~Juliana~
.....
The next morning, Juliana woke up, disoriented and confused. As she looked around, she saw herself lying in an unfamiliar bed, with a handsome stranger beside her. Memories of the previous night's events came flooding back, and Juliana's face flushed with embarrassment.
She couldn't believe what she had done. She wasn't thinking straight, she clearly remembered Megan gave her the drink and now she was faced with the consequences. Juliana tried to process her emotions, but her mind was a jumble of thoughts and feelings.
As she lay there, Juliana couldn't help but notice the stranger's beside her. His hair seemed to shine like the sun all golden and bold she touches his hair and sees it is soft as silk she tries to turn over while holding the sheets to see which he is.
She felt a pang of guilt for trying to see him but she had to know who she gave her virginity to, considering the circumstances her mind still felt fuzzy and she needed some ibuprofen make her mind less drowsy she tries to look at the stranger she had spent the night with.
Just as Juliana was about to see his features, her phone started ringing. She quickly got up to answer it, trying not to disturb the stranger. As she picked up the call, she heard Nurse Bella's voice on the other end.
"Juliana, I'm so glad I reached you," Nurse Bella said, her voice serious. "Your mother had a relapse yesterday. We had to administer IV medication, and she's in critical condition."
Juliana's heart sank as she listened to Nurse Bella's words. She quickly got dressed and rushed out of the hotel room, leaving the stranger behind.
As she rushed to the hospital, Juliana's mind was filled with worries about her mother's condition. She didn't have time to think about the stranger or their encounter.
When she arrived at the hospital, Juliana was relieved to see that her mother's condition had stabilized. Doctor Maria informed her that the blood clot in her mother's chest had been relieved, but her mother's expression suggested that she was hiding something.
Juliana wanted to ask questions, but her mother waved her off, smiling weakly. "I'm fine, sweetie," she said. "The doctor said my cancer is responding to the medication."
Juliana's eyes welled up with tears as she hugged her mother tightly. "That's great news, Mom," she said, trying to hold back her emotions.
As they talked, Juliana's mother mentioned that she didn't need the money for her surgery, and Juliana realized that she had been worrying unnecessarily.
The two of them chatted for a while, reminiscing about childhood memories and making plans for the future.
As Juliana sat beside her mother's hospital bed, she couldn't help but think of the happy memories they had shared together. She remembered the first time her mother took her on a picnic in the park, just the two of them. Juliana must have been only six or seven years old, and she had been feeling sad because the other kids at school had been teasing her about not having a father.
Her mother had packed a basket with all her favorite foods, and they had spent the day playing games and laughing together. It was one of the first times Juliana had realized that her mother was all she had, and that she was enough.
Another memory that stood out was her tenth birthday, when her mother had taken her to the beach. Juliana had been amazed by the sound of the waves and the feel of the sand between her toes. Her mother, being a painter, had been inspired by the beauty of the ocean, and had given Juliana a painting of the beach as a birthday gift.
From that day on, the beach had become a special place for Juliana and her mother, a place where they could escape their worries and just enjoy each other's company.
As they chatted, Juliana's mother mentioned that she was glad Juliana wouldn't have to worry about paying for her surgery anymore. Juliana smiled, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.
"I'm just glad you're going to be okay, Mom," Juliana said, squeezing her mother's hand.
Her mother smiled back, her eyes shining with love. "I'm going to be fine, sweetie," she said. "And I'm proud of you for being so strong and taking care of me."
Juliana felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at her mother. She was grateful for the sacrifices her mother had made for her, and she knew she would do anything to take care of her.
As they talked, Juliana's mind wandered back to the stranger she had met the night before. She remembered his ocean-like eyes, and the way he had made her feel. But she pushed the thought aside, focusing on her mother's recovery.
"Mom, can I ask you something?" Juliana said, breaking the silence.
"Of course, sweetie," her mother replied. "What's on your mind?"
Juliana hesitated, unsure of how to phrase her question. "It's just... I was thinking about the beach, and how much I love it there. And I was wondering... do you think we could go back there soon?"
Her mother's face lit up with a smile. "I'd love that, sweetie," she said. "We'll go as soon as I'm feeling better."
Juliana grinned, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. She knew that the beach would always be a special place for her and her mother, a place where they could escape their worries and just enjoy each other's company.
As they continued to chat, Juliana's mother noticed that she seemed a bit distracted. "Sweetie, is everything okay?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
Juliana quickly brushed it off, not wanting to worry her mother. "Yeah, Mom, everything's fine," she said. "I just... I didn't sleep very well last night, that's all."
Her mother nodded understandingly. "Okay, sweetie. Just make sure you take care of yourself, okay?. You are strong I need you to know that even if I am gone I need you to know that you are my baby and we fight for who we are okay."
Juliana nodded feeling confused her mom was going to get better so she didn't need to keep saying this but she brushes it aside happy to have heard a good news in a while.
Feeling a pang of guilt for not being honest with her mother and making it seem like a big deal. But she knew that she couldn't tell her about the stranger, not yet. Maybe someday, but not now because she deserved to be less stressed to recover and maybe she could finally decide to pursue her dream as a perfumer she always wanted to be one and now she could quit one job and go to the university to pursue her dreams of scents.