When There Is Nothing Left But Love

With that said, the two men turned and left.

I watched them leave before looking back at Kristina. It was then that I realized she had a name card in her hand.

I wondered what that was, but the question was not pressing enough for me to ask her about it. Instead, I thanked her in all seriousness.

She did not reciprocate my affection. “This is not a safe place, so just stay away.”

I wanted to ask her why she was here.

Yet before I could say a word, she held out her name card to a man who just came out of the bar with a lascivious smile on her face. I was stunned by her sudden change of expression. The man threw the name card on the floor and I caught a glimpse of it. There was a picture of an attractive woman printed on it. Beside the picture were her phone number, address, and a price tag.

It did not take much effort to recognize the person in the photo. It was Kristina herself. I was at a loss for words. I wanted to say something, but I had to try so hard to swallow my emotions back in. “Do you need money?” I asked without much discretion.

My brutal question elicited a painful expression on her face as she pursed her lips. “Of course I do. Who doesn’t need money? No one can live without money.”

“You know I don’t mean it that way.” I tried explaining myself.

cards tighter and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Just leave before you meet

only reasonable explanation I could think of. She had lost her hair and she looked battered. Even her face looked

I knew she was a prideful person. There was no way she would stoop so low just to earn money. It must be

own business. Stop getting in my way. I need to

illness must

do business, you’ll have to do as your client wants

gaze on me. “What

so just do as I say,” I

clients. I don’t have time for you if you’re just here to shame me. If you’re getting revenge on me because of that kid, karma has already hit me hard enough, so just leave me alone,” she said with a hint of remorse in her

to me. You must live nearby. Bring

while before she

cried out, “Kristina, don’t you think you should help me out a little?”

already difficult enough for me. This is the truth, whether

and shrugged helplessly. “Just

not like I could force her to