Debts

1.

“Pack everything! Leave no single furniture in that house!” 

Annabel went on her knees immediately. “Sir, please don't do this to us. We promise to pay.” She pleaded, but he acted deaf.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched the hefty men take their furniture away. She held the man's hand, but he yanked her hands away from him.

“Don't you dare lay those filthy hands on me again,” He snapped and returned his gaze to the house. Annabel didn't know what to do anymore. This was too much for her to bear. After her father's death, she was left to pay the numerous debts he had with loan sharks and business companies.

She managed to pay off the minor ones and now the rest were after her life. While others would come to take things out of the house, the rest would ask her to spend a night with them to clear off her debts, but she would politely turn them down, making them resort to a violent way of taking everything away from her.

Just yesterday, one of the loan sharks came and took their big screen television and refrigerator, now it's their furniture. She had been trying her best to take care of her little sister, who was suffering from heart disease with the little salary she earned as a waitress in the hotel, but it was taking a massive toll on her.

“Please, don't take everything. Just give me until the end of the month. The month will end this week. I promise to pay you,” She pleaded.

The hefty men soon rid the house of all the furniture and turned to receive the next orders from the man. Annabel rushed to stand before him.

“Just give me until the end of the month, sir. Please.” She begged.

He ruffled his hair and glared at her. “Alright. I have heard you. I'll be back by month end and if my money is not ready in full, I'll throw you out of this house.” He snapped and left angrily.

After his departure, Annabel released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She made a mental note to pay him immediately she received her salary.

“Did he mean what he said? About taking the house?” Audrey, her little sister, asked. Annabel bent and hugged her. “If he takes the house, where are we going to stay? How are we going to survive without a roof over our heads?” She asked, her voice breaking.

Annabel sighed and fought back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. “Don't worry, Audrey. I will make sure he doesn't take the house. Big sis will do something, okay?” She assured the girl.

“You keep saying this to me like I am some five-year-old kid. Come on, Sis, allow me do something to help as well. I already told you I could go work at that grocery store down the street. I spoke to the man, and he said I could come. I can—”

“No, Audrey,” She cut in, shaking her head. “I can't let you do that. Besides, you need to go to school. A year to go, and you'd be out of high school.”

“That's more reason why I should help you. Don't do this alone, please.” Audrey pleaded.

She appreciated how Annabel always worked her butt off to provide for them both, while taking care of her health and paying off debts as well. She wanted to assist in her own little way and hoped Annabel would just let her. What's school when they couldn't even afford the necessary things needed? She got bullied all the time by the rich kids, and she stood no chance against them whenever the matter got to the ears of the principal. She could count the number of times she had to go into detention for something she knew absolutely nothing about.

Annabel ruffled hair. “I can't let you work with your condition, Audrey. You need to rest and eat well. School is also important,” She sighed, and Audrey frowned. “Can I ask you a favor?”

Audrey hesitated for a while before nodding her head. “I want you to study hard in school and make me proud. I'm sure you're going to be a very wealthy woman later in life, and I can't wait for that. So, all you have to do is study and leave the work to big sis, okay?” She pecked Audrey's forehead.

Audrey sighed. “Okay.” 

“Good. It's getting late. Let's go inside,” She said and held Audrey's hand as they entered.

When they got to the living room, she sighed. It looked so empty, like a house that had been built, awaiting to be furnished. She could remember how they lived before her mother left them. And their father, who didn't have a stable job then, resorted to borrowing money, so they could survive and just after her father got a job in one of the biggest companies in New York, he suddenly felt sick and died.

Annabel recalled how he died in her arms and stopped her tears from falling. She knew she had to be strong if not for anyone but for her sister.

She led Audrey to her room and tucked her into bed.

“Anna, are you sure everything will be fine?” Audrey asked.

“I am sure everything will be fine soon. When we're done paying off all these debts, I'll take you out to anywhere you wish to go. We could go shopping and do plenty of things.” She smiled and Audrey chuckled.

“I'm longingly expecting that.” Audrey yawned.

Annabel made sure she was well tucked in and patted her head. “Goodnight, Audrey. Sleep well. I love you,” She whispered when the girl finally slept off and stood up.

Her phone beeped, and she picked it up to see that it was her boss at work calling. She quickly answered the call.

“Good evening, Mr. Mike.” She greeted him with a sigh.

“Annabel, come to the hotel right now. I need you to make a late delivery to a hotel room.” He ordered.

“I'm sorry sir, but my shift ended at 5pm today. I can't—”

“I'll add it to your pay.” He cut her off.

Annabel pressed her lips into a thin line.

“What did you say?” She asked to be certain. Maybe she heard him wrong the first time.

“I said I'll add it to your pay.” 

“I'll be there.”