CHAPTER3
Jessica
Istared at the latest invoice from Krissy’s rehab treatment. The amount made my eyes water and my gut clench. I needed to call to make a payment, but in truth I wasn’t sure where that money was coming from. I’d spent everything I had from my own paycheck this month and I’d maxed out my credit card to pay for her first week there.
Now, they needed more money and I wasn’t sure how the hell I was going to get it.
I didn’t want to pull Krissy out of the facility. That was not an option. The treatment was working—or it seemed to be. It was early yet, and it would take time for her to get clean, but already I could see a difference in my sister during my visit yesterday evening.
She was more settled. More like the Krissy I remembered before the drugs got a stranglehold on her. Before addiction consumed her life. I wanted her to prove our parents wrong. I wanted her to make something of herself. I wasn’t ready to give up on my sister.
I didn’t think I ever would be.
But the center was pricey and bills were stacking up. I was already struggling to pay the everyday utilities and rent. This was wiping me out faster than I could raise what I needed to.
I’d tried to re-negotiate a payment schedule, but the billing department could only reduce my payments by a hundred dollars a month. It was something, but it wasn’t enough.
My debts were growing faster than I could pay them back.
I needed money. Now.
If I couldn’t pay the center they would kick her out and she’d go right back to her old habits. I was truly worried the next time she overdosed could be the last time. She was already walking a tightrope with her life. She’d had more second chances than I could count. It was only a matter of time before her luck ran out.
She needed the treatment, as expensive as it was.
I’d been trying to find a second job for extra income, but I’d heard nothing. I’d applied to bars, even a security job. I didn’t hear back from any of them.
Staring at the bill made my stomach twist. I was out of options—and time.
Desperation had me grabbing my phone and pulling up Kyra’s contact details. I paused for a moment before hitting the call button. I didn’t want Kyra to know I was struggling, but I needed this.
She was my only chance.
She picked up on the third ring.
“Hey, girl. How are you?” The happiness in her voice made me smile.
“I’m good.” That was a lie, but I’d gotten so used to perpetuating it. I bit my bottom lip and then decided the only way to do this was to rip off the Band Aid. “I think I might need to take you up on your offer.”
“Which offer?”
“The job.”
“Is everything okay?”
I wanted to tell her what was going on with my sister. I wanted someone to tell me things would be all right, but I didn’t want her to feel sorry for me either. This mess was mine to clean up, not Kyra’s. If she could get me the job and it paid decently, I might just about be able to keep my head above the water threatening to drown me.
“I just need the money. Is there some kind of training? I’ll do whatever you need.” I winced internally as I asked, “Is there any way I can work as an accountant at night? I need to keep my day job.”
There was silence for a moment before she said, “I only work at night.”
This confused me. What kind of accountant worked nights only? It was good for me, because I could fit it around my schedule, but I still found myself saying, “But you’re an accountant…”
Kyra made a funny noise. “I’m not really an accountant, Jessica.”
I didn’t understand what she was saying. “So there’s no accounting job?”
“Oh there’s a job. It just doesn’t involve looking at figures and spreadsheets.”