That morning started like usual. The clock showed 6 AM. Emma was already awake.
She sat on the edge of a small single bed in a small room. The room was no more than 3 meters by 3 meters. The walls were pale white. The light was dim. The closet was old. Everything looked simple. Simple like Emma's life.
Emma stretched her body. Her body felt stiff. She was always like this in the morning. Poor sleep made her body ache.
She stood up and walked to the small bathroom next to her room. Cold water shower. Cheap soap. A towel that was starting to fade.
After showering, Emma opened her closet. She had 3 sets of office uniforms. All black. All from discount stores. But everything was clean and well-maintained. Emma was a neat person.
She chose one uniform. She wore it carefully. Even though the clothes were cheap, she treated them like precious items.
After getting dressed, Emma went to the kitchen. The kitchen was even smaller than her room. She made breakfast. Toast with jam and a glass of milk. Simple breakfast.
A simple breakfast. But Emma was grateful to have it.
While eating, Emma opened her phone. She looked at a photo. A photo of a 10-year-old girl. The girl's name was Lily. Emma's sister.
Lily smiled in that photo. But behind that smile, there was weakness. There was pain. There was sadness.
Lily suffered from congenital heart disease. Heart disease since birth. The doctor said Lily needed surgery. That surgery was expensive. Very expensive. The cost was 75 thousand dollars.
75 thousand dollars.
Emma didn't have that much money. Emma's mother and father had passed away. They died in a car accident 5 years ago. Since then, Emma had become the family's breadwinner. Emma had to work. Emma had to pay for the house. Emma had to pay for Lily's school. Emma had to pay for Lily's medical treatment.
Everything Emma had to pay for.
Emma looked at Lily's photo again. Lily's weary eyes. Lily's pale face.
"Lily, your sister will get that money," whispered Emma to her phone. "Your sister promises."
Emma finished her breakfast quickly. She didn't have time to waste. She had to get to the office early. Her boss liked disciplined employees.
Emma arrived at the office at 7 AM. The office was still quiet. Only a few cleaning service workers were cleaning the floors.
Emma went to her desk. The desk in front of her boss's office. A small desk, but Emma arranged it neatly. Files were organized perfectly. Laptop was clean. The mug for coffee or tea gleamed.
Emma started working.
She opened email. So many emails came in overnight. Emails from clients in Singapore. Emails from business partners. Emails from suppliers. All in English.
Emma started reading and replying to all of them. Her English was good. She learned it herself by watching movies and reading books. No tutoring fees. Everything was free from the internet.
At 8 AM, Emma had finished replying to all emails. Now she organized the documents that would be used for today's meeting. There were many documents. They had to be arranged neatly. They had to be easy to access.
Emma worked with focus. Nothing could disturb her concentration. This was her desk. This was her responsibility.
At 9 AM, other employees started arriving. They passed Emma's desk while greeting her.
"Morning, Emma!"
"Morning! Are you ready for the meeting?"
"Yes, everything has been prepared," Emma answered with a smile.
Emma always smiled. Even if she was tired. Even if she had problems. She still smiled.
Some of the employees were aware of Emma's dedication. Some appreciated it. But there were also those who didn't care. Those who thought of Emma as just a robot who only worked and worked.
But Emma didn't care. She didn't work to be appreciated. She worked because she needed money.
At 10 AM, Marcus came to the office. He went straight to his office. No greeting for Emma. Like usual.
Marcus was a cold person. He rarely talked. He rarely greeted. But Emma wasn't offended. Emma understood. Marcus was a busy CEO. Marcus had many things to think about.
In contrast, Emma was always ready. Hot coffee for Marcus was already waiting on his desk. Meeting documents were neatly arranged in different folders. Today's schedule was completely recorded.
At 10:30, Marcus came out of his office.
"Emma, are you ready for the meeting?"
"Yes, Boss. All the documents are here. The client will arrive at 11."
"Good. Thank you, Emma."
Marcus entered the meeting room with those documents.
Emma sat at her desk. She refreshed Marcus's coffee because she knew the meeting could be long. She made sure snacks and drinks for the client were already available in the meeting room.
Emma was a detail-oriented person. A person who didn't forget small things.
During lunch break, Emma didn't go straight out of the office. She ate at her own desk.
Her lunch bag contained: a simple sandwich and an apple.
Simple food. Food she bought herself in the morning. Food that was cheap.
While eating, Emma opened her phone again. She saw a WhatsApp message from the hospital.
"Ms. Emma, please call us immediately. There is an update about your sister's condition."
Emma's heart immediately started racing.
She immediately called the hospital.
"Hello, this is Emma. I received a message about my sister. Lily?"
"Oh yes, Ms. Emma. We wanted to tell you that Lily's condition is getting worse. The doctor recommends surgery immediately. It cannot be delayed any longer."
Emma felt that voice was far away. Like hearing from underwater.
"When?"
"One week from now. The doctor has already scheduled it. We are waiting for your confirmation and the payment of the first installment."
"Ho... how much is the cost again?" asked Emma with a trembling voice.
"Total 75 thousand dollars. First installment 37 thousand and 500 dollars. The rest can be paid in installments."
Emma fell silent. She couldn't speak.
37 thousand and 500 dollars. Half of what was needed. She didn't have it. Not even close.
"Ms.? Are you still there?"
"Yes... yes. I... I will call you back."
Emma hung up the phone.
She stood up from her desk. She went to the bathroom on that floor. Went into a stall. Locked the door.
She cried. Silently. Just tears falling.
Emma spent 10 minutes in that bathroom. Crying. Thinking. Panicking.
One week. Just one week. Lily's surgery in one week.
But she still didn't have money.
Emma came out of the bathroom. She looked in the mirror. Her eyes were red. Her face was pale.
She washed her face. She took tissue and cleaned up.
Emma had to go back to work. Boss was still in the meeting. Boss still needed Emma to be ready at her desk.
Emma returned to her desk. She continued eating lunch. But her food tasted bland. Her mouth felt dry.
Emma tried to focus on work again. But her mind was still on Lily. On that surgery. On the money she still didn't have.
That afternoon, Marcus came out of the meeting room. The meeting was over. The client was satisfied.
"Emma, thank you for the preparation. It was very perfect."
"Welcome, Boss. I'm happy to help."
Marcus looked at Emma more closely. "Are you okay? Your face looks pale."
Emma smiled. A fake smile. "Yes, Boss. Just a little tired. It's okay."
Marcus nodded. He went back to his office.
Emma could already read her boss's emotions. Marcus was a caring person. But Marcus didn't like to show off. Marcus didn't like to extend conversations. So Emma didn't say more.
At 5 PM, most employees had already left. But Emma was still at the office.
She finished all her work. Updated files. Cleaned her desk. Prepared everything for the next day.
Usually she went home at 6 PM. But today she stayed until 7 PM. She wanted to finish everything properly.
Emma took her bag. She left the office.
On the way to the station, Emma's mind kept thinking about Lily. About that surgery. About the money.
When she got on the train, Emma sat in a very crowded seat. The train was full of tired people. Everyone going home from the office.
Emma closed her eyes. But she didn't fall asleep. She just thought.
Emma arrived home at 8 PM. Her house was already dark. Only light from the neighbor's house entered her house.
She opened the door. Lily's room was next to her room.
Lily was already asleep. Lily's face looked peaceful while sleeping. But when Lily slept, Emma could see more clearly. Could see how weak Lily was. How pale Lily was.
Emma sat on the edge of Lily's bed. She held Lily's small hand. That hand was warm.
"Lily," whispered Emma. "Your sister is ready to pay for your surgery. Your sister promises."
But in her heart, Emma was worried. Very worried.
Where would that money come from?
Emma couldn't sleep that night either.
She lay on her bed. Thinking of various possibilities.
Borrow from friends? Her friends were also struggling.
Borrow from a bank? She didn't have collateral. She didn't have house papers or anything. She just had a small salary.
Ask for help from the office? The office could lend money. But they would deduct it from her salary for months. Emma couldn't do that. She still had to pay rent. Pay electricity. Pay for food.
Emma thought of many solutions. But everything seemed impossible.
She felt alone. Very alone.
The next day, Emma came to the office again. That morning was harder than usual. Emma's body felt very heavy.
She didn't get enough sleep. She spent that night just thinking. Just worrying.
But Emma still came on time. She still worked well. She still smiled.
Because that was her job. Because that was what she had to do.
Emma was a strong person. A person who didn't give up easily. A person who always helped others, even when she was struggling herself.
At 10 AM, Marcus called Emma to his office. There was something different about that call. His voice was different. More serious.
Emma felt nervous.
She entered Marcus's office.
"Sit down, Emma," said Marcus while pointing to the chair in front of his desk.
Emma sat down. But she was uncomfortable. There was something her boss wanted to say. Something important.
Marcus looked at Emma deeply. Like he was trying to read her mind.
"Emma," said Marcus. "I know you have a problem."
Emma's heart immediately started racing.
Marcus knew? How did he know?