My baby's milk mother, my opium

Tania stood in front of the old, dilapidated house that had once been her home. The walls, once a warm shade of cream, now looked faded and cracked, much like her spirit. She had spent her childhood within these walls, but now, it was all being taken away from her. The bank had seized the house-her only remaining link to her parents. There was nothing left for her here.

Tania's hands trembled as she held the eviction notice. Her mind was a haze of confusion and despair, her chest heavy with the weight of everything she had lost. Her parents were gone, taken from her by a sudden illness that had left her not only grief-stricken but also burdened with their debts. The hospital bills, the funeral expenses, and now the loan that had been taken out in desperation-everything had spiraled out of control.

"I'm sorry, Mom... Dad..." she whispered under her breath, her voice barely audible in the stillness of the afternoon. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she swallowed them back. She had shed too many tears, and crying would solve nothing.

With no money, no home, and no family left, Tania felt utterly lost. She turned her back on the house and started walking down the empty street, the cool breeze doing little to comfort her. Her thoughts spiraled into a sea of hopelessness. What am I going to do?

She had been surviving on odd jobs for the past few months, scraping by with what little she earned. But now, even that felt impossible. The last few weeks had been especially hard, as her funds dried up and job offers dwindled. Her mind wandered to the deal she had made a year ago, a desperate decision she wished she could undo-the surrogacy.

The promise of 300 million rupiah had seemed like a miracle at the time. It was supposed to fix everything. But after carrying the child for nine long months, after enduring the physical and emotional toll of pregnancy, they had discarded her like she was nothing. The wealthy couple who had hired her to bear their child had taken the baby, but Tania had never received the money they promised. They had left her with nothing, abandoning her to face her debts alone.

As she walked aimlessly through the city, she came across a park. It was quiet, almost deserted. She sat on a bench under a large tree, staring blankly ahead. Her body felt heavy, her mind exhausted from the endless cycle of worry. She didn't even notice when someone sat down beside her.

"You seem troubled, dear," a soft voice broke the silence.

Startled, Tania looked up to see an older woman sitting next to her. The woman had a kind face, with gentle eyes that looked at her with genuine concern. She was well-dressed, her clothes simple but elegant, the kind of attire that spoke of quiet wealth. Tania immediately felt a surge of distrust. Wealthy people were the last thing she wanted to deal with.

"I'm fine," Tania muttered, lowering her gaze.

The woman didn't leave. Instead, she continued to observe Tania, her eyes softening with empathy. "I've seen that look before," she said. "You're carrying a heavy burden."

Tania said nothing, biting her lip to stop herself from saying something rude. She didn't need pity, especially not from someone who likely had no idea what real hardship felt like.

The woman paused for a moment before speaking again, her voice gentle but firm. "I know this might sound strange, but I'm here because I think I can help you."

Tania's eyes narrowed as she finally looked at the woman directly. "Help me? How?"

"My name is Clara," the woman introduced herself. "And I'm looking for someone to help me with a very specific task."

Tania immediately felt her guard go up. "I'm not interested."

Clara held up her hand, undeterred. "Hear me out. My grandson was born a few days ago. His mother... well, let's just say she's not willing to nurse him. I need someone to provide him with breast milk."

Tania blinked in disbelief. "You... you're asking me to... nurse your grandson?"

"I know it's an unusual request," Clara admitted. "But I'm willing to compensate you fairly. You wouldn't need to live with us or even interact much with the family. Just provide the milk, and I'll make sure you're taken care of."

Tania shook her head in disbelief. "You think I'd agree to something like that?"

"I can see you're going through a rough time," Clara said gently. "I won't pretend to know what you've been through, but I can tell you're struggling. This is an opportunity, not charity. I'm offering you a way out."

Tania wanted to laugh, but the sound caught in her throat. "You think money can fix everything, don't you? I've dealt with your kind before. Rich people always think they can buy whatever they want."

Clara's expression softened even more. "I'm not here to insult you, and I'm certainly not here to exploit you. This isn't about money-it's about my grandson. He needs nourishment, and I need someone who can help him get it."

For a moment, Tania was silent. Her mind raced, weighing the offer against her overwhelming need for stability. She didn't want to trust this woman, didn't want to believe that there was any goodness left in the world after everything she had been through. But what other options did she have?

Clara reached into her bag and pulled out a business card. "Here's my number. Think it over. If you decide you're interested, call me. The offer stands, and you can back out any time if you're uncomfortable."

Tania hesitated before taking the card, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface. She stared at it for a moment before slipping it into her pocket without a word.

"I'll leave you to your thoughts," Clara said as she stood up, giving Tania one last empathetic smile before walking away.

Tania sat there for a long time after Clara left, her mind a whirl of conflicting emotions. She didn't trust the rich, and she didn't trust Clara, but deep down, she knew she had no other options. The weight of her situation pressed down on her, suffocating her with its heaviness. Maybe this was the only way out, no matter how much she hated the idea.

But the scars from her past dealings with wealthy people still stung. Could she really trust Clara's offer? Or was she just setting herself up for more heartache and betrayal?

The wind picked up, rustling the leaves of the tree above her. Tania closed her eyes and sighed, feeling more lost than ever.