An Infernal Pact

They say there are times when time and space stop for two people who were meant to be together to meet.

It's nine o'clock in the morning, Amanda runs down the hallway, the news of her mother's relapse fills her with terror. In front of her, in the opposite direction, a woman walks making rapid breaths and holding her belly, both are in the middle of a difficult situation; one of them fearful of the death of her mother, the other about to bring a new life into the world. Their shoulders stumble, they both apologize, there's something in one that surprises the other. But the moment vanishes instantly. Elena takes the aisle for the parturients and Amanda to the emergency side.

None of them have yet come out of their expectation.

"God, that woman looks so much like—"

"Family members of patient Veronica Lugo, please. The nurse peeks into the main corridor.

"I, I, am his daughter.

The nurse approaches, hands him the prescription for medication, and points out:

"You must bring this medicine right now, your mother is quite unwell. If he doesn't get the treatment—" He pauses and shakes his head.

Amanda doesn't need the woman to finish that sentence to know what will happen. Since her mother started with those pains a couple of years ago, she is the one who has been by her side trying to support her. Working day and night to raise the money to get his mother's kidney transplant. In that country, it's not enough to be on the waiting list, always the one who has the most, goes to the top of the list, she knows it.

Desperately she walks with the recipe in her hand, tears running down her cheeks, with the back of her gray sweatshirt, she wipes her face. He pulls out his phone to check how much he has in his account and buy the medicine.

Suddenly, she stumbles upon a man who is a little strange in his behavior, it seems that he is looking for someone in a hurry. She is accompanied by another subject whose appearance terrifies anyone, a scar on his face and a gesture of contempt towards her, make her shudder.

"Excuse me," she excuses herself, with the taller of the two. The man is extremely handsome, with clear eyes, a stubble and a deep gaze.

"Move, Paul. He rebukes his friend, who doesn't stop looking at the girl in surprise.

Amanda quickens her pace, at times she looks back and Pablo does too, their eyes meet again. She watches as they take the aisle to the birthing area.

Cross the street, enter the pharmacy. Ask about the medication.

"I'm sorry, miss, you're exhausted.

Amanda's anguish increases, she doesn't know what to do. He leaves there, walks to the next pharmacy, can't find the medicine either. A block down the road, he finally gets it, but the money is insufficient.

"Please, I need it urgently, my mother is very ill, she is dying.

"I'm sorry, but this is not a place of public charity. They are imported medicines. I can't do anything for you.

Amanda leaves that place devastated, she can't believe that this is the end of her mother, tears run down her face. She crosses the street without being able to see clearly, the horn of the cars that brake near her, stuns her even more.

"Get out of the way, you crazy woman," the driver of the car yells.

She doesn't look at him, she just runs to the sidewalk, enters the hospital through the back door. He runs down the hallway, bumps into someone again, raises his face, it's the same man from minutes ago.

"You, again," he says, his tone firm but tender.

"Excuse me, excuse me," she cries, unable to hide her anguish.

"What's the matter?"

"Excuse me, I don't know you. She adds with a lump in her throat with no one to vent to.

"Can I help you?" "Those words are magical, but she doesn't dare say anything to him, the hand where she holds the paper trembles and she lets it fall.

Pablo bends down, picks up the paper, sees the medicine, and asks again:

"Do you need to buy this?" She barely nods. He turns to his companion.

He takes her arm towards the exit, they go out to the street. He crosses past her with great strides.

"There, there it is," she replies.

"Wait here," he goes to the back, asks for the medicine, buys it, and walks out to the entrance. Grab her arm again and cross along with her. They go all the way to the hospital.

Amanda can't find a way to thank him for his strange gesture. She had prayed so much through tears that she could only be grateful for that miracle.

"I can't thank you for that.

"Don't worry, I know what it feels like. "At least tell me your name," she smiles slightly.

"Amanda Lugo, that's my name. He hurries away, every minute is vital to his mother. Go to the emergency room and carry the medication.