*clack-clack* the keys on the keyboard erased my mistakes from the otherwise “perfect” canvas as I pressed them for already countless times now.

“Phew… I think that’s done.” I mumbled to no one in particular, not finding it odd in the least.
“Hmmm…” Still, I’d better check one more time. It was after all, an important commission.

Ah, don’t get me wrong. Every job I do work on, I think of as important. It’s a precious thing, translating a customer’s words and intents into an artwork.

“And… send. Mwhaaahmm…” little beads of tears formed at corners of my eyes, the continuous fifteen hours of work in order to meet the deadline did me no wonders.

“I hope they will be happy with this as much as I am.” I said while stretching my sore back, twisting and turning to relieve myself however much I could.

“Hahhhh…” slumping down, the noises of my exhaustion continued after I let go of my tablet’s pen, staring into the bright screen in the otherwise dark surroundings.

Well, another reason would be that I couldn’t sleep just yet, as much as I wanted and needed to.
Since today, was the day that one of my desired goals would come to fruition as soon as that call comes through and I get my other half of the payment as agreed.

*tiring-tring*

“Here it is !” I was a bit… excited. Enough for some of that energy return to my tired body.

“Hello ?” the corners of my lips rose a little after picking up the call and bringing it close to my ear.
“~~~!”
“Ah, is that so ? I’m glad then. Ahh... Mhm. Mhm.”
“~~~”
“Yeah, thank you. No no, thank you. I had fun working on it, although my knees are killing me now, haha.”
“~~~”
“Alright, I’ll look forward to next time as well then. Goodbye then.”

*peep* and that’s that.

*click-click*

As soon as I hung up, my palm clasped the mouse of my computer and hastily checked my hopefully updated balance.

*click*

[365,000 €]

“Ha… hahah.” tears of both exhaustion and relief as the muted clicks continued until not a single cent was left in my account.

[0,00 €]

“…” I continued to stare at the monitor for a while longer. Not for the despair of being penniless and potentially homeless, but for the feeling of peace and hope I was currently experiencing.

“Phew…” my hand trembled as I mustered of just a bit of that courage in order to dial a number; the hope making my heart race.

*peep-peep-peep* the beeping continued as I held my breath. The soft exhales from my nostrils feeling unpleasant on my arm.

“Hey… sis ? Can we talk ?” I somehow managed to not stutter.
“…what do you want ?”

…that wasn’t the voice of my sister, but of her husband. Awfully unpleasant, although that was not my place to complain about.

“Can you get her on the phone ? It’s important.”
“Hah. Important, huh ? Listen, the only reason you didn’t get blocked yet is because she just doesn’t have the will to, even despite you being a sorry piece of shit. But I do, and it’s been enough. Goodbye.”
“No, wait-!”

*beep*

“…” let’s try again.

“…”

[You have been blocked by this number.]

“Fuck…” words of frustration birthed by shame went out my mouth.

*peep-peep-peep*

I dialed again. This time, another number. Thankfully, not everyone around my sister hated my guts.

“Hey. Sorry for the late call, but can you tell me what my sis is doing ? She… couldn’t answer my call.”
“Ah… little Leo ! Looks like she’s finally had enough huh ? But sure, I’ll tell ya. Alex is birthing you a cute niece right now ! Though I’m not sure if you’ll get to see her.”

I’m 31… and perhaps still a child, but that hardly matters right now; no, it doesn’t matter in the slightest.

“Thanks, I’ll treat you to some A5 wagyu later.”
“Wowzers, the pay was good this time huh ? I’ll look forward to it !”
“Mhm.”

*beep* quickly ending the call there, I got out of my chair and haphazardly dressed myself while fixing my hair with some dry shampoo.

*clack-click*

Not bothering whether I looked presentable, I stormed down the stairs after locking the door, skipping the elevator entirely as it was much faster to go on my legs, no matter how sore they were from sitting.

*click-vrooom-dududu*

The sound of my thousand cc bike roared into life, the grip on the handles providing me a sense of comfort as I made my beloved partner race to the hospital where I was told my sis was giving birth at.

There was no need to go this fast, but… you only have one family. I, I don’t want to be cut off from my only family member left.

*vvrroooom*

The sharp sound of my bike’s engine was very much akin to what I felt in my heart right now as the asphalt from under me heated up. But, crying can wait until I bring this to close. No matter the outcome.

 

✧ ✧ ✧

*clack*

“Haah… Haahh…” The nervousness took me over after I shut down the engine and walked over to the entrance of the hospital.

My hands trembled before making fist of both and walked in, the automatic doors closing behind me.

“Hello, I’m here for Alexandra. She’s… giving birth right now, I hear.” My teeth clattered, but I did my best to not stutter. I’m definitely not ever turning back into a fool.
“Family ?” the receptionist asked.

“Yes, I am. Leo Ceban. Alexandra Ceban.” I replied curtly.
“Ah, Ceban. Your sister finished giving birth about 20 minutes ago on the fifth floor.
Please sit here for a moment, someone will get to you soon.”
“Right… thank you.”

*twmp*

“Haaah…”

*tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk* the sound of my boots filled my quiet surroundings, no doubt looking like an idiot to the other people sitting in the hall.

I would have liked to stop… but I can’t help it. The stress was getting to me, and pressing my temple did me no good either.

*tap-tap-tap-thwuck-thwuck*

The hurried footsteps entered into my perked ears, and as they got louder, I realized it certainly wasn’t the nurse.

“What are you doing here ?! Get the fuck out of here !!” …my brother-in-law. Not that I ever got to call him that. But… I hope I can soon.

“Just… give me a moment and listen to me.” I pleaded.
“Listen ? Listen to you ?? Why !? Get out of here yourself before I lose my mind or I will do it for you, am I clear ?!” That seemed to have only made him more furious.

“…at least check your account.” I bit my lip as I said that, hoping to see some positive answer.
“…”

The awfully creased brows on his face only frowned further as by some miracle, he did what I asked him of.

“What’s this ?” still donning that expression even after taking his eyes off the phone, he asked with hostility in his voice.

“Sis and you had some debts for a while and… I wanted to help. And… talk…” I said after no longer being able to look him to face.

It’s not what you should do in this situation, but it tore me apart to be viewed with so much contempt by him, or my sister.

“…this is your idea of sorry ? Nine years. Nine, fucking, years !! It took you that long to even squeak, and now you show up with money ?! You think that’ll do it ? Really ??”
“…” what should I even say ?

“Tell you what. You can take it all back, and fuck off. Never show yourself around ever again. My daughter doesn’t need to have a piece of shit like you for an… an uncle. Fuck, look what you made me say.”
“…”

“In fact, you won’t be able to even if you wanted to, since, we’re moving far, far away from wherever you are. Debts ? We’ve paid those, we are not some good for nothings. Your money ? I wouldn’t take it even if you begged me to. So spare yourself the shame, and walk out. NOW.”

*beep*

Gritting my teeth, I checked the notification that came to me.

[You have received 365,000 € from xxxx xxxx]

“…” it was all it took from me to not collapse into a mess right now.

But even if I wanted to say anything else, the pair of shining lights I’ve been seeing from behind his rage-filled eyes turned out to be headlights of a truck. I dismissed it for a while, but when I could see the panicked driver through the truck’s front window, it was already too late.
He couldn’t even blast the horns due to the panic, so no one seemed to notice except me who was facing the entrance behind my… brother-in-law.

I was already exhausted from finishing my work earlier, and having my attempt at making up shot down like that thoroughly sapped me of reaction time until the very last moment, unable to even give words of warning.

“What are you- ?!”

‘Ah… I should have exercised more.’ I thought as I barely pulled him to the side, his resistance not making it any easier for me.

*CRNCH-KARACK*

*splat*

✧ ✧ ✧

“—!!”

‘Huh… ? I’m alive ?’

“—!!!”

‘I can’t… hear you well.’

It was so loud, chaos all around. The ringing in my ears didn’t abate no matter how much I tried to focus on the voice of my… sister.

‘So she gave birth just fine. Thank god.’

But for some reason, my head felt clear and my body light.

‘Um…’

Taking a look at the bottom, I… couldn’t see my legs.

“…” I felt no pain as I grasped my guts and looked at my bloodied hands.

Looking to the side, I could see splats of blood and flesh thoroughly flattened into the wall after the reception’s counter was obliterated. I was mildly surprised that I didn’t die instantly from shock after that hulking mass of iron rammed into me.

There was a bit of anger at the fact that the hospital staff made no effort to save me, but that quickly came to a pass. I was obviously beyond saving, and there were other people who could live.

This wasn’t how I should be spending the last of my heartbeats.

“Cough-ghack—!! …t-the money.” my hand reached out for a phone I couldn’t even find.

Ah. I… stuttered.

“—!!” I felt my cold, bloodied hand enveloped in warmth.

Moving my heavy eyes, my vision finally cleared up. Is this what they call clarity before death ?

“Leo !! You’ll be alright !!!” tears filled my sister’s face, her face turning ugly from the crying. And behind her, Marius. My brother-in-law.

I could call him that in my thoughts, right ? More than that… he shouldn’t be having that sorry look. It was ultimately my fault, even if that truck malfunctioned.

“I’m… sorry…” I finally said it in front of her. In flesh.

“Don’t talk Leo. Don’t talk !!” That’s no good. That’s not… what I want to see in my last moments.

“Ghack-cough-cough… Ghaaahh…” metallic blood filled the insides of my mouth as I tried to speak.

“Smile… please…” Did she hear it ? My voice is getting weaker.

“Leo… Leo…” my sister’s grip on my hand got tighter as the corners of her lips rose to a radiant smile, tears still flowing like a glittering waterfall.

That’s… better. I wonder when was the last time I saw her smiling ? Was it in high school before we fell out after mom died ? Awful long time ago.

‘I… should try to smile as well.’

“Thank… you…” I hope it wasn’t too ugly.

“—!!”

‘I… can’t hear you…’

It’s all so heavy. So cold.

I… I… I don’t want to die. I still want to draw more. I still want to eat more delicious food. I still want to have more fun with my friends.

And most of all… I want to spend more time with my sister, with my no doubt awfully adorable niece.

Give her piggyback rides. Beat her bullies. Take her to visit Japan. Give her everything.

Take pictures together with her and my beloved sister I’ve wronged terribly. There’s still so… much. So… much left to do.

I…

*twmp*