The end before the beginning

Alex was only nineteen, but life had already burdened him with responsibilities far heavier than anyone his age should bear. His parents had died in a tragic accident, leaving him to care for his fifteen-year-old sister, Iris.

He had no choice but to step up. With no one else to turn to, Alex took on the role of provider, protector, and parent. He worked tirelessly at a local mart, earning a meager income that barely scratched the surface of their needs. The rent alone was a struggle, and every day felt like a battle he was losing.

But then, three months into his job, the unthinkable happened. Iris fell ill. What began as fatigue and fever quickly escalated into devastating news—cancer. Alex had barely started to figure out how to survive on his own, and now he was faced with the impossible task of saving his sister's life.

It's been a year since then. Alex was now twenty, but he felt decades older. Life forced him to grow up too fast, and every day felt heavier than the last. His mornings were spent stocking shelves at the mart, while his nights were consumed by worry and fear.

As he arranged the shelves at work, his mind drifted to Iris. He pictured her frail body, her once-bright eyes now dimmed by exhaustion. Guilt clawed at him. He wanted to do more, to be more, but no matter how hard he worked, it was never enough.

"Why us?" he thought bitterly, gripping a box of canned goods tighter than he should. His chest ached with frustration and helplessness.

The store was quiet that morning, but the silence didn't bring him peace. It only gave space to the thoughts he tried so hard to suppress.

"I can't lose her too," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. "I won't."

But deep down, he was terrified. Terrified that no matter how hard he worked, no matter how much he sacrificed, it wouldn't be enough to save her.

"Hey, Alex," his boss, Mr. Carson, called out, stopping Alex mid-thought.

"Yes, Mr. Carson?" Alex replied, giving all his attention to what his boss was about to say.

"You've been lookin' tired lately, kid. You alright?" Mr. Carson asked.

Alex straightened up and forced a smile, though his eyes betrayed the exhaustion etched deep in his soul. "I'm fine, Mr. Carson. Just… been a long week," Alex said, reassuring his boss he was okay, still keeping the smile on his face.

"Yooo!!!"

A loud noise interrupted the discussion, cutting it short.

"It's your best friend," Mr. Carson said with a disappointed look, shaking his head as he made his way out of the room before Kevin could burst in.

Mr. Carson was never against Alex having visitors over. In fact, he'd grown fond of Alex's sister, Iris, back when she used to bring him lunch before she fell ill. He always enjoyed her cheerful company and the way she brightened the store. Over time, he'd also gotten used to Kevin's frequent appearances, though Kevin's loud and mischievous demeanor often clashed with the quiet atmosphere of the mart.

Mr. Carson had always been kind to Alex, not just because he admired the sense of responsibility Alex carried at such a young age, but also because Alex was a hard worker. He never caused trouble, always showed up on time, and took his job seriously. Mr. Carson deeply respected him. Though he didn't say it outright, Mr. Carson quietly rooted for Alex, knowing how much he was carrying on his shoulders.

"There you are!" Kevin exclaimed, storming toward Alex with a mischievous grin. Without hesitation, he grabbed Alex by the neck, ruffling his hair like he was about to give him a noogie.

"Stop! You're roughing up my hair!" Alex protested, squirming to get free, clearly annoyed.

Kevin laughed, ignoring Alex's distress.

"What do you want, Kevin?" Alex asked, already pissed as he shoved Kevin's hand off.

"I came to invite you to a new club downtown," Kevin replied, still grinning.

But Alex wasn't in the mood. He removed Kevin's hand forcefully and pushed him back.

"Not interested," Alex muttered, crossing his arms.

"You know I have to take care of my sister… You know that, right?" Alex said, shrugging off Kevin's arm and returning to stocking shelves.

Kevin leaned against the display, lowering his voice. "That's exactly why I'm here, man. You're killing yourself with this minimum-wage job. Your sister needs real help, and I know a way you can make serious money."

Alex's hands stilled on the canned goods. "I told you before, I'm not interested in becoming a runner."

"Really? Because those medical bills aren't going anywhere." Kevin pulled out his phone, showing Alex a bank transfer screen. "One night's work—more than you make in two months here. Think about Iris."

Alex turned away, his jaw clenched. "It's not that simple."

"It is that simple," Kevin pressed. "You're choosing to make it complicated. While you're here playing hero, your sister's getting worse. We both know it."

Kevin turned to leave but called over his shoulder,

"You know where to find me if you change your mind!"

His voice echoed through the store as he disappeared out the door, leaving Alex standing alone, his thoughts heavier than ever.

---

Later that night, Alex trudged up the stairs to their small apartment, his work uniform still smelling of cleaning supplies. The moment he opened the door, he heard the coughing.

"Iris?"

He rushed to her bedroom, finding her hunched over in bed, tissue pressed to her mouth. When she pulled it away, the white paper was stained with red.

"I'm okay," she whispered, but her pale face told a different story. "Just a bad day."

Alex was fully aware that his sister was just putting up a front. He knew she was far from being okay.

'She hasn't been taking her medication lately because I can't afford them, and it's finally taking a toll on her,' he thought to himself as fear clawed through his mind.

Then he remembered his conversation with Kevin. Alex started scrambling through his pocket to get his phone out.

His trembling hands pulled out his phone. Three missed calls from the landlord, but that wasn't what he was looking for. He scrolled to Kevin's number, staring at it for a long moment.

'I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. I have no choice,' Alex thought, disappointed with himself.

The phone rang twice before Kevin answered. "Well, well. Finally came to your senses?"

He could hear the smile in Kevin's voice.

"Meet me at the old basketball court in an hour. Don't be late."

Hanging up, Alex looked back toward his sister's room. "I'll fix this, Iris. I promise."

But even as he walked away, something in his gut told him he'd just made a deal with the devil.