While My Mother Died

Marco was at the door. He was on his way out.

He had not left.

I held my breath. I didn't speak.

A voice came from inside the apartment behind him.

"Who's at the door? Hurry up and go buy condoms. I can't hold it anymore!"

The room came into view.

Four or five men I had never seen were sitting around on the couch. Diana was in the middle of them. One shoulder bare. Her clothes rising and falling in a way that shouldn't have been happening.

Marco gave me a sideways look and grinned.

"Look who came back. The ATM.

"Diana said it wasn't exciting enough, so I brought a few friends over. You don't mind, do you?"

Every nerve in me caught fire.

The marital home was something we bought after the wedding. She said we needed a place in a good school district for the future. I had emptied my savings to get it.

She was always busy, so I handled the renovation myself. Every piece of furniture, every appliance, I picked them all out.

Even the couch those men were sitting on, I went to over ten furniture stores before choosing it.

And now… my home was filled with the presence of strangers.

"Come in."

Diana, still breathing unevenly, spoke from the couch.

I walked in. Each step felt heavy.

"Does it bother you?"

She leaned against a man's shoulder, eyes half-closed.

I thought about the surgery tomorrow. I swallowed everything down.

"No."

Diana let out a small laugh. "The card you gave me is maxed out. Get me more money. I want to give them some small gifts."

I lowered my head. "Too many shipments lately. Cash flow's tight. The two million in that account was the last of it."

Her expression darkened. "Then use your credit cards."

I hesitated.

Marco walked up behind me and kicked the back of my knee.

Thud.

I dropped to the floor, my forehead slamming into the coffee table.

He pulled out his phone and started recording.

"You dare ignore Diana? A little ATM thinks he can rebel?"

I grabbed onto my pants, keeping my head down, not wanting my face in the video.

Diana noticed.

"Lift his face. It didn't catch it."

Marco grabbed my chin and yanked it up.

He leaned in close. The phone screen showed both our faces.

"Say it. You're an ATM."

I felt nothing. My voice came out stiff.

"I'm an ATM."

"Whatever your master wants, you give her."

"Whatever my master wants, I give her."

Marco licked his lips.

Then he suddenly stepped in front of me, pointing the rear camera straight at my face.

"Take out your credit cards."

My hands trembled as I opened my wallet and pulled them out.

He snatched them and handed them to Diana.

"Check the limit, Diana."

Diana took out a card machine and tapped a few numbers.

"Only one million," she said, clearly displeased.

Marco smacked me across the face.

"Useless. Who are you trying to fool with this amount?"

My whole body trembled. I didn't dare speak.

Marco looked around the apartment.

"Nice place. Diana, why don't we have him sell it and split the money among the guys?"

Diana hesitated for a moment… then nodded.

"You. Sign the papers. Transfer the house to them."