How low could one go? That's a question I've asked myself so many times already. The amount of menial jobs I've taken just to make ends meet. The amount of humiliation I've endured just to get meagre pay.
Oh I still remember them clearly, those dark days. Thankfully it's all in the past, as for a few months now, I've found a slightly more respectable job than the last one: Adult Chat Operator.
Yeah, I know... Some people may find it worse, but as a decent human being, I'd rather talk dirty and get paid than clean random toilets. It's just a matter of perspective and morality. To each their poison, I guess.
Talking about poison, my drink has come in the form of a text notification on the monitor in front of me.
You received 150 flowers from "MrBigD"
One of the many customers I'm chatting with. The small gift he offered came with a text attached.
Belle, the things I would do to you if we were to ever meet. I wanna make you mine so bad. (MrBigD)
Yeah, these kinds of texts have been my daily life for the past few months. To keep things short, there's this site called Love of My Life that someone referred me to. It's a website specifically for men to chat with females they find most eye-appealing.
Little do they know that all the pictures on the website are AI-generated. Hell, they wouldn't even know it if a man was speaking to them. I'm 100% sure almost half of the chatters there are wolves in sheep's clothing.
Who am I to judge... Whatever it takes to pay the bills, I guess. I can't complain either, as my heavy bills are being paid. I'm lucky that, strangely, men seem very fond of me. I was surprised that within a month of chatting, I'd easily climbed into the top 100 of the website.
As I lit a cigarette in celebration from the recent donation, another beep — a symphony to my ears — resounded.
You received 2000 flowers from "Richie"
Good evening, Belle. How was your day? (Richie)
A small smile emerged on my face seeing the username. Richie, one of my usual customers, talked like a gentleman — a rare occurrence on this wretched website full of creeps.
I put down the cigarette and stretched my fingers before going back to work.
It's so boring without you around :( I'm glad you're back, Richie. (Belle)
Of course, I didn't mean that. Through experience, I've found the right way to text every single customer of mine. That's the secret to my success. I consider every new customer as a lock that I have to identify. What does it take to unlock it? Just a light tug if he's an open book, a crowbar if he's a stubborn, silent type.
I won't say that it's easy or hard, I just know that once I open their door, the dopamine rush — along with the donations coming in — is something that makes everything worth it. There is no man the mighty Belle can't conquer. That is, if we're talking about online conquering.
And this Richie is one of those locks I've struggled to open the most. Once I cracked him open, he turned out to be my top donor. About 60% of my earnings all come from his pockets.
I entertained my customers the entire night, prioritizing Richie's texts, of course. I have to give him the VIP treatment that he deserves. By the time my working schedule was over, the entire room reeked of cigarettes.
I immediately slumped over the chair. My eyes felt tired and my fingers were slightly numb from the nonstop texting. This night was a busy one. Not only was my top donor online, but the traffic of customers was heavy.
Despite the discomfort I felt, I couldn't stop grinning the moment my eyes laid upon the income report I received from the night.
Having money really did feel good. Sadly, this was but a fleeting moment, as another notification popped up on my screen.
"Is it that day of the month already?" I asked myself upon reading the subject of the mail.
Subject: [URGENT] Hospital Invoice – Patient: Celine MarloweFrom: St. James Medical CenterTo: [email protected]: 1/02/2025
Dear Ms. Marlowe,
We hope this message finds you well.
This email is to inform you that the following charges have been incurred under the name of Celine Marlowe, currently admitted in Room 207, East Wing, St. James Medical Center.
As of 1/02/2025, the billing statement for 30 consecutive days of inpatient care is now due. The total balance reflects daily services, medical care, and necessary treatments administered during her stay.
💳 Current Balance Due:$14,355.00 USD
📋 Billing Details:
Inpatient Care – 30 Days @ $275/day: $8,250.00
Medication & IV Fluids: $1,380.00
Diagnostic Tests (Blood panels, Imaging, Cardiac scans): $1,720.00
Specialist Consultations (4 sessions): $720.00
Oxygen Therapy and Monitoring Equipment: $600.00
Nursing & Support Services: $1,200.00
Miscellaneous Hospital Supplies: $485.00
Please note this amount must be settled within 10 business days to avoid penalty fees or escalation to third-party collections. Should you require a payment plan or need to apply for financial hardship relief, kindly contact us directly.
Thank you for your urgent attention, and we wish Ms. Marlowe continued strength in her recovery.
Sincerely,Angela K. RomeroAccounts & Billing [email protected]
Any normal person would feel like fainting upon being greeted by a $14,355.00 bill; even my heart slightly skipped a beat. Thankfully, our insurance would cover most of the costs. I think I'll have to pay about $3,000 from that massive bill. A big downgrade, but still — 3k bucks is still 3k bucks away from my pockets.
With my previous jobs, I would never have been able to pay such a sum, but for the past few months, things have been different. Not only do I work hard enough to take care of the stacking due hospital bills, I'm now able to save money for myself.
I immediately settled the bill, not wanting another situation of stacked bills from the past. Ah, the dark ages. But now is my peak, where I would save money for the next few months and finally pursue my dreams!