and I’m trapped inside, surrounded by darkness.
“How much?” The man asks while he takes me out of a plastic bag I’ve been carried in. The next thing I know there’s intoxicating lights being blazed at me. I’m turned in every direction, scanned and investigated until the buyer knows everything there’s to know about me.
“It’s 18 carat gold with a single diamond of 2 carats. It’s good Ray, it’s very good. Where’d you find it?”
“That’s not what you care about. How much?” Ray’s monotone voice penetrates.
“I was thinking about twenty six hundred.” The buyer sounding board.
“What, that’s it? Two thousand six hundred dollars? You know that won’t even cover half of Jennas treatment.” Ray’s voice now sounds desperate.
“Ray we’ve talked about this, I’m sorry but you are in no position to argue. Three thousand is my best offer.”
“Please, my baby needs this, our health insurance only covers the hospital’s facilities, she needs a new medication. The chemo is not working anymore.” I’m astounded, Ray was so desperate to save his daughter he would do anything, including risk going to jail. The buyer looks at Ray with pity filling his eyes.
“Fine, I’ll do the cleaning for free, but thirty two hundred is the most I can offer.” Ray thanks him and the buyer goes to the back to collect the money. I am left alone with Ray and I can see his hands shake as he tried to muffle a sobb. We hear footsteps approaching and Ray quickly composes himself.
“Here.” He hands Ray a envelope thick with cash. Ray opens it and begins to count. When he’s done he looks at the man behind the counter.
“Thank you.” He places the envelope in the back of his jeans and pulls his shirt down to cover it. I only hear a distant bell to know that Ray’s gone.