Pens - Desperation

"I wanna live a life from a new perspective."
- New Perspective (Panic! at the Disco)

Every time I get on a bus and speak over these crowd of busy people, I start to hate myself even more. It feels so humiliating for me to hand these pieces of paper with the prices of the pens I sell. But it's not like I have much of a choice. Desperation makes the toughest men crumble at their feet.
18 years ago, I thought things would be way different. Vincent Reyes was going to start working his way through school and actually do something with his life.
I ended up knocking some chick up and dropping out of college. I was on my own. What little money I had was supposed to be enough for just me and 4 years of college. It was such a waste. My little girl is my life now. With her mom out of the picture, I'm all she has. And for years, I have struggled so desperately to make sure that I didn't spend all the money I had left. I did every job humanely possible without a degree. But even that couldn't stop Annie from getting leukemia. Now she's fighting so desperately to stay alive and I've lost practically all I have just to keep her breathing in that hospital bed.
The thing about passing these notes is that no matter how much of my desperation I put in these, they don't necessarily work. I can't call these people bad, but I know that to them, I'm just another annoying bus vendor. The way they look away whenever I force the paper on their laps. The teenagers who max their music's volume as I speak. The especially annoyed ones that drop the paper. One or two of the people on the bus would take pity on me and buy something. But 20 Pesos cannot pay for my daughter's hospital bills. Once I've reached the end of the bus I'm on, I know that I've only managed to secure one sale today. I sigh and start walking back, collecting my papers from each one. Some return it apologetically and some just let me pick it up. A teenage girl is the one who ends up buying a pen. "God bless you po." She says and hands me an extra 5 Pesos.
God huh? I haven't really prayed in forever. He's abandoned me already. Why bother asking for his help?
As I'm almost back to the entrance, a guy in a suit hands me back my paper but stops me from leaving. "I can't buy your pens. But I can offer you something better."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Take a seat. Let me give you an offer that can save your little girl." A chill runs down my spine as I stand there trying to rationalize what is happening. This stranger is offering some way to help my daughter. Is he a drug addict?
"I need to get off the next stop." I say.
He chuckles, scratching his cheek as his brown eyes stay on mine. "Frankly sir, I can see why you'd be wary of me. But give me the benefit of the doubt."
He hands me a matte black card with silver lettering on it.

YMV Infinity
Changing Lives For The Better
09178447310

"Think about it." He places the card on my hand and turns away.
The bus slowed as the next stop came closer. I quickly gather what cards I had gave out and prepare to leave.

Annie remained asleep with Doctors coming in and out of her room to feed her more medicine. It's not fair for her to have to deal with this.
"Hey man." Josh Alagano, one of the few friends that still stuck around, visited. He had a large teddy bear with him and placed it next to Annie. "How are you holding up?"
"Badly. I've made about 120 Pesos. And that's about it."
Josh reached into his pocket and handed me a crisp 1000 peso bill. "Take it man. I know I can't really give you a lot, but I can at least help you buy some medicine."
Josh was my friend from high school. Out of all the friends I had, he's the only one who's found at least some form of mild success as an engineer. We remained in touch because.. Frankly, I don't know why he or anyone in my life still sticks around.
"Thank you." A month ago when the leukemia was first diagnosed, I would have outright refused any form of help. But these days, I'll take what I can get. "But what I really need is a job..."
"I can't help you there. All of my connections require a degree. And with you having been unable to finish your course, I can't get you into my or any company."
I knew that. But being reminded hurts sometimes.
The door opened and Doctor Garcia enters. "May I speak to you, Mister Reyes?"
"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on her." Josh smiles and turns his attention to my daughter.
I follow the Doctor outside, waiting for whatever could be wrong.
"It's getting worse." She tells me. "The medicine is not fighting off the leukemia. We're gonna have to start chemotherapy and maybe transfer her to another hospital with better facilities."
I could feel my heart begin to race as I cross my arms.
"How much do I have to pay for all of that?"
"Mister Reyes, that's--"
I honestly wanted to shout. But instead, I turned my head and ended up releasing a choked sob as I spoke. "How much... will it cost... to save my daughter?"
The doctor looked down and clutched her clipboard to her chest. "Way more expensive than everything we currently provide."
She lets out a sigh and looks at me. "Mister Reyes, we don't have to talk about this right now. We need to focus on saving her first. Excuse me."
I'm left standing at the hallway as Doctor Garcia strode away.
What else could I still possibly do? I'm running out of options. Maybe I should just sell my kidney...
I enter the room and take a seat.
"What's wrong?" Josh asks.
"It's getting worse." I say.
"Vince..." He takes out his phone and starts dialing something.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"I'm calling my wife. Maybe Rina can help you too."
I make him drop his phone and we sit in silence. "You don't need to give your wife any more stress. I know she cares too, but I'll think of something."
He remains silent for a moment before standing up. "You might not like my next idea. But maybe you should call your parents."
I didn't need to answer for him to understand that I was never calling my family again. It took me years of planning just to escape my parents. I didn't need their help before. I wasn't going to get on my knees for their help now.
"I need to go." Josh says. "I have to go pick up some groceries. I'll see you again."
"Thanks." And he's gone.
My daughter stirs from the bed and opens her eyes. She lets out a vibrant smile despite the pain she is enduring. "Daddy."
She squeals to find the bear next to her. "Is this from Uncle Josh?"
I nod and watch her carefully snuggle up to the toy.
This was the pure bliss that Annie deserves to have on a daily basis. Not to be pricked by thousands of big needles.
There has to be something I could do. With my desperation, I'm willing to do anything just to make sure she can keep smiling like this until she's old enough to fall in love and live a nice life.
As I take my phone out to search for more jobs, a card falls from my pocket.
The business card from that creepy guy on the bus.
"YMV Infinity... Changing lives for the better..." My hands grip the card tightly. Am I really this desperate to trust this kind of shady company?
...Yes.
"Annie, I'll be right back." I step out and dial the number.
After about 4 rings, someone picks up.
"Hello. Thank you for calling YMV Infinity. How can I help you?"
"Yes. One of your employees gave me this card on a bus. Can you really help me solve my problem?
"That's right, Mister Reyes. Our company strives to change lives and eliminate all of our clients problems."
"How did you know my name?"
"That's the least of your worries, Sir. If I were you, I'd close my eyes for what's about to happen next."
"What do you mean?" I shut my eyes anyway. "What's going to happen?"
The sounds of bustling doctors ceased and the smell of medication vanished.
When I open my eyes, I'm no longer at the hospital. Rather, I've been transported into some sort of forest.
The guy on the phone hung up, but I could still hear his voice from somewhere.
"Welcome to YMV's Life Alter program. As you all know, you've been brought here after looking for a solution to your problems. And we will give you just that."
"And how does this even work?" I whisper to myself. "How am I here, even? Magic."
"We want to test the worth of what you fight for."  the voice says. "To earn our help, all you need to do... is to kill the other contestants."

Authors notes:
This story was inspired by pen vendors that come to the bus to sell pens for various reasons. Stay tuned for part 2.