Chapter 8: No more options

Ava's POV

Back at her apartment

I stared at my mother's name as it appeared on my phone screen for the fifth time today. I've been avoiding her calls since the last time we spoke

The came in again, reluctantly I picked this time

“Avoiding my calls won't solve your problems, you know?” She started, “how is he?”

“You and I know you don't care about him”

“That response tells me that you're still struggling with funds”

Silence followed

Then I spoke

“I'm really not in the mood mom, not now please” defeat etched in my voice

“You need to start thinking practically Ava, you do realise you'd be paying for his medical upkeep for as long as he sleeps right? You're paying till he wakes up and none of us know when that would be, not even the doctors”

She paused

“It could be for as long as one month, three months, a year, two years.. have you thought that far? Where would you get such money to keep him alive till he wakes up?”

I went silent

I hate that she's right

“I'd figure it out mom”

“Ava honey, that sounds really funny. This is a huge task in front of you”

“I know”

“I don't think so” she paused “well, whenever you're ready to take my advice, call me”

Then she hung up

God I feel hopeless

She was right and that's what annoys me.

The situation in front of me is really huge, I won't be able to afford the medical expenses

I got up from the couch, stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the empty space where Ethan usually sat after work

His favourite cushion was still there

His shoes were by the door

His jacket hung over the back of the chair, exactly where he left it

Everything looked normal except he wasn't there

I slowly walked to the bedroom

His side of the bed was untouched

I sat down on the edge and stared at the pillow beside me

For some reason, that was what finally broke me

I picked up his pillow and held it against my chest, it smelled faintly like him

A sob escaped my lips

“I don't know what to do Ethan”

The tears came faster

“I don't know how to fix this”

I buried my face into the pillow crying until my chest hurt

I'd spent the entire week trying to be strong

Talking to the bank

Calling people

Looking for ways to borrow money

Trying to understand bills that seemed to grow every time I looked at them

But now that I was alone, there was nothing left to distract me

I was scared

Terrified

What if he never woke up?

What if the doctors eventually told me there was nothing more they could do?

What if I ran out of money before he had the chance to come back to me?

I wiped my face, but the tears wouldn't stop

“I can't lose you”

My voice cracked

“I can't”

I looked toward the empty side of the bed.

“You're supposed to be here”

I laughed bitterly through my tears

“You're supposed to be complaining about how cold the room is and stealing all the blankets”

I swallowed hard

“You're supposed to annoy me”

Silence answered me

I pulled my knees toward my chest

For the first time since the accident, I allowed myself to admit what I'd been trying so hard not to think about

I was running out of options

And I was running out of money

I looked at the hospital statement lying on the bedside table

Another £30,000, in the space of one week

I covered my face with my hands

“How am I supposed to save you?”

The question came out as a whisper

There was no answer

Only the unbearable silence of our empty home

I stayed there for a long time, crying until I had no strength left

Eventually, I lay down on Ethan's side of the bed and pulled the blanket over myself

I closed my eyes

For a brief moment, I imagined the sound of the front door opening

His footsteps

His voice calling my name

I almost smiled

The sound of thunder jolted me back to reality

The front door remained silent

And Ethan was still lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life

The bedroom curtains danced to the wind followed by the sounds of rain

“It's going to be a cold night” I said to myself

I sluggishly picked myself up and dragged my legs into the bathroom to take a hot shower

Few minutes later I was done, then I changed into my blue silky two piece pyjamas and wrapped my hair in a bun, picked up my laptop from the bedside table and sat on the bed

“It's time to look at things I haven't considered before” I said to myself as I open my browser

Emergency medical loans

I searched, nothing useful

Financial assistant for ICU patients

I searched

Scrolled from page to page, forms, requirements, waiting period, eligibility criteria

Nothing that could help Ethan immediately

I tried another search

How to raise £30000 quickly

The results were almost insulting

Sell your belongings, take out a loan, borrow from family, start a fundraiser

I already tried most of them

I closed my eyes, resting my head on the bed headstand

“Think Ava”

I reached for my phone and checked the time

7:20 p.m.

There was a message from the hospital

“Mrs Maxwell, please contact the hospital regarding the payment plan for your husband's treatment”

My heart dropped

Underneath it was a message from the bank

“Sorry, we can't grant you a loan at this time”

Fuck

Maybe I'll have to take on little jobs like babysitting, or a job at a café

Something

I opened my contacts

Mom

Lily

Marcus

I stared at their names

I'd already asked them already asked them for help

There was nothing left to ask

I looked at Ethan's photograph on the bedside table

“I'll find something” I whispered

Even though I had no idea what that someone was

The next morning

I woke up feeling like I hadn't slept at all

My eyes were swollen, my head ached and every part of my body felt heavy

For a few seconds, I forgot where I was

Then I saw Ethan's side of the bed and the memories came rushing back

I reached for my phone to send an email to Victor telling him I wouldn't be able to make it to work today

I'm already dropping in my effectiveness, now I've missed another day at work

Might get fired this time

But honestly at this point I'm exhausted

I do not know what to do

In few minutes, I dressed into something comfortable and rushed to the hospital

I made my way to Ethan's ward and sat beside him

I took his hand in mine

“I've sold almost everything we have”

A tear rolled down my cheek

“I've borrowed money, I've tried everything, I don't know what else to do babe”

I looked at his face

“But I'm not giving up, I'll find another way” I whispered

The door opened and the person who stepped in my heart skip

It was the hospital administrator

The air suddenly felt colder, because I already knew what she was going to say

“Ma'am please can we step outside for a second”

I hesitated for a while then followed behind her

“I know this is about the outstanding balance, I'm trying to sort it out”

“I understand”

She handed the papers to me

“Your husband's treatment is ongoing, and unfortunately, the costs continue to accumulate”

I stared at the figures

They barely looked real anymore

“How much time do I have”

She paused

“We need another payment before we can continue covering his treatment under the current arrangement”

My throat went dry

“When?”

“Within the next forty eight hours”

I blinked

“Forty eight?”

“Yes”

“But he's still in a coma”

“I know”

“So what am I supposed to do?”

Her expression softened

“We're not asking you to find the entire amount immediately. But we do need you to make a payment and speak with the financial department about the outstanding balance”

I shook my head

“I've already paid what I could”

“I understand that”

“I've borrowed money”

She nodded

“I know”

“I've sold things”

My voice cracked

“I don't have much left”

She was quiet for a moment

“I'm sorry, Mrs. Maxwell”

I looked at her

“Please don't tell me you're sorry”

She lowered her eyes

“I wish there was more I could say”

I swallowed hard

“What happens if I can't pay?”

She didn't answer immediately

That silence scared me more than anything she could have said

“His medical team will continue to assess his condition,” she finally said carefully. “But we need to discuss the financial arrangements as soon as possible”

I stared at her

“So you're telling me I have forty eight hours to find money I don't have”

“I wouldn't put it that way”

“But that's what you're saying”

She sighed softly

“I understand why you're frightened”

I turned to look through the ICU glass door then turned back

Pressing my fingers against my forehead I asked

“Is there anything else I can do?”

“We can discuss payment plans and any financial assistance you're eligible for”

“Will that be enough?”

She didn't answer

That silence was enough answer

“Forty eight hours,” I whispered

“Yes”