Paid in Blood for a Lie
My mother and I pushed ourselves, slaving away to pay for my girlfriend’s debt.
The work was too hard on her, and she was soon diagnosed with lung cancer.
By the time I arrived at the hospital with money for her treatment, my mother had taken her own life and left behind a note.
“I can’t go on, Gab. The money is best put toward settling the debts. Noelle is a good kid. She loves you. She’s just lost her way. That’s all. You two should settle down once the debts are cleared.”
I held my mother’s ashes and gave Noelle the thirty thousand dollars she had left behind.
Back in the office, I overheard Noelle talking to several creditors.
“Ms. Strom, Mr. Lamb has passed your test. What’s next on the agenda for him?”
Noelle’s childhood friend, Charles, jumped into the conversation.
“Gabriel has proven that he’s willing to be there for you through thick and thin, but will he stick around in wealth?
Noelle pursed her lips.
“I need to know if he genuinely loves me. If he isn’t blinded by greed when learning about who I am, I’ll marry him.”
I stared at my mother’s ashes, tears rolling down my face.
“Noelle, my mother was wrong about you, and so was I. I don’t want to marry you anymore.” I thought to myself.