CHAPTER ONE"I guess I'll see you later bro…" Anthony waved at Atlas as he exited the building of the factory he worked in."Yeah, later man." Atlas waved back at his colleague and friend without looking at him. After the day's work he was too exhausted to move anywhere but straight ahead.Atlas lets out a sigh of relief as soon as the outside breeze enveloped him, glad that he was finally away from all that toxic chemical in the factory.The only good thing about work these days was when Atlas got to go back home to his wife and sleep. Usually he would be on his way to his second job where he worked as a waste carrier by now but it was his day off and as much as he had pleaded with his boss to let him take up extra shifts today, he had vehemently refused, saying that he was taking too much space here and that he wasn't the only one that needed money.It would have been funny if it wasn't completely true. Atlas was in fact always there, picking up extra shifts every chance he

Atlas stared at the document, unable to believe what he was reading. This couldn't be real! He thought. There was no way this was real. He re-read the document again, his hands shaking in the process and he hadn't been mistaken. These were divorce papers and Jessica had filed for it."You are home early."Jessica's voice took him by surprise.He glanced up to find her staring at him, a resigned look on her face.She was holding a laundry basket in one hand with only a few clothes in it."What is the meaning this?" Atlas asked, his voice strained as he put up the divorce papers for her to see.Jessica let out a sigh and dropped the basket of clothes close to the entrance of the kitchen."They are divorce papers, Atlas, isn't it obvious from what you read.""I don't understand…" Atlas confessed."Is this some kind of a joke? One of your silly pranks?" He said as he took a step closer to her.Jessica was known for playing random pranks on him but they were usually funny, this however

Atlas paced the hallway of the hospital waiting for news of his mother's condition, his heart beating faster than a gym rat on a treadmill.He'd been here for almost an hour now and had still not gotten a response from the doctor and it worried him.The smell of disinfectant and other chemicals used to clean the hospital wasn't helping with his anxiety either.If the doctor did not come out from the emergency room to give him some news, he was fucking sure he'd collapse from a panic attack.The last thing Atlas had expected to see when he had arrived at his mom's hours ago was his mother lying face down on the kitchen floor with a bloody nose. After the shitty day he'd had, he'd wanted only to sleep but of course the universe was conspiring against him as always.Two nurses rolled a patient past Atlas that appeared to have a knife embedded in his arm and Atlas quickly stopped them, his intentions to ask about his mother's condition. He recognized them as the paramedics that had

Atlas got into her car, fastened his seatbelt and sat in silence, tired from all he’d been through today. He still didn't believe that the woman was going to send him twenty thousand dollars but it didn't matter either way. If she was some kind of kidnapper or con artist, she would be very sorry once she realized he didn't have a single dollar to his name.The strange lady parked her car properly then turned to face Atlas squarely.“So, tell me your account details” she said looking at a slightly annoyed Atlas“look if this is a joke, just end it right here and tell me what you really want, I’ve had quite the day already.” He let out tiredly“Account details?” she repeated not acknowledging everything he’d just said."Fine," Atlas gritted out and called out his details. He watched as the lady pressed a few buttons on her phone, a look of skepticism in his eyes.Few seconds later, his phone buzzed, he took a look at the message he'd just received and he froze.Staring at him was a mes

He made his way back to his place to take a shower, he made a quick sandwich and got out a fresh pair of clothes to wear. He took a look at his sorry excuse for an apartment with hope knowing in a few minutes he could afford a better one, he stepped out and made his way to Esmeralda’s place.He reached her place in about 30 minutes, she opened the door for him and once again he was greeted by her huge corridors. He loved her art collection, medieval but so beautiful. He followed her to the living room and sighted a man in a suit and briefcase who stood up to greet him.“Good afternoon sir, pleasure to meet you, I’m barrister Lawrence” he took Atlas hand not waiting for him to offer it and shook him, atlas noticed how excited he was“it’s nice to meet you too” “he’s the Lawyer in charge of the Will” Esmeralda chipped in offering some clarity for Atlas.Atlas nodded. Everything still felt like a dream to him, like he'd died and gone to heaven. How a miracle like this could come his wa