round

n by Jared

re slow, calcula

they carried all the weight of the world. My mot

tched tightly to my chest like i

paper...it was the line between life and

y hand, and forced my trembling legs to move. My mind spu

sa... Dr.

ybe... maybe she can help. I h

sking questions about Dr. Vanessa's office.

ard, to the private

was no one else waiting outside. Her name was mou

Moore"... I r

ked gently, my voice barely a

en a low, strained vo

ht filtering lazily through the blinds. The scent

tied up. Her eyes looked tired, red around the edges, and t

blinked, as though surpri

said, frown

.. I hope I'm not

the tight grip on the envelope. She sat up straighter

d to the seat opposite Nessa's. My hands were shaking so badl

involuntarily

thin glass. "She... the doctors said she n

y, not saying a wo

illion. I..." I broke off, tear

money? I'm just one girl. No father. No

She looked away, blinki

e to her and say everything would be

ope closer and tapped it once with her fin

e her. Not now. Please help me. I am willing to do anything for you

he sighed, sat back in her chair, and cro

ll make of it but at least I passed the information. I don't ever want to fe

met her eyes.

ssa continued, "even crazy.

d slowly

aid, "a man. He made me an

My mind spiraling to s

till tasted bitter in her mo

child. No strings attached. Just a business arrang

w dro

" I wh

wly. "Yes. Two h

hadn't heard prop

es

carry a

act

was si

led in disbelief. "T

said softly. "But he's

ked, confused, my voice trembling. "There are peop

iscreet. No noise, no drama. Just someone willin

g lost. "But why are

n. The bill. Your mother. And I know this sounds extreme, but... this is the ki

like she'd gro

... I should b

ng it's an option. One you should know about. Because right now

ke it was spinning. My chest ro

bab

e else'

mon

ndred m

ther's

essed my palms against the glass and stared

. "I don't know what that's like. I don't even have

That's why I didn't want to bring it up at first. But then I thought... If

er face full of confus

man. He's powerful. Rich. Used to getting what he wants. Cold-heart

around myself,

whispered. "Like a mad rich man's fantasy. I'm no

id bitterly. "Te

o do it?" Haven asked su

r jaw clenched. "

up. "Hmmm...then wh

Nessa said, her voice raw. "He said... 'Anyon

ked at he

sorry" she

atter. Point is...he's real. The offer is real. I know

tled betwee

to the desk, picked up the brown

ion. Her mo

ed million

I say yes?" I ask

im directly. He'll lay down the te

f I sa

. Try to raise funds. Look for donations,

, the envelope

whispered, "I don't

said gently. "You'd be

p, my eyes

sca

ssa replied.

my mind a chaotic

table, and crouched beside me.

Haven. Whatever you deci

their joined hands

ou, Dr.

call me Nessa,

, the quiet humming of the AC

ing, pagers beeping, babies crying.

pe closer again a