I wasn’t in the mood to laugh. “I’ll get another job.”
“Huh?”
“I said I’ll get another job,” I repeated. “Since obviously working at the cash register isn’t enough.”
Caleb frowned. “Benji, you already work full-time. You can’t take another job, you’ll burn out.”
“Lots of people have two jobs,” I argued.
“Yes, and they get sick from stress.”
“Not as sick as you.”
Caleb groaned, getting angry now. “Youcan’tget sick because of me! Don’t be stupid!.”
I balled my fists at my side. “I’m not being stupid, I’m just doing what I have to to pay for your surgery.”
Tears of frustration welled in Caleb’s eyes. “Benji, I swear to god. We already lost mom and dad. Don’t do this to yourself.”
“Dowhat?” I said. “I’m just getting another job, Caleb, it’s not like I’m doing something insane.”
A dark shadow appeared on Caleb’s face. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter anyway.”
“What?” I said, almost snarling.
His eyes flitted up to mine. The light in them had been snuffed out. “I said, it doesn’t matter. No matter what you do, how many jobs you have… It won’t be enough for the surgery. And don’t try to deny it, Benji.”
Rage boiled in my gut - rage at Caleb for giving up so easily, rage at the doctors for not simply fixing him, rage at the world that had done this to my brother. It must have been visible on my face because Caleb’s brow furrowed.
“Benji?”
“I have to go,” I muttered, about to turn on my heel and leave. “The faster I can earn that money, the better.”
Caleb’s mouth tightened. “You won’t be able to do it. It’s an insane amount of money.”
I finally snapped, throwing my hands in the air. “So am I not supposed to even try? Am I just supposed to watch you wither away in that fucking bed? I can’t do that, okay, Caleb? You’re all I have left!”
Hurt flashed on my brother’s face, and I was consumed by guilt. I wasn’t helping him at all - just hurting him even more.
A nurse strode into the room, likely because of the sudden commotion. “Is everything okay here?”
“Fine,” I muttered. “I was just leaving.”
“Benji!” Caleb called, but I didn’t look back. I muttered a curt apology to the nurse as I moved past her and stormed into the hall. Hot tears stung my eyes. I hated fighting with Caleb, couldn’tstandit, especially in the state he was in right now, but my frustration had reached a breaking point. He was getting worse every day, and nothing was helping. The doctors could only do what they could to stave off his suffering - without the money for surgery, it was hopeless.
I wandered out of the hospital in a daze. My vision was still blurred by tears, which I wiped roughly on my sleeve.
Outside, the winter sun had already descended. Flurries and brutal winds hit me in the face as I stormed out of the hospital to the street. The surrounding darkness seemed to hit home how desperate my situation really was, like a crushing weight in my soul.
Where was I going to find a job that would make me enough money to help Caleb? As much as I hated to admit it, he was right - I already worked a full-time job, and working another would only exhaust me further. But what other choice did I have? I wasn’t going to watch my younger brother die just because I didn’t want to take on more stress in my life.
He needs me,I told myself.I’m the only person he has left to take care of him.
Since I couldn’t afford a car, I had to take the bus all the way home. I slumped into the seat within the bus shelter, thankful at least for the walls protecting me from the elements.
“What’s that smell?”
The sudden crass voice made me wince. A group of men approached the bus shelter - tall, muscular underneath their coats. The bitter cold made it harder to smell, but their scent was definitely alpha. Instinctively, I held my breath. As a lone omega, being around a group of alphas always made me uncomfortable.
