The chance of a Lifetime

9th July 2022 - LA Medical Hospital - 5:42PM

Kai just stared at the ceiling above. He couldn't breath, couldn't think. All his life, he wanted one thing. Struggled for it. Craved for it and now it was beyond his reach. Tears pooled in the corner of his eyes but he refused to let them fall. After his Nana's passing, he promised himself that he wouldn't cry. He would keep moving, he would figh--

Try as he might the tears fell and weren't stopping. because of the bullet and the heavy meds, it was difficult to even move his arms. Tears continued to move down his face as he couldn't come to terms with what these last 24 hours have brought him.

As he was wallowing in his own misery, the door gently opened and 3 people moved into the room. A woman in her late 30s entered followed by a man in his early 40s followed by an even older man that Kai recognized! It was the blind elder that came to the convenience store last night.

Kai stared at the old man in shock while the 3 people moved into the room. The man and the woman, a couple Kai presumed as they both were of different ethnicities. The man seemed to be a white male with black hair and blue eyes and the woman had a breathtaking chocolate skin with black hair and hazel eyes. Kai's attention shifted to the man as he cleared his throat.

"Mr. Kai Jones" The man began, "I have spoken to Richard about your condition and firstly I have to express my gratitude for looking after my father" the man sincerely expressed, his expression honest. "Secondly I express my sincerest apologies for your condition" the man's face fell and the woman flinched after hearing that.

Kai flinched for a split second before his eyes fell to the old man next to his son. "Are you alright sir?" Even now the first question he aske was about the elderly gentleman as he seemed to be walking with a slight limp and wincing. 

Kai couldn't see the man's eyes but he saw the man coming near him and reaching his hand out. The son quickly guided his father to Kai's bed and the man touched Kai's hand before speaking "Dear boy, I've lived my life plenty. I should be asking you this question. Are you alright?" There was genuine concern in his tone.

"..." Kai did not know how to respond to that. He just used his willpower to squeeze the man's hand to try and reassure him.

The couple saw that moment and the woman even teared up a little. The man cleared his throat once again. "Mr. Jones, my name is Steven August. This is my wife Eliza and my father Jeffrey August. I'm the Chief of the cosmetology department of this hospital and I promise you that we will try and find a way to help you the best we can. I'm already in talks with the doctor you spoke to earlier, Richard and I have made some calls to the best surgeons in the country to see if there are any experimental treatments/surgeries to help you walk again. Please do not lose hope." The man stated firmly.

For the first time since they arrived in the room, Kai looked at Steven with something akin to hope and Steven briefly smiled at the young man. "Do not worry about the treatment costs and the hospital bills as we will be taking care of everything as well"

Kai looked at the man with wide eyes but couldn't say a word. He was completely shocked. He might walk again? Could he still achieve his dreams and live a healthy life? After being thrown to the depths of hell, he was thrown a lifeline by a man he had never seen before. He had never felt such a way.

The only feeling that came to him was gratitude. "Thank you." Kai said in a low tone.

The man did not say anything but by the widening of his smile, Kai understood that Steven had heard him.