Poisonous addiction

lm. "Tom! Wake up, you'll be late for school!" Julia cried as her flip-flop slip

uffle the ruckus. "What is it now?" he groaned, his annoyance mounting.

and rubbing the spot where the sli

of bed this instant, young man! You'll be late for classes." Her s

ngly handsome face, rolled his eyes in exa

don't want to go to school?" "Tom!?" J

kicked out of school. Our outstanding bills... they're too much

ozen in place, her legs feeling leaden and numb, unable to move even an inch. She knew their fa

ed closer to her brother. "Tom, listen to me. Everything is going to be alright, okay? I know th

ulous, Julia. You know as well as I do that we're barely scra

pair. "Miracles do happen, Tom," she whispered, her voice gentle and soothing. "A

d I think it's best if I just stay at home. There's no point in trying to go to col

ativity. "You can't just give up like that, Tom," she pleaded. "You have tale

hat it's like to be me, to see the looks on people's face

ndignation. "We are not not

ng and never give up" Julia sighed, she tried to hide her e

the room. Tom stared at her leave till she closed the door behind her, h

om. As his sister's exasperated footsteps echoed down the hallway, Tom drew t

ctuated by the occasional clatter of medical equipment. Julia, her heart he

atop the stiff, white sheets. Upon seeing her children, a faint smile

mustering the cheeriest voice he

u're looking better and better each day, Mum." She carefully unpacked the fo

roat, hoping to break the tension. "So, the doctor

slight nod. "The doctor came in this morning

ident, ever since then she hasn't been herself. She was diagnosed of kidney problem and acc

"Of course, everything will be fine. Don't worry. I'm j

ay, why? Mrs. Betty asked imm

ry that lay heavily upon his shoulders. "I just wanted to come and see you, Mum. I've m

, presenting the steaming dish with pride. "I made it mys

roadened. "When did

h a playful grin,

Betty remarked, bemused by their newfound

tly teasing his sister. "But when it comes to foo

s broth into his mother's mouth, feeding her slowly an

y chuckled warmly. "I knew yo

in the fleeting moment of joy.

t get her thoughts together, trying to hide her pain and hold herself

had the power to take the grief and pains of her family away. At that point she

ear slipped from her eye, falling to the cold floor, a silent testament to her despair. As she stood, sh

rassment. Looking up, her breath caught at the sight of the ha

uscular frame exuded an aura of strength and allure, leaving her dazed and longing. The soft scent of his

eaking the spell. As he moved past her, she couldn't help but gaze a

ould be thinking about" As she got up to turn to leave, her leg kicked against som

belong to h

f the stacks of crisp, green bills sendin

s shocked by what she saw, "Stacks of $100 note" she w

, a dangerous temptation danced through her mind – could this be the answer to her prayers? But no, her conscience would not allow it. Thi

e ran after him, but the door was shut already, she had to take the stairs which was rather a stressful thing for her to do. She s