Repaying the Debt

Chapter Two

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Is what wakes me every morning. The most annoying alarm you can pick on your phone alarm sounds. Due to the fact any other one less annoying would fail in its job to wake me up knowing I could probably sleep through an earthquake. I groan as I roll over and reach for my phone laying on the floor beside my mattress and turn the damned thing off.

06:00(AM). The time I wake up everyday so I can lazily get ready to go to work and that safety time I need since you can never truly trust public transportation to be on time every single day, every single time.

While I'm finishing up by putting my brown hair into a side-braid and heading towards my door, my eyes catch onto a plain white envelope laying right inside of my apartment. Realizing this envelope was slipped underneath the door. I pick up said envelope and examine it noticing no address,-just my name 'Nuala'-in perfect cursive across the front. Though there was no return address on it anywhere. I open the envelope hoping maybe there is a name on the inside. Negative. It is nothing but a check. My heart starts pulsating rapidly as I read out the amount...made to MY name! $25,000 FRIGGIN DOLLARS!! I drop the envelope as I quickly bring a hand up to cover my mouth as a sharp gasp leaves it. The other hand pressed firmly against the wall to keep my body from falling to the ground in pure shock. I look down on the check and try and see if there is a name on it. It only hold initials- AJD. I personally know of nobody with those initials.

I shakily bend over and gently lift up the thin piece of paper. I then notice and small sticky note on the back of the check to me, "Ms. Bennett, this check addressed to you for the amount of $25,000.00 is yours to use as you wish. Once this is cashed, more will come to you every first of the month from here on out. If you do not cash this check, no more will arrive. It is up to you. -AJD"

This AJD person has gorgeous penmanship. I am enthralled by how my name looks in this handwriting. But what I could deduce was this was the handwriting of a male. Also with the grammar of the individual gave hint to an intellectual male.

I take the check an place it in my old backpack and head out my apartment. I had already spent too much time having a freaking heart attack due to the check and inspecting it to see whom it was from. I still had plenty of time to get to work but I had to hurry to catch the bus. I speed walk down the street and see the bus pull up to the bus station. I quickly hop on the bus and let out a sigh of relief as I sit down in an empty seat. I can't afford to lose my job so I don't risk ever being late. I think back to the check that is in my bag that sits on my lap. I debate whether to cash it in or not. It would give me the opportunity to pay BOTH electric and water bill, buy groceries for myself and actually eat, easily pay my brothers housing bill, and save myself a ton of anxiety with the loan sharks that I'm forced to pay in fill for my late father and mother.

But I don't wish to risk what I have to do in order to repay this AJD person back. Because the fact that it would be 25k EVERY month. First, how does one have that kind of money to give away to a total stranger every single month and two, how does one expect some kind of return in exchange? These thoughts clouded my mind my whole bus ride to work. Once I heard my stop through the speaker system, I snap out of it.

I put myself in a work mindset. Pushing away the thoughts of the check, my personal situation, and this AJD person.

As I am working and running errand around the locally owned shop, the owner calls my name from the back into my earpiece. I head to the back quickly assuming it was a pointer or a compliment. Having received both before in the past. As I approach the old owner, his face holds a look that causes my heart beat to speed up and my body to become sweaty with anxiety. I reach him and asked what he called me back for.