𝔇𝔢𝔞𝔩 | sᴋᴢ

1

Losing everything really takes a toll on a person's sanity. Watching yourself fall deeper and deeper down a never-ending hole of regret. Unable to climb out into the light. That was what it felt like when I lost my parents. Well, not all of it at once.

At a young age, my dad left us. He was told that I had developed a serious condition and that I was going to be put in a hospital for a while. His car was gone the very next morning. We didn't bother looking for him, he made it clear he didn't want to be a part of this family.

From then on, it was just me and mom. All alone in the world, with a minimum wage job at a stiff old office. But we were happy. She worked her ass off to provide for me, to send me to school, pay for our food, my hospital bills. She was my hero.

My slowly increasing visits to the hospital really put a dent in her paycheck. I never felt worse than the night I saw her sitting at the dinner table, with an empty look in her eyes. Holding a stack of bills in her hand.

Having this condition wasn't my fault, but I felt so ashamed of myself. Why did this have to happen to us? I couldn't bear to watch her put herself through this. But I couldn't do anything. I was just a kid.

She hosted countless fundraisers and took many freelance jobs all for me. There was nothing she wouldn't do to make sure I was taken care of. But that all ended a year ago.

I was only 17.

The doctors told her that she worked too hard, that the stress was becoming a serious physical issue, but she didn't listen. She didn't care, as long as I had food on the table.

My biggest regret was letting her do it all on her own.

Sure I got a job at a cafe next to the school, but I should have done more. I could have done more.

After she passed away, I barely gathered enough money to host a funeral for her. I didn't eat for a few days, but it was worth it. I got to say one last goodbye.

After the funeral, I went home and cried for hours. Days. I skipped school, work, I was at the brink of being fired. But I was forced to pull myself together. I couldn't let my mother's hard work go to waste.

So I picked my ass up and rejoined society. I worked harder than I had ever worked, studied harder than I had ever studied, and got into a college I couldn't afford.

The day I got the acceptance letter I was terrified. It was my only chance at a future, but it was so far out of reach. I was so goddamn close I could taste it. I asked all my friends if they knew how to earn money fast, but none of their recommendations were exactly legal. I started losing hope.

Until I saw something that completely changed my life.

𝖶𝖮𝖱𝖪 𝖯𝖮𝖲𝖨𝖳𝖨𝖮𝖭 𝖮𝖯𝖤𝖭 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧