Karma
‘I can’t believe I’m doing this.’ those were the only words that echoed through my mind. The only thought I could think. Nothing could expel this thought. Not the slush that had sunken into my shoes and up my pant legs. Not the bitter winds that turned my nose and fingertips red. Not even the snow that rushed into my bright blue eyes and clouded my vision. Tonight I was going to execute my plan and finally get the money I need to save my little sister, Shara.
Nothing mattered anymore except for her. When she fell ill, I dropped out of school and started looking for a job. It’s hard to find one with only two years of high school education, but I did. The pay is good and not much work is required. Well, except for the emotional stress, but like I said, nothing matters anymore except for Shara. That’s what I try to think of in order to replace this one, recurring thought. There is no backing out now. I have to eliminate the target.
I remember the man who hired me. He was thin, and fidgety. That ‘never leaves the house without his pocket protector’ kind of guy. When I sat down in front of him, he nearly fell out of his seat. I felt sort of sympathetic towards him. That run down restaurant obviously wasn’t his thing. His trembling hand slid a file across the table, along with 1,000 dollars cash. The sight of all that money just sitting there sent shivers down my spine.
“Can you do it?” He asked in a quavering voice, as he tore the paper of a straw wrapper into tiny pieces. I looked him in the eyes and smiled softly, trying to reassure him.
“Definitely.” He seemed to understand as he waved goodbye with a slightly relieved smile on his face.
When I got home, or at least the best we can afford, I opened the door to me and Shara's room. Despite my best efforts to muffle the shrieking hinges, I turned to see Shara’s sleepy eyes resting on me. “Chase...? Why were you out so late? You have snow all in your pretty black hair.” My hair. The only thing that keeps me from cutting off the three foot locks is the was the way Shara loves braiding them. Even now I wore one of her crooked braids.
I gave her a warm smile and kisses her forehead. It had felt like gulping down hot chocolate just out of the pot.I knew she wouldn’t make it much longer under these conditions.” Work.” I whispered softly.
“Be careful out there sis.” Her words began to slur as her eyes fluttered back to sleep.
“I will, now rest up.” I tucked her in and brushed her brown curls away from her eyes, before looking over the file.
Neatly tucked inside was a picture of a hospital and a room number to go with it. I recognized the place and was instantly filled with rage. This was the hospital that had refused to house Shara. Tears of hate clouded my eyes as I ran out the door and aimlessly through the knee high snow. I tried to wipe my eyes with the sleeve of my think jacket, but it was already wet from the snow. I didn’t know where I was going or why I was running but I couldn’t stop.
After what seemed like hours of running, I found myself here, standing in front of the hospital. After stumbling past the faulty security, I started looking for room ‘E 172’ and found it in a matter of minutes. One of my pale, shaking hands rested on the door’s silver handle, the other on my gun. “Sorry,” I whispered as I drew my pistol and took aim for the blond head poking out of the hospital sheets.
“ STOP!” Before I could pull the trigger, I felt something pulling the sleeve of my jacket. My surprised eyes fell upon a young boy, looking about 7 years of age. Tears ran down his distraught face as he flailed his tiny fists at my side. “STOP!” he cried. “Please don’t hurt my sister!”
“Sister?” I stepped back, half shocked, half horrified.
“ I know she’s sick but give her a little more time! I know she’ll get better! Please, PLEASE!”
The gun slipped from my hand and hit the ground. I heard a pow as it went off, followed by a mix of screaming and crying. I hit the cold hospital floor and felt warm blood staining my clothes. Then, I felt nothing. I had tried to save the day. To save my sister, but in the end my recklessness lead to my own demise. If i could go back... If I could change it all... I would save Shara by being a hero instead of a villain.
