Amelia Bell

"What is wrong with me, why can't I get it right?" Amy grunted wanting to hit the keyboard in frustration. She placed her left elbow on the table and massaged her temple. She was struggling to create a story that her superiors would love.

The promotion that she has been aiming for is just within her reach. All she has to do is finish this one last task. This will be her proof that she is ready to move up from an assistant writer to becoming a full-time writer.

She has to write a romance book and she is failing miserably. Her managing editor declined her work multiple times for it lacks the actual details of the excitement and mystery associated with love, which was supposed to be the main topic of her book.

However, how can she compose something that she, herself, hasn't experienced before? Both her hands violently scratched her head in exasperation at the thought of it.

She was lost in thoughts trying to compose some story on her laptop when someone suddenly pushed down her laptop's screen.

She frowned and looked up at the culprit, "Ms. Amelia Bell, if you're not gonna write anything and just stare into nothingness, give up your seat to someone else and help me out here."

Her best friend Mary protested while looking down at her, hands on her waist, waiting for her answer.

It was a busy day at Bellory Cafe and Amy was at her usual seat at the corner of the coffee shop, by the window, overlooking the road outside. She loves this spot because she can see the whole interior of the shop while also getting a view of the outer part of it.

After Amy's dad promoted Mary to be the manager of the coffee shop, they renovated it from a boring old store into an urban industrial cafe to attract younger customers. Her mom used to sell her pastries that were a perfect match for their coffee. After she died, Mary's mom took over the job.

She usually helped Mary on days like this even before she inherited the cafe, but right now she must prioritize her manuscript.

"I'm sorry Mary, I know it's a busy day but I have a deadline, my boss needs this at the end of the month and I have nothing to submit," Amy replied with dropped shoulders obviously feeling disappointed with herself.

Mary pitied her seeing how gloomy she was right now. "If only I can help you I will, but I told you a million times to follow my suggestion then perhaps at least your writing problem will be solved."

Amy raised her right eyebrow upon hearing Mary's suggestion and wished that her best friend would stop suggesting things to her that she didn't have any plan of doing.

Amy sighs in annoyance for Mary would always bring up this topic every chance she gets, "You know that I vow to never fall in love and even if I break that vow right now, I would be jobless before I even get a man."

After her parents, brother, and sister-in-law died, she felt so guilty that she was alive and they were not. She was supposed to be with them in her nephew's moving-up ceremony. But she lied, saying she had work while out with friends.

It broke her completely. She lost them all in just one day.

To cope with that guilt she swore on their graves that she would not get married and dedicated herself to providing for her brother's children, who survived that car accident.

"That's not true! We both know that a man is waiting for you to become his," Mary excitedly winked at her.

Amy smiled a little thinking of the man Mary was talking about, "I know, he's always there but you know how I feel about him and I don't want to hurt him. He's…" Before she could finish talking, she heard the door chime as someone stepped into the cafe.

A tall man with dark blonde hair, green eyes, and a well-built body entered the cafe. Both of them smiled at the sight of him.

"Amy! You're here! Well look at that, it's my lucky day," the person who just came in called out.

"Speak of the devil… or rather… Prince Charming," Mary whispered while tapping her shoulder before going back to her post.

"Ash! It's good to see you, what are you doing here?" Amy said while giving Ash a light hug.

"To buy coffee and bread of course! You know I can't live without Bellory's coffee and Auntie's pastry. Plus taking the chance to find you here," Ash almost whispered the last words, blushing with glimmering eyes.

"I rarely see you lately; I really miss you, Amy." He was about to touch Amy's face when her phone rang, stopping him from doing so.

"Hello?" she immediately answered upon seeing who the caller was.

"I'm on my way doc," she quickly packed up her laptop and turned to Ash.

"Sorry Ash, it's Doctor Correy, he said we need to discuss Jayson's x-ray results."

Ash quickly took the opportunity to spend more time with Amy so he offered to drive her to the hospital and Amy just nodded.

She's used to it. Ash always offers to drive for her whenever they are together, ever since she sold her car to get more money for the hospital bills of her nephew Jayson and niece Jena.

Amy, Mary, and Ash grew up together. Mary is the daughter of their family's cook and driver. While Ash's father and Amy's dad were business partners.

Ash tried courting Amy but did not succeed. She turned him down multiple times but he did not give up, he's very persistent.

She was quiet in the car, anxious about Jayson's test result. Ash could only hold and squeeze her hand gently for he knew how worried Amy was. If only he could take her pain away, he would have done it a long time ago.

They reached the hospital in no time. "Ash drop me off near the entrance. There's no need for you to come with me, I will sleep here so Uncle Robert can rest at home and I will try to write tonight."

Whenever Amy has time, she usually stays in the hospital to take care of her nephew since her brother's in-laws also tend to her niece Jena. The old couple volunteered to look after the children so she could focus on her work and business.

They even gave Amy a room at their house, so she doesn't have to rent an apartment whenever she's in the city. Together, they help each other in making sure these kids have what they need as they grow up.

"OK, call me if you need anything then. Remember that you can call me anytime. It doesn't matter if I'm sleeping or at work, I will come to you. I'm always here for you," he affirmed as he took a quick glance at her.

Amy smiled sweetly at him. She can feel the sincerity of his words. At the same time, she felt a bit of pain in her heart, knowing that she couldn't return his love for her.

Ash is precious to her but only as a best friend and nothing more. She tried to love him back but her heart just won't follow.

As soon as Ash dropped Amy off, she hurriedly went to the doctor's office to hear what he had to say.

"Have a seat, Amy," the doctor instructed when he saw Amy peeking at the door.

"I'm afraid I have some sad news," Amy clutched her bag tightly as she braced herself to hear the details while unknowingly holding her breath.

She is trying her best to push back her tears. She should be used to it by now she told herself, she has been receiving bad news one after the other ever since the accident.

With a heavy heart, the doctor sighed heavily as he handed the x-ray film to Amy.

"Jayson needs the next series of surgeries as soon as possible, the growth of his body will be affected and some of his nerves might not work anymore if we delay it further. I know your financial situation, but as Jayson's doctor I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news."

Amy just stared at the film that she was holding as her eyes were starting to get blurry. She knows that there's no way that she can afford the surgery.

If her nephew does not go through it, the doctors will soon need to amputate his legs. She's doing everything she can so that it will not happen. They were able to save his arms but her money was not enough to fix his legs.

Her nephew is only 9 years old and she wants him to have a good life, he lost his parents at a young age and she can't let him lose his legs too.

Amy was only 22 years old when it happened. Almost 3 years had passed but Jayson is still not better.

The rescuers said, from the looks of the bodies they found, it seemed that his brother protected her niece with his own body. That's why she only inflicted minor injuries. She was only 4 years old back then.

However, Jayson was thrown out of the car due to the impact of the collision giving him multiple life-threatening injuries.

He had a head injury, multiple organ trauma, and broken bones. It was a miracle that he survived. He was comatose for 6 months and needed to go through a lot of surgeries to live.

After discussing other important things with the doctor, Amy went out of the doctor's office only to find her tears threatening to fall down.

Knowing she could not stop herself from crying, she ran towards the fire stairwell to let out her emotions without people watching her.

Just imagining Jayson without his legs, she felt hopeless and devastated, their remaining properties were already in collateral with the bank.

She sold everything that she owns, she's in huge debt and all she can do now is just cry her heart out.

Thinking back then, their family was happy and content. His father built his company from nothing and worked very hard for it to grow and give them a good life.

But after he died, she found out that there were unpaid debts and the insurance claim was not enough to pay it off.

Her nephew surviving such a condition is the only thing that is keeping her sane. She thought that she would fight as long as he was fighting. She will never give up, she must find a way to make the surgery happen. She will do whatever it takes for her remaining family.

They may not be her own children, but they are her family, her brother's most precious treasure, and her parent's happiness. She is willing to sacrifice herself for them.

But what else can she do, when she has nothing to sell anymore? But, is there really nothing that she can do?