Immediately after the doctor came out of the waiting room, and Niko and Adam ran to his side to make inquiries about his health. As usual, he had a negative reply, so they weren't surprised. Raymond was staring into space when his friends joined him. No one said a word to him at first, but when Adam could not contain his anger, he balled his palm into a fist before sending it into the soft bed. “I was already done before it happened,” Raymond said. “If you had taken a break when I asked you to, this wouldn't have happened. Having less than a year left doesn't mean you should try to shorten it” Adam scowled. “I need to achieve my goals before then…” Niko did not allow him to complete his words before he cut in. “Adam is right. Overworking yourself is going to endanger your health the more” “Okay,” Raymond replied to put an end to their advice. If he allowed them to have their way, they wouldn't stop talking. The ward was silent for a while as each one had separate thoug

At school, Julia refused to speak to anyone, not to talk of engage in class discussion. She was in her world thinking of the topmost issue on her mind. Ever since Raymond slumped at work due to his boss overworking him, that was two months ago, Julia had been mapping out ways how to get him out of his workplace. She wanted him to work somewhere that his health issue would be placed into consideration and not the other way around. If anything happens to him, the company he works for would only send a condolence letter and some amount of money, and that was all. Julia didn't want that to happen. Even if he had barely a year to live, she didn't want his workplace to fast-forward his death. Unknowingly to him, she had visited several companies and firms to seek a good job for him but had found none. All seemed stressful to her and hence was not different from his former work. The previous night, when he had returned late from work, she tried to speak to him but when she

The footsteps ceased seconds later and the owner cleared his throat. Recognizing her father's voice, she relaxed, then released the breath she had been holding. A few seconds later, she began to hear another footstep, thinking it was Stella, she hissed but to her charging, it was her mom. “I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I had a business deal to wrap” her father said as he helped his wife to sit before taking the spot beside her. “It's okay” Julia replied monotone She wished it were only her father who was in the living room with her because she feared her mom would pose a challenge to her. “I got worried when you said you wanted to see me last night, is everything alright?” Her father asked. “Yes father…” she was still speaking when her mom cut in “Then why did you text him? You are married now and so you have to express your worries to your husband and not your father” Swallowing her spittle, Julia propped herself up and maintained strong eye contact with her. If

Julia looked on as her family made a mockery of her. For the hundredth time, she reviewed her words in her head to be certain she hadn't said anything funny, and it turns out she hadn't done that. “Is it because I challenged them, and now they are mocking me because I still went on my knees to beg them?” She wondered as she glared at the trio. The laughter was soul-piercing. Walking out of them was the next option, but she stayed put. She had to endure it for the sake of her husband and nothing else. “I hope they give me what I want after their laughter,” she muttered, casting them a glance. All she wanted was for Raymond should be given a job in the family company. She couldn't bear the thought of having him work his butt off in a ghost company. She just wanted a chance for her husband and as a result, she endured everything that was happening. “Did you see any vacant posts on the website?” Stella was the first to speak as she ran her eyes through Julia's figure. “

Raymond tried to turn his face aside, but Julia was quick to grab his face. “Say something” she snapped “What job offer does your family have?” He asked. “I don't know yet but trust me, it's going to be good” she said and at the same time she was trying to believe her word. Since Julia had no idea on the kind of work her family was offering, Raymond began to brainstorm on all the possible job offers a company could offer. It became more difficult for him when he realized that he had no idea what kind of company her family operated and the services they rendered. He brainstormed for a long time before coming up with the least job he could think of. “What if I'm assigned to work in the lavatory?” He asked. Julia cast him a glare, then whacked him hard across his shoulder. Raymond wasn't hurt, so she whacked him again with all the energy she could muster. “That was hard,” he groaned as he rubbed his aching shoulder. “Really?” “Of course. Moreover, it was just a simpl