The man closed the space between. The acrid smell of cheap cigarettes crawled into my nose. Gripping me by my hair, he hurled me to the floor, and my body thudded as I fell. A wince escaped me as pain journeyed through my body.
The man lowered to the floor next to me, and I recoiled.
“Where’s my money?” he questioned with a hoarse voice.
Silence traced the air as we both stared at each other. I didn’t have the money. But was I bold enough to say that—not at all?
“You don’t have the cash?” His eyes dipped to a rare moment of sympathy.
My body eased up as I nodded.
A vile smile curled his lips upward, and his eyes darkened. “You can always sell your organs to pay up.” He ran his filthy fingers down my face.
A stinging chill crippled my nerves, and my breath stilled.
The man rose to his feet. “You have a week from now to pay up, or else you might end up walking around with one kidney.” With those final words, he and his partner left.
Tessy rushed towards me and pulled me into a hug. Painful tears stung my face as it trickled down. What on earth did I do to deserve such terrible luck? Michael and Lilian were probably leaving the best life, while I was here about to lose an organ.
**
8 pm on the same unfortunate day. I climbed up the stairs of the block of flats until I reached my block.
Darkness and cool air sprinkled in through the small, scrawny window at the end of the hallway. Dashing out of my house four days ago, I had neglected the light bulb outside my door.
My gaze fell on the paper stamped on my door. I ran my eye across it; it was an eviction notice.
A frustrated hiss escaped me as I pulled down the paper and crumpled it between my palms. Tossing to the floor, my eyes fell on a brown envelope lying peacefully.
I cocked my head as I observed it. I wasn’t expecting any package. Aside from Lilian and Tessy, I didn’t have anyone who would send me a package.
After picking up the envelope, I tore it open and pulled out the white paper in it. My jaws sagged as I read the content; I was sued for $500,000 for damages.
Memories of that day slipped into my mind and itched my brain. “Gosh. How could I have been so stupid?” I muttered. I hadn’t even paid the loan sharks, and now another debt had embraced me. Life seemed like it had a “buy one, get one free” deal on disasters.
My eyes fell on the plaintiff’s name, Mr. Zain Adiaga.