Jasmine's POV

After work on Tuesday, I went to the hospital to see my mom. I walked slowly to the room she was in. I hated hospitals. The scent of antibacterial cleaning products lingered in the halls and it always felt like the cold hands of death were reaching for me.

I pushed in room fourteen and saw my mother lying down on the bed with machines attached to her to help her breathe, a mask over her nostril area to flow oxygen to her lungs, and a monitor beeping to indicate her heart rate. She looked like she was asleep. Or dead.

"Mom, I'm here. I know you're slipping away from me and Zenia as the days go by, but I'll do something to get that money so you can have a successful lung transplant. I can't let you die knowing I've done absolutely nothing to save you. I don't care if I have to sell my body to make that money, I'll do it for you Mommy."

I buried my face at the side of my mother and I began crying bitterly. I hated seeing her like this. I hated the fact that she was slipping away further and more each day. I hated the fact that I didn't have the money to save her. I hated the guilty feeling that was creeping up on me and making me felt like this was somehow my fault because I'd let her down. I vowed to take care of her and I couldn't even do that.

The door opened and a female doctor walked in.

"Good evening. Are you one of Mrs. Blackman's daughters?"

"Actually it's Miss Blackman. My mother was never married. And, yes, I'm the eldest daughter."

"Thanks for that clarification. I have some news I should tell you, no matter how hard it may be on you and your family."

I braced myself for the awful news I knew was coming.

"Her situation hasn't changed since she got here. And everyday without the transplant she gets worse. She has one month to live, or less if the transplant can't be done, and there's a waiting list, also.

"I wouldn't like to pull the plug on this woman. Isn't there anything you can do Miss Blackman? Isn't there someone you can ask for the money? Isn't there a bank you can get a loan from or anything at all? Time is ticking."

I began to cry again.

My mind blanked. I couldn't do anything for her. It would take months for me to save that money, maybe even a year or more. I didn't know anyone with that amount of money who'd lend it to me so I could save my mother. The only business I did at my bank was withdrawals. I had no savings and no securities that would qualify me for an instant loan.copy right hot novel pub