My eyes were red and puffy from the lack of sleep. I didn't mean to stay awake but the things kept replaying in my head. I was shocked and a little scared. I've never seen someone convulse like that in my life. When I woke up in the morning it felt awkward to be with a guy so dashed out.

"Are you okay?", Marie's soft voice asked me. I handed in the cash to the hospital before visiting Marie and Kade had yet to know. 

"Yeah couldn't sleep", my eyelids drooped on its own.

Marie was getting her round of treatment tomorrow so they were running several tests. I had a few minutes of nap between the test. I handed some money to the nurse and went to college.

By lunch my head was pounding. My eyes felt like there was something pulling it out of the socket. Not to mention the continuous rant of Wolfe, and a girl trash talking about me because she liked Wren. Everything felt too much. I groaned gripping my hair and leaned on the table.

"Hey, you okay?", that was the second time someone popped the question

"Yeah, couldn't sleep", I remembered telling the same thing to Marie. Great, my mind was going on autopilot.

"You look like shit", Wolfe added. 

"I feel like shit". Wren was looking at me, guiltily. He even mentioned something about putting me through something like this. It was only a day and I needed the money. I could do anything for Kade as he would to me. I just hope I finished the day without passing out

"Is Harper behaving with you?", Wren asked driving me to the hospital. 

"It's too early for that and not gonna lie my first impression of him isn't good", I rolled my eyes and rested my head on the window. 

Wren chuckled, "He comes around. You know what you are doing is something great right?"

I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. He seemed to caught onto it because he continued.

"Working hours along with college to save your friend's mother. Being the bread winner of the family and the kindest girl I've ever seen"

The words of appreciation was something unbelievable to me because I've always seen the life from my perspective and I was surrounded by the people who were struggling as much as me. I always thought that keeping each others heads up above the water was the only means of survival. If it hadn't for the scholarship, I didn't know what was I gonna do. 

To me life was a cruel joke. Regardless, some do laugh at it. It shows you hope in desperate times only to take it and pull you down even more. It made me strong to push through each struggle. If I was the same eighteen year old with perfect money and perfect parents I wouldn't have known the devil phase of life. Life taught me to stay focused, to love others and be strong. It showed the true faces of the people. I didn't know whether it was a curse or a blessing.

"How is she?", I asked the nurse after she came out of the room. Marie was kept under observation with no visitors. 

"She is stable", she gave me a tight lipped smile and walked back.

Ever since Kade found that I was the one paid the money, he was blowing up my phone. I had not seen him yet but the text suggest I was going to have a hard time talking to him. 

I went home after completing my assignments in the hospital. Dad was watching TV lying flat on the couch.

I hugged him and sat at the ground in front of the couch and laid my head on his lap. He was patting my head softly making my eyes droop.  

"Do you have to take this job?", I could sense the worry in his voice. I sighed and looked up at him. The man who loved me with his soul which I was grateful for.

"I can do it dad. It's just a matter of time. Everything will be alright after I graduate", these thoughts kept me going. This was the lowest of the cycle, so I deserved the highest as well. 

Right?

Dad didn't say anything and smiled at me. I covered him with the blanket and stuffed myself with the food.

*** 

The clock read 9 p.m. I was waiting outside his room with the bed and knocking. Seriously a kid was better than him. I could even here his burp from inside and no way he wasn't hearing me. Frustrated, I turned the knob.

Locked

Great, just great. I was gritting my teeth and knocked again.

"Sir, this is your helper. Please open the door". Silence. Silence. Helper? Helper? Can't you find a nice civil term.

I knocked again and again without words. If I was getting stood up I was not going to leave him in peace. My actions succeeded when the lock clicked. I turned the knob and walked in to see the scowling green eyes. He wasn't saying anything just giving me a disgusting look and the set jaw.

I could hear him say words like bitch but I acted like I didn't . I set my bed, gave him food and stood there next to him until he ate, which he does very slowly. My eyes were burning and I could drop like a log if I closed them. I opened my eyes with a jerk and saw him still eating. If I had to fall asleep while standing, I've got it bad.

Finally, he slurped the last piece and took the medication. Now its time to watch him sleep. I sat on my bed and leaned against the wall. I could feel his eyes on me while I was busy looking at the torch light.

The sharp stinging pain woke me from my sleep. My mind was a mess to comprehend the situation. I slept while waiting on him to sleep. My eyes widened at the pain in my arm. My boss lady was gripping it so tight and her nails were puncturing into me.

The lights were dimmed and the green guy was on his phone like his mother didn't attack me with her disgustingly long fingers.

I winced when she pulled me up. "S..Sorry Mam"

"What did I tell you? You have one fucking job and you can't do it. If something had happened to him what will you do. If you are going to be much of a money-whore do your fucking job right", the boss lady yelled at my face.

I breathed in quickly to control the tears. I was at fault. I should've taken the job seriously but he wasn't a toddler who could get in trouble any given minute. But I didn't say that 

"Sorry Mam", she pushed me and walked out of the room. My eyes were stinging from tears. I kept my head low and stood next to his bed.

Breathe in. Breathe out. 

This wasn't the first time that someone had assaulted me. Once, I was taking care of a grandma and she cut my hand with a kitchen knife. 

I thought as time went by, I would be able to take the words and actions but I realized I couldn't. Her words cut deep. 

Money-whore.

Was that how others saw me? They saw me some girl willing do to anything for little cash? I mean I would do anything but I wouldn't do anything in lieu of my dignity.

"Fucking stop crying", Harper snapped. I wiped my tears without a word and stood next to the bed with my head low. I was very well aware of his eyes on me and that bought me a new wave of emotions.

Anxious.

I didn't like his eyes on me. Yes, he was attractive but that doesn't mean I liked his attention on me. He kept his unwavering gaze on me while I fidgeted nervously. I didn't even have my spray if he tried to attack me or something.

He suddenly sighed and turned around. After waiting a few minutes, I ran to my bed and took the spray in my hand. The sleep engulfed me soon.