~ Juliana ~
...
Juliana Knight trudged into the hospital room, her eyes scanning the familiar space. Her mother, Stella Knight, lay in the bed, her bald head wrapped in a warm beanie, her pale skin almost translucent against the hospital gown. The IV drip in her hand seemed to be the only thing keeping her going.
Juliana's heart ached as she remembered the vibrant woman her mother used to be. Stella had always been her rock, her confidante, and her best friend. But now, stage-three brain cancer had taken its toll, leaving Stella frail and weak.
As Juliana approached the bed, Stella's eyes fluttered open, a faint smile on her lips. "Hey, sweetie," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Juliana forced a smile, trying to hide her tears. "Hey, Mom. I brought your favorite peaches." She handed the fruit to Nurse Bella, who peeled and sliced them with a warm smile.
Stella's eyes lit up as she took a bite of the peach. "Mmm, this is delicious." She looked at Juliana, her eyes searching. "How's school, sweetie? You haven't been talking much about it lately."
Juliana hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. She had dropped out of school to work multiple jobs and pay for her mother's medical bills, but she didn't want Stella to worry. "School's fine, Mom. I'm almost done with my levels, and I'm working on a project with someone new."
Stella's eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion etched on her face. But she said nothing, just nodded and took another bite of the peach.
Juliana breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that her mother hadn't pushed the issue. She knew Stella was worried about her, but Juliana was determined to bear the weight of her responsibilities alone. Little did she know, her life was about to take a dramatic turn.
As Stella finished feeding, Juliana carefully placed the plate on the bedside table and covered it with a transparent nylon cover. She pressed the remote to adjust the bed, lowering it to a comfortable position for her mother.
"Mom, is there anything else I can get for you?" Juliana asked, trying to hold back tears as she gazed at her frail mother she ate even little than before she was getting more frail and fragile every second that went by.
Stella smiled weakly and touched Juliana's cheek. "My big, beautiful baby girl. I'm proud of you, Juliana."
Juliana forced a smile, feeling a lump form in her throat. She knew she had to be strong for her mother. As she turned to leave, she noticed Doctor Maria standing outside the room.
"Doctor Maria, I thought you said the medication was working," Juliana asked, concern etched on her face.
Doctor Maria's expression turned somber. "We're trying our best, Juliana, but the cancer has spread to her brain. We need to perform surgery as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the higher the risk of complications."
Juliana's heart sank, but she steeled herself. "I'll get the money ready within this week."
Doctor Maria's eyes narrowed. "Juliana, please don't do anything reckless. I know you're desperate, but your safety is important too."
Juliana nodded, trying to reassure the doctor. As Doctor Maria walked away, Juliana felt a wave of despair wash over her. She sat down in the waiting room chair, burying her face in her hands as tears streamed down her face.
She thought about all the problems piling up – her mother's illness, the medical bills, and her own struggles to make ends meet. If only her father were alive, or if her mother had any relatives who could help. But Stella had always been alone, and now Juliana felt the weight of that loneliness.
As she cried, Juliana realized she couldn't afford to be late for her night job. She needed every penny she could get. Wiping away her tears, she took a deep breath and stood up, but the tears still fell despite her effort to clean it she couldn't imagine a life without her mother she was all she had.
Juliana's phone pinged, snapping her back to reality. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from her boss, asking her when she would arrive at work. Her heart sank as she realized she was running late.
"Already parked for the night," the message read. "Better get here quickly or your spot will be gone."
Juliana hastily wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. She couldn't afford to lose her job, not now, when her mother needed her more than ever. She sighed, shouldering her backpack, and walked out of the hospital.
The cool night air hit her like a slap in the face, but Juliana didn't flinch. She spotted her bicycle chained to a rack and quickly unlocked it. With a deep breath, she pedaled furiously, racing against time to get to work before her spot was taken.
As she rode, the wind whipping her hair into a frenzy, Juliana felt a sense of determination rising up within her. She would do whatever it took to save her mother, to give her the best chance at life. Even if it meant sacrificing her own dreams, her own desires. For now, her mother's life was all that mattered.
As the night breeze whipped her jet black hair she remembered when her mom and her went out on picnic and took on a stroll just looking at the palm trees of Los Angeles they would walk and feel the breeze and smell the fresh water smell when they got closer to the beach, Juliana feels tears fill in her eyes she decides to quit the flash back and make it early to pay her mom hospital bills so they could recreate more memories when she got better.