"Haris, I need your help. Can we meet?" Adaline asked.
"Is it really urgent? Can't it wait?" he inquired after a brief silence.
"No, it can't. It's an emergency," she replied.
"Alright. Meet me on the office rooftop during lunch break," he said again. Adaline agreed before ending the call. She glanced at her watch; lunch break was half an hour away. Adaline hoped she wouldn't get stuck in traffic and that Haris would still wait for her if she was a little late.
Adaline hurriedly walked to the elevator, heading to the nineteenth floor, from where she would take the emergency stairs to the twenty-first floor. Her foot tapped impatiently on the elevator floor. When the elevator doors opened on the nineteenth floor, Adaline felt relieved that no one she knew greeted her during the journey. She was confused about explaining her presence in the office since she had requested leave earlier.
Adaline pushed open the thick iron door of the rooftop with all her might. The wind, mixed with the heat and pollution of Manhattan, hit her face, tousling her hair. Actually, she didn't like this place much. Adaline was afraid of heights, and even though she stood far from the rooftop edge, she still shivered at the sight of the cityscape in front of her, even though it might be considered beautiful by some. Especially at night, when the city lights shone like a sea of stars against the dark sky. For Adaline, it remained frightening.
Adaline walked to the right, directly to the storage area where non-functional or under-repair equipment was kept. She and Haris usually met there in urgent situations.
Haris, a man Adaline had admired, was one of the reasons she worked at Coskun Company, aside from her dreams and her late father.
Adaline approached Haris, who was leisurely enjoying his cigarette. "Haris," she greeted, tapping his shoulder gently.
Haris turned, looking at Adaline with a slight frown on his forehead.
"What's so urgent that you couldn't wait until the end of the workday?" he asked without beating around the bush.
Yes, Haris was a stiff person. Behind his handsome face, he never showed excessive tenderness. A bit of background on Haris: he was Adaline's neighbor and also her senior in college. Adaline liked him because he was hardworking. In the past, he used to study together with her late father, so Adaline admired him and tried to get closer to him.
However, despite her year-long efforts, Adaline never received a positive response from him. He was so cold, seemingly deeply in love with his work to the point of avoiding romantic relationships with anyone. To avoid any gossip, Haris convinced her to act as if they didn't know each other while at work, and Adaline didn't mind-after all, they were in different departments.
"My mother needs surgery, and I need money for it. I need your help," she said without beating around the bush. The frown on the man's forehead deepened.
"What happened?" he tossed the remaining half of his cigarette, crushing it until the ember died.
"There's a blood clot in my mother's heart, and her kidneys are damaged, they need to be removed immediately. My mom doesn't have insurance. I've run out of savings too. I need your help. Please help me find a loan."
"How much do you need? I have some savings, but not much," he replied.
Adaline mentioned a figure that widened Haris's eyes. His face turned pale, and he shook his head slowly. Perhaps in his mind, he didn't expect Adaline to mention such a large amount, or maybe he shook his head because the money in his savings wasn't that much.
"I need it by the day after tomorrow. My mother needs surgery urgently, or it will endanger her. I beg you, help me find a loan."
Haris rubbed his face in frustration. "Alright, I'll help you find a loan. I'll let you know tonight. Now, go back to your room. Your colleagues might be looking for you."
"I've got permission for the afternoon. I'm going back to the hospital, waiting for my mom there."
"Fine, just go back to the hospital. I'll contact you later," he said. After patting Adaline's head, he left abruptly.
Adaline looked at Haris. In her heart, she doubted whether Haris would help her. It's not that Adaline didn't trust him; it's just that he sometimes forgets what others consider important and prioritizes his own interests.
Adaline leaned her back against the warehouse wall, contemplating other options if Haris failed to get the loan for her. She couldn't ask for help from her late father's family, considering they disliked Adaline. And economically speaking, not to be disrespectful, but they were the ones who often borrowed money from her late father, which, of course, they never returned, citing family ties.
Weakly, Adaline walked back to the emergency stairs. She would return to the hospital and wait for news from Haris. If she didn't receive any updates tonight, she would try another option-perhaps truly going to a pawnshop for a loan, or maybe she had to seek out loan sharks to mortgage her house.
Reaching the nineteenth floor, she prayed that she wouldn't meet anyone she knew inside the elevator, just like when she ascended earlier. Fortunately, her prayer was answered. It seemed like everyone had gone for a break.
Adaline walked, lost in thought. Various thoughts swirled in her mind. She didn't want to entertain negative possibilities because her parents always taught her to stay optimistic and think positively about anything that happened. However, in the current situation, whether she liked it or not, Adaline felt alone. Father, what should Adaline do now? Even if she sold her organs, it wouldn't be that easy to get the money.
Unconsciously, Adaline had already arrived at the hospital. Emma, who was taking care of her mother, looked at her with pity.
"Your mother was taken to the ICU. Her condition worsened earlier," Emma said sadly. "What about now? Did you get the loan?" she asked again. Adaline shook her head. "Have you tried borrowing from the company?" the middle-aged woman asked again.
Adaline shook her head again. It wasn't that she didn't consider it. But borrowing such a large sum from the company, Adaline wasn't sure if they would approve. She was just a new employee, and her salary wasn't substantial.
"Just try it first; who knows it might work."
Adaline just stared at Emma sadly. "I'm waiting for news from Haris, Aunt," she replied weakly.
"Are you sure he can help? I'm not too convinced," the woman replied doubtfully.
Yes, Adaline herself wasn't sure if Haris could help. But she had no other choice but to wait. Until tonight. Resolutely in her heart, Adaline walked towards the ICU. Through the transparent window, she could see her mother lying weakly with various hospital devices whose functions Adaline didn't understand. Two monitors stood on either side of her body. Her own nose was fitted with an oxygen tube.
Her mother had never looked so weak. Her pale face and cracked lips made Adaline want to hug her. Throughout her life, she never heard her mother complain. Even when she found out her father had died, her mother only cried briefly and then smiled again, asking Adaline to always pray for her father.
Adaline sat on a chair in the hallway. Her body was tired, and so was her mind. She leaned her head against the glass wall separating the outside room and the ICU.
'Oh God, I'm willing to give everything, even if I can replace her there. Let her be healthy for the rest of her life, oh God.' Her prayer in her heart, unintentionally accompanied by tears she had been trying to hold back since last night.