After years of pent – up resentment and hardship, Mike stumbles upon a stunning secret hidden within the Bible his late grandmother bequeathed him. What initially served as a painful reminder of their final altercation soon transforms into a veritable lifeline.
Mike slumped behind the grocery store counter, his uniform rumpled and his face etched with weariness. The rhythmic hum of scanners and the ambient chatter of customers surrounded him, yet his mind was adrift in distant thoughts. Mechanically, he bagged a customer’s groceries, mustering a forced smile as they handed him a crumpled twenty – dollar bill.
“Thank you. Have a good day,” he croaked, though the days had long since lost their luster for him.
As the next customer stepped up, Mike’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He knew exactly what it was without even looking.
Another notification about a medical bill.
He’d already seen one earlier that morning while pouring himself a cup of instant coffee, a grim reminder that his mother’s frequent hospital visits were drowning them in debt.
Mike worked six days a week, often pulling double shifts, yet the meager earnings barely kept their heads above water.
His mother, Kaila, was deteriorating, and the necessary treatments, while crucial, felt like an anchor dragging them deeper into financial despair.
By the end of his shift, Mike was utterly exhausted. His feet throbbed with pain as he stepped out into the cold night air. He trudged wearily towards the small, dimly – lit apartment he shared with his mother.
The moment he entered, he noticed her sitting on the couch, her small, fragile frame huddled beneath a blanket.