Naomi was exhausted.

She had been on her feet for hours at the supermarket, pushing a basket down the same walkway until her legs shook with every step.

Her uniform was glued to her back with sweat. The bright fluorescent lights above made everything worse.

Like the whole store was pressing down on her.

“You didn’t clean and arrange the chocolate and yoghurt properly,” her manager barked, his voice loud and harsh.

Naomi stopped. She swallowed the anger rising in her throat and forced herself to stay calm.

“I already cleaned the chocolate and yoghurt, sir,” she replied.

The manager didn’t look at her.

“Go back and do it again. He had blazing eyes, and he growled so violently he could break a mountain in half and still be hot.

“Customers keep complaining about the dust, you are responsible for my stocks and if this store has any more faults because of your carelessness, I will ruin you.”

She ran her hands through her hair. Even though she was upset, Naomi obeyed.

“Yes, sir,” she said quietly.

Her voice was calm.Inside, she was breaking. Oh my God, I’m so tired.

A woman brushed past her cart and muttered, “Some workers are just too slow.”

Naomi heard it. She felt something crack inside her chest. This wasn’t the first time.She opened her mouth to apologize, even though the woman was already gone. By the time her shift ended, her whole body hurt.

In the small staff room, she peeled her uniform off her skin. It was soaked. Just as she was about to leave, her boss called out.

“Naomi. Don’t forget you’re on stock inventory tomorrow. We’re restocking.”

“Yes, sir. I remember. I didn’t forget,” she replied.

Even though she was running on empty.

The evening breeze was cool outside, but Naomi felt weak. She walked home slowly, her bag dragging on her shoulder. Like she was carrying the whole day with her. Her phone vibrated.

Her expression changed immediately, she knew something was wrong, A message from the hospital:

“Please ensure your remaining balance is cleared before your next treatment. Delay may affect treatment schedule.”

Naomi stopped walking. Her heart raced. The street noise faded. Cars. People. All of it disappeared.

She just stared at the screen.

“Not again.” Tears started to fall. She forget how to breathe for twenty whole minutes.

“Jesus Christ!”

“Jehovah, help me. Holy Spirit, help me

Where will I find the money? I don’t have any hope anywhere.”

She pressed the phone to her chest, trying to breathe.

When she got home, the quiet of her apartment felt heavy. Not peaceful. Lonely.

She dropped her bag by the door and kicked off her shoes. Her feet ached.

“Mum?”

The door slammed against the wall. No answer. She knew her mum was in the hospital. But saying it out loud made the pain easier to carry.

On the small table by the window, an envelope waited.

Hospital logo. Her stomach dropped.

She hesitated before opening it. She was scares her hands were vibrating like mad crazy trying to read the envelope. FINAL NOTICE: Urgent surgery required. Payment overdue. Treatment may be suspended.

Naomi sat down slowly. Like her legs had given out on their own.

“How am I going to deal with this?” Her voice cracked in the empty room.

“I’m trying my best,” she whispered. “I’m really trying.”

Her phone buzzed again. She felt upset her jaw and teeth clenched and crushed into each other inside her cheeks. Her manager: “Don’t forget your early shift tomorrow. We’re short staffed.”

Naomi laughed. It wasn’t a real laugh.Short staffed. Overworked. Underpaid. That was her whole life.

She went to the kitchen and poured a glass of water. Her hands were still shaking.

On the wall was a small framed photo.Her and her mum Before the sickness. Both of them smiling, no stress, no hospital bills.

“I won’t lose you, my lovely mum,” she whispered. “I can’t.”

Her phone rang.

“Hello?” A nurse. Calm, but serious.

“Am I speaking with Naomi?”

“Yes.”

“I’m calling from the hospital where your mother is staying.

Her health is getting worse. If the surgery isn’t done soon, it’s very risky.”

“I understand,” Naomi said, voice tight. “I’m working on it. Please just give me a little more time.”

A pause.

“We’ll try. But time isn’t really on our side anymore.”

The line went silent. Naomi lowered the phone. The room felt heavier,the bills,the decisions and the fear.

“I’m trying to stay strong,” she told herself.

But deep down, she wasn’t sure things would get better. Outside, the city lights flickered on. The world kept moving.

Inside her small apartment, Naomi felt like her life was about to end.

Exhausted. Broke And running out of time.