Time seemed to pass slowly as they waited, each minute feeling like an eternity. Vincent's mind was flooded with memories of his time with Chloe, all the moments they had shared and the bond they had formed. He couldn't imagine a world without her.Finally, after what felt like hours, the doors to the emergency room swung open, and a doctor stepped out, still in his scrubs. Vincent stood up, his heart pounding in his chest."How is she? Is she going to be okay?" Vincent asked, his voice filled with desperation.The doctor's face softened as he looked at Vincent. "She's stable now," he said, his tone reassuring. "The bullet narrowly missed any vital organs. She's going to need surgery to remove it, but she's strong, and we expect her to make a full recovery."Relief washed over Vincent, the weight lifting off his shoulders. He thanked the doctor profusely, gratitude filling his eyes. They were given permission to see Chloe, but only one person at a time, due to limited visiting hours.
The smell of alcohol spread throughout the club as a bunch of final-year college students moved to the rhythm of the music on the dancefloor to celebrate the end of their final exams.The party had been organised by the class's rich kid, Dominic, and he could be seen in the VIP section overlooking the rest of the final years. He had two ladies massaging his shoulders and feet while he drank.The door to the club was opened and in stepped Vincent and his girlfriend, Melanie.Immediately the air seeped into Vincent's nose he almost gagged and then he covered his nose."I told you I don't want to be here Melanie. This place wreaks of alcohol." Vincent complained."Well, what do you expect? We just finished writing our last exams as final-year students. Everyone is going all out tonight and you expect me to sit back at home? No way!" Melanie exclaimed."I only came here because of you. A lot of people are drunk so be careful not to get in harm's way." Vincent said to his girlfriend.Melan
"I'll be fine with whatever the damn game is," Vincent said, glaring at Dominic. This was the first time he ever maintained eye contact with Dominic and it got on Dominic's nerves."This is only getting better with each passing minute." some said."Yeah, but I bet Dominic will win. There isn't much that Vincent is capable of. He's a poor loser, they never win with anything." another person said."Guys! Let's bet on how many dares he can take before he chickens out." someone said and laughed while others agreed with him."Okay then. I will call out the participants." Dominic announced, after letting the words of his classmates deepen the emotional and psychological winds, Vincent.Dominic looked around and then he began to call names, "Vincent. Toby. Tasha. Melanie. And myself. All five of us will play dares." Dominic said.Melanie was taken aback when she heard her name. There was no way she was going to join in with a game that Vincent was part of but she couldn't back down either as
Dominic frowned. From the crowd, Vincent could hear different insults being thrown at him. "Coward!" "Bastard nobody" "worthless weakling! He can't even drink some glasses!" Vincent clenched his fists and Melanie spoke again, "If you can't do such a simple thing then I'm breaking up with you for real. No need to have someone like you in my life if you're just going to give up in the face of troubles!""So she just pretended she was breaking up with me? I just knew she loved me back. Melanie can't break my heart just like that." Vincent thought to himself."Fine! Alright! Is that what you all want?! Yes?! Then I will give it to you! I will take the dare!" Vincent shouted determined in his anger.One of the final years brought out the ten bottles of alcohol and set them in front of Vincent.Vincent sat down and opened the first bottle while people kept shouting "Drink!" "Drink!" "Drink!"When Vincent took the bottle close to his mouth, the smell penetrated his nose and he coughed.He h
Vincent felt someone tapping him and he slowly opened his eyes. Everywhere sounded empty like the party was over and it took some time for Vincent's eyes to get used to the light.It was difficult but Vincent sat up on the floor where he had been asleep all night."Where am I?" Vincent asked as he held on to his forehead which was aching him like never before."Young man you have been asleep since last night's party with your friends." a man's voice answered."Friends? I don't have any friends." Vincent replied. He remembered only that they were playing dares and things got out of hand. He remembered the feeling of humiliation coursing through his body shame and insults followed him last night. Is that what this waiter sees as friendship?"Those can never be my friends," Vincent added and got up, almost falling over in the process but getting back his stamina in the last second. He felt his head spinning like crazy and he vomited again."How can they all leave without me?" Vincent tho
Vincent got to the man who was waiting beside the car, "Thank you, sir. Thank you so much for bailing me out back there. Is there anything I can do to repay you for your kindness? I don't mind working for you or running errands on your demands." Vincent said."No. I don't need any of that and neither am I the one to thank.""I don't understand sir. What do you mean? You just paid for...""Your father paid, not me. I am only his butler."Vincent grew speechless, "my dad left his family without saying a word about why he did it. He didn't even reach out to us during the time of his absence and now was the perfect time for him?" Vincent said to the butler."I don't care what you say, sir. Nothing is going to make me accept that charity from such a heartless man who caused my mom to be diagnosed with such a disease." Vincent added.Vincent turned around to leave after he thanked the man one last time."You were asking me just minutes ago what you can do to repay me were you not?" the butl
Vincent got into a taxi and the taxi took him to the hospital where his mother was admitted.With his last cash, Vincent paid the taxi driver intending to return home on foot after visiting his mother.The taxi left and Vincent faced the hospital, releasing a deep sigh from his nostrils as he stared at the building.For six months now... For six months, his mother has been in the hospital with Vincent still having a marathon to go in paying the bills.Vincent walked the hallway headed for his mother's room but froze in his tracks when he was halfway there. From a distance, Vincent could see Dominic and Toby walking out of his mother's room and laughing with a shredded bouquet in Dominic's possession."Isn't that the same bouquet I got my mom yesterday?" Vincent thought.Dominic hit Vincent aside with his shoulder as soon as they came to where he was and they laughed even louder as they passed."What a wimp." Toby mocked.Finally getting back to his senses, Vincent ran to his mother's
Vincent didn't have to wait or text his father his account number. Only while getting up, he received an alert of two million dollars wired to his bank account.There was a phone call from the bank itself but Vincent ignored it. Where were they when he needed their help? They were the same people who insulted him at the bank and refused to loan him any money for his mother's treatment.Now with this amount in his bank account, Vincent was sure they were calling to congratulate him but he didn't need their hypocrisy.The doctor which Vincent slapped, approached him with two security men who worked for the hospital."There he is. That's the guy that slapped me." the doctor said, pointing his finger at Vincent."Sir, you will have to leave the hospital immediately." one of the security men said to Vincent."What is the hospital paying you?" Vincent asked.Neither the security men nor the doctor expected that sort of question from Vincent.The doctor laughed, "What are you about to do? Br