopped caring about you, Michael. I had my own battles to fight, but I'm here now. Let me help you."

Michael crossed his arms defensively. "Why now? After all this time, why come back?"

"Because I care," Melissa replied, her voice trembling. "And because Jason asked me to. We both want to help you get out of this mess."

We sat down on the bench, the silence between us thick with unspoken words. Melissa looked at Michael with a tenderness that seemed to cut through his defenses. "Michael," she began, "I know you've been through hell. But you don't have to go through this alone."

Michael scoffed, shaking his head. "I don't need anyone's pity."

"It's not pity," Melissa said firmly. "It's love. The kind of love that wants to see you free from this nightmare."

Michael's tough exterior began to crack, and he let out a shaky breath. "It's too late for that. I'm in too deep."

"It's never too late," Melissa insisted. "We can start by tackling the immediate problem—your debts. I have some savings—"

"No," Michael interrupted. "I can't let you do that."

"You don't have to do this alone," I said, my voice gentle but firm. "We're here for you, Michael. Both of us."

Michael looked between us, his eyes flickering with a mix of hope and fear. "I don't know if I can do this."

"You can," Melissa said, placing a hand on his. "One step at a time. But first, you need to trust us."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the park in twilight, Michael finally nodded. "Okay. What do we do first?"

Melissa smiled, relief washing over her features. "First, we need to contact the people you owe money to and try to negotiate a way to pay them back without you getting hurt."

Michael nodded slowly. "Alright. But what if they don't agree?"

"Then we find another way," Melissa said. "But we won't know until we try."

We spent the next couple of hours hashing out a plan. Melissa would use her savings to cover the initial payments, while I would help Michael find a job to start paying off the rest. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was a start.

As night fell, the park's emptiness felt almost oppressive. We decided to leave, but as we stood up, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a man I recognized all too well—one of the enforcers Michael owed money to.

"Going somewhere?" he sneered, his voice cold and threatening.

Michael froze, his eyes wide with fear. "What do you want?"

The man stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "I heard you're trying to wiggle out of your debt. Not gonna happen."

Melissa stepped forward, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "We're not trying to escape. We're trying to pay back the money. We just need some time."