Chapter Two
Silver peeked around the corner watching as Layland, if that was his real name, got in his car and drove off. Leaning back against the wall, he closed his eyes, hoping to stop his tears from falling.
That was so embarrassing. He couldn't keep living like this.
Once he was sure everyone who witnessed his embarrassment was gone, he stepped out of his hiding spot and started the thirty-minute walk home. Three weeks ago, Silver had to sell his car to pay for his mother's new medication and past and present hospital visits. A little over a year ago his mom, Avery, was diagnosed with stage three Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Avery had always been a vibrant, healthy woman. She liked walking to work every day, ate organic, and did everything right. But like every human being, she had her one vice: smoking. Her illness started out slow and the doctors diagnosed and treated Avery for asthma since she had shortness of breath, chest pains, and wheezing. For some time, she was unable to do the things she loved. Everyone thought Avery was managing her symptoms and was getting back to normal until one day at work she had to be rushed to the hospital because of a severe attack. Nothing the doctors did seemed to be working until Silver told on Avery for being a smoker. Silver wasn't sure how she did it, but his mom hid her cigarette habit from her doctors.
Things got pretty bad after the official diagnosis. Silver thought about how easy and carefree his life was a year or so ago. His only worry was trying to get into medical school; Silver was working on his bachelor's in science and working part-time. He wasn't born into a wealthy family and started working when he was able to. Before Avery got sick, she worked at the supermarket where he experienced his embarrassing situation earlier. Silver worked at fast food joints until he started college. Even with student loans and working part-time, he didn't have enough to pay for classes and food afterward. That's when he found out about 'Perfect Dates' escort services from a friend.
