I slumped against the peeling wall, gasping as the chemicals forced my heart rate down. "I take it because it's cheap. And because it works fast."
Countless late-night livestreams, endless hours of exhaustion—I needed the heavy stuff just to suppress the agony in my chest.
Tears welled in Mom's eyes. "I'm calling an ambulance. We're going to General Hospital right now."
I took a shuddering breath and pushed myself up. "Don't bother. Just pay for the rabies vaccine. That's all I need. I have a stream in twenty minutes."
Dad's face turned violent red. "Work? At a time like this? Is money more important than your life?"
He grabbed my arm to stop me, his grip so tight it tore my sleeve.
Something inside me snapped.
"I care about work because I can't afford a cardiac assist device!" I screamed, my voice echoing off concrete. "Because my parents used their connections to help a stranger snatch my donor heart! Because you'd rather save the world than help me front the medical expenses!"
Silence.
"I have to work myself to death just to stay alive!" Tears burned my cheeks. "Livestreaming is the only job my body can handle. You look down on it? Fine. But at least it puts food in my stomach!"