Chapter 2: The deposit

Joe's head throbbed, his arm aching from where he’d fallen.

“Joe, Joe, stay with me,” a familiar voice cut through the haze. It was Lisa, one of his co-workers, kneeling next to him. “We’re getting you to the hospital. Just hang in there, okay?”

Joe blinked, trying to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. His whole body felt heavy.

Moments later, he was being lifted onto a stretcher, the paramedics barking quick instructions as they wheeled him out of the restaurant.

***

At the hospital. Joe was placed in an examination room, where the doctor quickly assessed his condition.

“Looks like you’ve had quite the fall,” the doctor said, shining a small light into Joe’s eyes to check his pupils.

“Thankfully, nothing’s broken. You’ve got a nasty gash on your arm, but it’s nothing a few stitches won’t fix.”

The doctor continued. “That applies to your leg, too.”

Joe tried to sit up, wincing as pain shot through his arm. “Am I gonna be okay?”

The doctor nodded. “You’ll be fine. Just a few stitches, and we’ll patch you up.”

A nurse appeared with a tray of medical supplies. Joe gritted his teeth as the needle pierced his skin, the nurse’s hands moving quickly to close the wound.

“There,” the doctor said after the nurse had finished. “You’re good to go. Just take it easy for the next few days.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

The doctor patted Joe’s shoulder before leaving the room, but the nurse lingered behind. She held a clipboard with a form that Joe didn’t recognize.

“Before you leave, you’ll need to take care of the payment,” she said.

Joe’s stomach sank. He hadn’t even thought about the hospital bill.

“I… I don’t have any money,” Joe admitted. His face flushed with embarrassment.

The nurse raised an eyebrow.

“No money? Well, isn’t that just typical,” she muttered, loud enough for Joe to hear. “You’d think people like you would know better than to end up in a hospital if you can’t even afford it.”

“I—I didn’t mean to—” he stammered, but the nurse cut him off.

“If you don’t have the money, you can figure it out with billing. It’s not my problem,” she snapped. “But don’t expect sympathy from us. You should’ve planned better.”

Joe looked away, unable to meet her gaze as shame washed over him. He felt small and insignificant, like every bad thing in his life was piling up at once, and he could do nothing to stop it.

“Woah, watch where you’re going!” A car honking caught his attention as he left the hospital.

Joe turned his head slightly, and his eyes landed on the last person he wanted to see—Aaron.

It was like he was following Joe around.

Joe continued walking away, ignoring him as much as he could, but Aaron persisted. He kept driving beside Joe

“Just look at you!” Aaron shouted. “A fucking loser!”

Joe kept his head lowered.

“Yes, that’s it.” Aaron spat. “Lower your head in shame because you’re nothing.”

Joe could hear Rosie giggling in the background, and just the sound of her voice made things even worse.

“Come on, look here!” Aaron’s voice picked up. “I feel so sorry for you. Why don’t you take this a dollar bill and buy yourself something.”

Joe lifted his head a bit and, out of the corner of his eyes, watched Aaron throw a couple of dollar bills out of the window.

“Bye, loser.” Aaron pressed the accelerator, speeding away. The bills scattered in the air, fluttering around the streets.

This didn’t make Joe feel better. It only added to his misery.

***

When Joe finally made it back to his apartment. He felt weak.

He opened the door to his small, rundown room, and before he could even breathe, he heard a loud knock.

Joe flinched. He knew that knock all too well.

It was his landlord. Rosie had used the money he had saved for rent to buy something, in her words, ‘cute.’ Now, he had nothing.

“Joe,” the landlord growled, “you’re behind on rent again. I’ve given you enough chances. If you don’t pay up by tomorrow, you’re out. I’m done with the excuses.”

Joe’s voice cracked as he spoke.

“Please… I’m trying. I just—there’s been a lot going on. I got hurt, and I—”

“I don’t care about your excuses,” the landlord interrupted. “You think I’m running a charity here? If you can’t pay, you’re out. Simple as that.”

Joe’s heart pounded in his chest. “I don’t have the money right now, but I’ll figure something out. Please, give me a little more time.”

The landlord sounded unmoved by his words.

“I’ve given you all the time I’m going to give. Tomorrow. Or you’re out on the street.”

“I… I don’t even have enough to cover food right now,” Joe admitted. “Please, just a few more days.”

The landlord’s eyes narrowed.

“Not my problem,” he said flatly before turning to leave. “Get the money, or get out.”

Joe closed the door behind him, his hands shaking as he leaned against the wall.

He pulled out his phone and opened his banking app, expecting to see the pitifully low balance that had been there the last time he checked.

But when the screen loaded, his eyes widened in shock.

There was money in his account—a huge sum, but enough to pay the rent and maybe even cover a few other expenses.

“What…?” Joe muttered to himself, staring at the screen in confusion.