Landon’s POV
The hospital smelled exactly the way hospitals always did and I didn’t like it for that same reason.
I hated coming here and I did my best to avoid coming here, and it wasn’t because of the doctors or because I was scared of needles.
But because every visit reminded me that no matter how many fights I won or no matter how much money I earned…
Coral still wasn’t getting better fast enough.
“You don’t have to walk me all the way inside, Landon.” Coral smiled as we stepped through the sliding glass doors.
“I know mum.”
“But you’re doing it anyway.” She said and sighed dramatically befor coughing, her once shiny black hair was now turning grey and she wasn’t even old yet.
“You inherited your stubbornness from your father.” She said
I clenched my jaw ” don’t compare me to that monster again, I don’t get anything from him” I snapped
She went silent and nodded, I sighed
“Just focus on getting better mum, I have only you and no one else”
“I wish you would let go of all that hate in your heart” she said
I glanced at her as we walked toward the respiratory clinic.
She looked healthier than she had a few months ago.
There was a little more colour in her face and she wasn’t coughing every five minutes anymore.
But she was still thin.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she said without turning around.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m going to disappear and im not going to stop talking about your father either.”
I looked away.
“I’m just making sure you’re okay.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Right on cue she coughed again and then pressed a tissue against her lips until it passed.
I pretended not to notice and she pretended nothing had happened.
That was our routine.
“Mrs.
Harlway?”
A nurse smiled as she approached us.
“The doctor is ready for you.”
Mom stood up “I’ll be right back.”
I nodded.
“I’ll wait here.”
She squeezed my shoulder before following the nurse down the hallway.
The moment she disappeared around the corner i leaned back in my chair and let out a slow breath.
Hospitals always made time move differently.
Five minutes felt like fifty.
I watched as parents chased their toddlers through the waiting room.
A television mounted in the corner played a cooking show nobody was watching.
An old man snored softly across from me.
I checked my phone and there were no new messages.
Good.
Peace and quiet, exactly what I needed.
“Landon?”
I looked up.
Dr.
David stood at the consultation room door.
“You can come in.”
I slipped my phone into my pocket and followed him inside.
Coral was already seated opposite his desk.
She smiled when I entered.
“Told you it wouldn’t take long.”
Dr.
David opened her file.
“I’ve gone over your latest scans.”
Neither of us spoke.
“We’re seeing improvement.” He said
I felt myself relax.
“The inflammation in your lungs has reduced compared to your last visit.”
Coral smiled softly.
“That’s wonderful news.”
“It is.”
He adjusted his glasses.
“But”
My shoulders tensed again.
“The treatment isn’t over.”
Of course it wasn’t.
“The medication is working, but your lungs are still very fragile.”
He looked at Mom.
“You need to avoid overworking yourself.”
“I know.”
“And absolutely no missing your medication.”
“I haven’t.”
“Good.”
He smiled kindly.
“If you keep following the treatment plan, I’m optimistic.”
Optimistic but not hundred percent sure.
I’d take it.
The consultation ended a few minutes later.
After collecting her prescriptions, we slowly made our way out of the hospital.
The afternoon sun felt warmer than before.
Mom inhaled deeply.
“I always appreciate fresh air after hospitals.”
“They’re not that bad.”
“They are if you’re the patient.” She said
I unlocked the passenger door for her.
She climbed in before looking at me.
“You’ve been awfully quiet today.”
“I’m thinking.”
“About doing something dangerous again?.”
I smirked.
“I’ll survive.”
She studied me for a few seconds.
“Your lip.”
I instinctively touched the cut.
“What about it?”
“You fought again.”
“I trained with some guys.”
“Landon.”
“I trained mum leave it alone.”
She sighed.
“You’ve never been able to lie to me.”
I looked away and she didn’t press further.
Instead she reached over and gently brushed a strand of hair away from my forehead the same way she had when I was little.
“I know why you’re doing it but it’s my responsibility, im meant to be the one doing all this, not you” she said
“Mom.” I gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“I’ll pay everything off I promise, just focus on getting better.”
She smiled sadly.
“Landon” Her voice was so quiet I almost didn’t hear it.
“When all of this is over” I looked at her.
“I want you to stop surviving”
She placed a gentle hand over mine.
“and start living.”
I didn’t know what to say to her because the truth was I couldn’t remember what living felt like.
The ride home was quiet.
Coral dozed off in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window while music played through the speakers.
Every now and then she coughed in her sleep, and each cough tightened something inside my chest.
I hated that sound more than anything.
When we reached home, I parked in front of our small house and turned off the engine.
She opened her eyes and smiled at me.
“I fell asleep, didn’t I?”
“For about fifteen minutes.”
“I must be getting old.”
“You’ve always been old.”
She gasped dramatically.
“Excuse me?”
I smirked.
“You heard me.”
She reached over and flicked my forehead.
“I carried you for nine months.”
“And I appreciate your service.”
She laughed and the sound was genuine.
“I raised a menace.”
“You sure did.”
We got out of the car together and I carried the paper bag filled with her medication while she unlocked the front door.
Once we were inside, I walked straight to the kitchen and placed everything neatly on the counter.
“The doctor said one after breakfast, one after dinner and the inhaler before bed.”
“I remember.”
“I’m writing it down anyway.”
“Landon.”
“What?”
“I know how to take medicine.”
“I know.”
She shook her head with a helpless smile.
“You worry too much.”
I filled a glass of water and placed it beside her medication.
She watched me quietly.
“Thank you.”
I shrugged.
“It’s nothing I’ll be back later.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’ve got something to do.”
“Be careful.” She said
“I always am.”
That was a lie.
Vincent’s office was exactly as I remembered, cold and eerie, the kind of place that made you feel uncomfortable the moment you walked in.
Two guards stood outside the office door.
One of them nodded when he saw me.
“He’s been expecting you.”
I stepped inside and Vincent sat behind his desk, lazily swirling a glass of whiskey in his extremely tight suit again.
He didn’t even look up.
“You’re late.”
“I said I’d come after the hospital.”
“You did.”
He finally lifted his eyes to me.
“How’s your mother?”
“Alive.”
“Hm.”
That was the closest thing to sympathy Vincent had ever shown.
I reached into my jacket and placed a thick envelope on the desk.
“Your money.”
Vincent didn’t touch it immediately.
One of the men standing behind him stepped forward, opened the envelope and quickly counted the cash.
“Everything’s here.”
Vincent nodded once.
He opened a drawer and pulled out a black ledger.
Flipping through several pages, he stopped at one filled with figures.
A pen scratched across the paper.
He crossed out today’s payment before closing the book.
“You’ve made good progress.”
I said nothing and he leaned back in his chair.
“At this rate” He tapped the ledger thoughtfully.
“another six months and you’re clear.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“You heard me boy.”
He slid the ledger across the desk.
“The debt will be cleared in six months.”
For a second I almost forgot how to breathe, it will all be over in six months.
After years of underground fights and years of taking jobs I hated.
There was finally an end.
I stared at the ledger.
“So that’s it?”
Vincent chuckled.
“Don’t look so excited.”
“I didn’t say I was.”
“But you’re thinking it.”
He leaned forward.
“Six months is a long time, Landon.”
His smile was cold.
“A lot can happen in six months.”
I met his gaze without blinking.
“I’ll finish it.”
“I hope so.”
He folded his hands together.
“Because if you don’t” His voice remained calm.
“the interest starts again.”
The room fell silent and I knew it was a threat.
I picked up the ledger, looked at the final figure, then set it back down.
“I’ll have your money.”
“I know you will.”
Vincent smiled.
“That’s why you’re my favourite.”
I almost laughed.
“If I were your favourite i wouldn’t be here?”
“Exactly.”
He grinned.
“Get out.”
I didn’t need to be told twice, I turned and walked toward the door.
“Landon.”
I stopped without looking back.
“Yes?”
Vincent’s voice echoed through the office.
“Try not to get yourself killed before you finish paying me.”
A humourless laugh left my lips.
“I’ll do my best.”