Sold?

It was a normal day. The most normal one that anyone could describe.

The pair of us siblings woke up in the morning, had breakfast, got ready and left for our destinations.

Noah promised me we would meet at a mid-point from my school and his workplace, then go shopping together. I was beyond excited for day and couldn't wait for the time to come. I loved spending time with Noah, perhaps we cared for each other so much more than normal siblings because we only had each other.

After I was finished with school and my co-curricular activities I bid my friends farewell and walked to the meeting point.

It was a twenty minute walk from school. I stood at the edge of the sidewalk and looked around the roundabout for no particular reason.

I was early. Well, I was bound to be I didn't work I was a student.

Just a few minutes later I saw Noah waving at me from the other side of the road. I waved back at him and gestured for him to come over to this side so that we could leave for the market

I had plans of eating some snacks from his money too and I kept grinning thinking about how he'll react.

Every time I did something like this he would say, "Nono! That's bad for your health!" Or something like, "You'll rot your teeth and you'll get fat!" Sometimes he would act broke too, "My dear sister. Let's just buy some rice I don't have much money left..."

But still, every time he did let me have my snacks in the end. This is why I love him so much. I know we don't have much, yet he lets me be selfish. He's a great brother.

I was grinning like a fool while Noah was crossing the street.

It didn't take long for the smile that was plastered on my face to disappear.

A car came from behind him at high speed. The person driving it didn't stop or slow down he just kept honking and on impulse Noah took several steps to the side, barely avoiding the impact from the car.

As I saw he was okay I took a sigh of relief. He too placed a hand on his chest and breathed out in relief. As he looked up to see me and smiled to assure me he was okay.

He got hit by a truck.

Even I had failed to realize he got on the other traffic lane while avoiding the car.

"Noah!!" As his body skid on the road harming him even more I ran over to him while yelling his name.

His blood started forming a puddle around him.

"Noah!" I crouched down next to him. He was unconscious. I looked up and darted my head around, "Someone! Please help!!"

People started to gather around. But like how people are they were more interested in looking at what had happened than helping out.

"Please!" I screamed, "Just take him to a hospital!"

The dread of losing my only family was overwhelming me and I started crying in between the pleas.

Then, two men came running over towards us. They crouched down and started to pick Noah up.

"I have my car! Let's take him to the hospital." One of them said and I nodded.

They both carefully laid him in the back seat. The driver got to his seat and asked me to sit on the passenger's seat while the other one stayed behind.

***

I sat on the hospital bench waiting for the doctors to come out of the emergency ward and give me some hope.

I was alone at the moment. The guy who helped me left after comforting me a bit.

I don't know how much time passed and how it passed. I was busy in my head trying to prepare myself for the worst but it wasn't working.

I kept praying and praying to God to save him.

What would I do without him? How will I live without him?

"Nora Siegfield?" I shot my head up when my name was called by the doctor.

"Yes!" I stood up, "How's my brother?!"

"We managed to save him." He gave me an odd smile, "But he hasn't woken up yet."

"When will he...wake up?"

"I'm not sure. But that's not the problem." He was hesitating.

"Tell me. Please." I begged.

"He's sustained serious injuries. He'll live but with disabilities. He'll need some treatments too."

My heart sank. I was relieved but frightened at the same time. While I was relieved about Noah living many other questions and fears got into my mind.

"Doctor…" I looked at him, "The medical fees…"

"How about we discuss that in the morning?"

I shook my head, "No… I will need to arrange the money, so tell me today… Please."

The doctor sighed, "Let's go to the administration."

****

I sat on the bus stop bench staring at the medical fee in the middle of the night.

No wonders doctors make so much…

I sighed. Stress was eating up my brain. I was still a student, the most I'd get will be a part-time job and that wouldn't be enough to pay the medical fee, school fee and house bills.

I looked at the empty road.

The buses had stopped, it was past midnight. I just sat there to think but I was unable to come to a solution.

I picked up my bad and began walking.

Noah still hadn't woken up. I can use the money in his account to pay for my school and the apartment bills but what about the rest?

As I walked on the street light lit streets something caught my eye. In the dark alley, there was a red glowing sign at the other end.

I stopped and turned towards the alley.

I had an idea where I was going but at that moment that was the only solution to all my problems.