The moment Leah stepped her foot into her workplace, she was summoned to the boss's office.
She didn't bother changing into her work wears, as she kept wondering why she would be summoned so early.
"Good morning Mr Solomon" she greeted, which didn't get a response but instead a bang on the table.
An envelope.
"That's your pay for the month, it was nice having you as a worker here. You have five minutes to vacate the premises" Solomon said coldly.
Leah blinked "Sir, vacate the premises as in.."
"You're fired, Leah" Solomon completed the statement.
The words hit her like a slap.
"What?" Leah said, followed by a slight disbelieving chuckle, "Sir, why am I being fired"
"You disrespected our customer and he ordered your sack." he said flatly, " Plus you came in an hour late!"
Leah trembled, "I have a valid reason for my lateness sir, and I don't remember disrespecting anyone. I've been working her for over a year now and.."
"Leah, I know but it's completely out of my power. It's either you or our number one VIP customer" Solomon said, rubbing his temples.
VIP.
Leah froze, she understood immediately.
"Sir, you can't do this. This is the most desperate time of my life, I need this job" she pleaded.
"Sir, how about a suspension instead. Or.. or a double shift. Anything, but not this"
"I'm sorry Leah" Solomon said as he stood, "We can't lose a customer because of a part-timer. Use the door please"
The door's gestures was final and Leah walked out as her vision blurred.
*
She met Cindy in the locker room as she arrived.
"Hey" Cindy said quietly, without glancing.
"Lost your job too?" Leah asked and she nodded, tears rolling out of her eyes.
"Leah, this was my only source of income. I have to take care of my grandma" Cindy said.
Guilt stung Leah's chest.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry I chipped in that day. I know I caused this" Leah said, pulling her into a hug.
"I'll make sure I fix this"
Cindy shook her head "There's nothing you can do and you didn't cause any of this. Everyone knows Levi Parker, and failing to make a reservation in for him was me demanding a sack letter" Cindy said.
"We're humans and are allowed to make mistakes, I wonder what he thinks he is. Perfect?" Leah scoffed, her jaws tightened "I'll fix this. I promise"
"No need Leah."
***
"You haven't been taking your medications" Josh said, his expression stern.
"Levi, am I right?" Josh asked and Levi leaned back.
"I've been.."
"Busy" Josh finished the sentence alongside Levi, "And that led you back here, Levi. If Derek had not been there on time you would have collapsed!"
"When will I be discharged?" Levi asked, clearly not ready for his tantrums.
"Your conditions have worsened, which explains the blurry vision and numbness in your limbs. The tumor has grown, and it's pressing on critical areas of your brain."
"And?"
"And you have limited time now"
"Meaning?" Levi's expression turned cold.
"You're dying! That's what I mean"
Levi released an unsettling laughter that echoed through the office.
"Levi, this doesn't sound funny. We need to focus on managing symptoms and improving quality of life"
"There'll be no use for that" Levi snapped.
"How much time do I have left"
"Given the progression, I'd say you've got about 12 months, maybe less." Josh said.
And for a moment silence took over.
Then, Levi straightened as if nothing had changed.
"No one must find out about this" he said, and yanked out the IV tubing, ripping the medication tape with it, and headed for the door.
"Levi?"
The door slammed shut.
***
Leah stepped out of the Uber shutting the door, sighing deeply as the neon lights across the road hit her face.
"Leah, you can't mess this up," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
She badly didn't want to do this but Flynn, God! she needed to save him.
She looked down at her dress, it wasn't so much designed to be worn it was meant to be noticed. Scarlet red, clinging to her curves like a second skin with unapologetic intent.
It ended high on her thigh, shimmering faintly under the neon lights dipping low enough to make her intentions clear without a word.
Thin straps hung off her shoulders like afterthoughts, covered by her jacket and the high heels she wore with it clicked like punctuation marks on the cracked pavement.
She shifted in the dress, her legs rubbing against each other as she crossed and uncrossed them, the fabric bunching awkwardly around her thighs.
Adjusting her leather jacket, she looked left and right, ready to cross the road then a hand clamped over her face.
Her body arched, her fingers clawed at the hand, heels dragging against the pavement, as a pungent cloth pressed to her nose, the sweet sickly scent consumed her and darkness folded in.