There's a dull ache pulsing at the back of my head and I see a vague shadow through my mildly blurry vision. Three muffled voices are calling out my name, but I don't know where they're coming from. Ah. Why is there a light shining in my eye?

"Delilah Sterling! You open up your eyes right now!" What? Is that Kimmy?

"Don't yell at her baby, that's not going to help."

"Well, why isn't she opening her eyes? Do something!"

Why are they so loud and shrill? My eyes flutter open briefly and I see three faces lurking above me. I shift my eyes between the blobs.

"Lilah?"

My back is cold. Am I on the ground? I rub the surface beneath me. Yup. On the ground.

I try to push myself up with my forearms, no luck. My vision is becoming clearer.

"Lilah?" I turn my head to the voice.

"Kim?" Why is she here?

"Oh my god Lilah!" A set of dainty cold hands cup my face. "Are you ok?" Kimmy turns towards...Jack? "Can she sit up?" Why is Jack here?

"Just let her rest for a minute." Jack looks up and I follow his gaze. "Hunt, can you grab a cushion?"

Hunter runs both his hands through his hair as he collects a pillow from the couch and passes it to Jack. Jack props it under my head and I suddenly feel very embarrassed.

"Wha-" I clear my throat. "What happened? Why are you here?" I ask Jack.

"Hunter called and said that you fainted." Jack's voice is soft and low. "But you're ok, you just have a little bump on your head. You might have a headache for the rest of the night." I fainted? Well, that would explain why I'm sprawled out on the floor.

"My phone!" I suddenly remember I was talking to a doctor from Happy Living.

Oh my God. My mother!

I need to sit up.

"Lilah, slowly." Hunter cautions from behind me, I feel his hands lifting me up. Whoa. My brain swirls. Stood up too fast.

"My phone?" I repeat as Hunter sits me down on the couch, his hand gently stroking my back. 

Kimmy tentatively passes me my phone, the expression on her face tells me I won't be happy with what I see. Shit. The entire screen has spider web cracks. I let out an exhausted sigh.

Kimmy kneels down in front of me. "Lils, how do you feel?"

"A little embarrassed actually. Why are you and Jack here? How long was I out for?"

"I live across the street. Kimmy and I were just on our way out when Hunter called and said you fainted. We rushed over right away, You were only unconscious for about three minutes. " I shift my gaze between Jack and Kimmy. He's wearing a black tuxedo and she's wearing a long navy blue evening gown and a white fur stole.

"I'm sorry you guys!" Oh, I ruined their plans! "I'm fine now you can go, really!"

Kimmy rolls her eyes. "We're not going anywhere!"

"You clearly had a special night planned, you both look so nice."

Jack laughs. 'Lilah, don't feel sorry. You actually got us out of a very boring gala my father was throwing." His father? Why wasn't Hunter going?

That's not important right now.

"I need to make a call." Hunter, Kimmy, and Jack look at one another as I redial Happy Living. "Hi, may I please speak to Dr. Young?'

"One moment, please." Kimmy mouths 'what's happening' and I hold up a finger.

"Dr. Young here."

"Hi, this is Delilah Sterling. You called me earlier. Uh- the call dropped. Can you repeat what you said please?" This time I'm sitting down.

"Yes, Miss Sterling. I called to inform you that your mother has regained consciousness. She's doing fine and we're in the middle of removing her feeding tube." The image sends uneasy shivers down my spine.

"When can I come see her?"

"Your mother is currently quite agitated and confused. I recommend a day or two before she gets any visitors."

"Can I come on Sunday?"

"That should be fine, but please be aware that she might not be able to communicate with you right away."

"I understand. Thank you, doctor."

"Have a good night Miss Sterling."

I look down at Kimmy who's staring at me waiting for an explanation.

"My mother's awake." Kimmy's eyes glow with glee.

"Oh my God, Lilah!" Kimmy lurches towards me, pushes Hunter's arm away and wraps me in a warm embrace. "This is incredible!"

I hug her back, feeling tears running down my face. I pull back and Kimmy wipes a tear off my cheek. "I can't believe she woke up."

"When can we see her?"

"The doctor said to give it a couple of days. I'm going to go Sunday."

Kimmy tilts her head. "We're going to go Sunday."

Jack and Hunter are both eyeing us with confusion.

"Was your mother comatose?" Jack asks as he takes a seat beside me.

I nod. "Um, she was in a car accident five months ago."

Hunter places his hand on top of mine and I lean into his shoulder. "Do you want some water?" Hunter asks as he places a kiss on my temple.

"No, I'm ok." She's awake. I close my eyes suddenly feeling very exhausted. What an emotional day.

"Do you want to go home, Lils?" Kimmy stands up and I hear her knee crack. "You look tired, I can drive you."

I shake my head. "No, you guys should go and enjoy your Friday."

Kimmy narrows her eyes. "You're so difficult, you know that? I'm driving you home and I'm staying the night."

"You're going to sleepover? What are we? Five?"

"Hush! You can have a concussion for all we know!" I could?!

I dart my eyes towards Jack who shakes his head. "I don't think you have a concussion, but I would advise that someone does stay with you." Ugh, doctors.

"Alright, alright." I sigh. I turn towards Hunter. "Sorry our night got messed up."

"Stop apologizing." Hunter cups my face and places a delicate kiss on my lips. "Go home and rest." 

Hunter lifts me to my feet and brings me my jacket. Jack and Hunter walk us to the door and give us each a hug goodbye.

Kimmy and I run across the street to her car.

"You're lucky I haven't started drinking yet!" Kimmy starts the engine and pulls out onto the road.

I roll my eyes, which makes the back of my head start throbbing again. "Do you have Advil?"

"Glove box!" I reach inside the compartment and rattle the half full container.

"Thanks." I pop a capsule in my mouth and swallow. "Today has been nuts. First Hunter's ex, now this. I swear the universe is testing my emotional stress response." Kimmy turns to face me as we approach the intersection. "Kimmy! Red!" She brakes just in time and I look at her bewildered. "Are you trying to kill us?!"

"Hunter's ex?! Spill."

***

For someone who said I looked 'tired', Kimmy sure as heck did a great job of keeping me up late last night, asking probing questions about my encounter with the Ice Queen. Hunter called around 10 p.m. to check in on me, our conversation didn't last long with Kimmy flapping her hands at me during the entire phone call. I finally managed to settle her curiosity around midnight and we both went to sleep.

This morning Kimmy tried to back out of brunch with her parents, supposedly for my sake. She said that I wasn't in the right mindset to go with her considering the news about my mother, but I convinced her that brunch was a welcome distraction.

"How does this look?" Kimmy twirls around in front of me wearing a dress I haven't seen in ages.

"Where did you even find that?"

"I got it from my runaway bag that I hid under your bed." I can't believe that's still there!

I laugh. "I completely forgot that you left that here. How long ago was that?"

Kimmy bites her lip as she thinks. "Probably two-years? Definitely before I finally moved out."

"How many times did you 'run away' only to go home a few hours later?"

Kimmy rolls her eyes. "You'd run back too if your parents offered to buy you a new Louis."

I tsk sarcastically. "You poor girl. Those evil parents of yours."

"Oh, shut up! You never lived with them." Kimmy starts putting her hair in a messy bun. "Although I do miss my mom's homemade kimchi."

I get off the couch and start putting my shoes on. "You could always move back."

Kimmy snorts. "I'll take freedom over fermented cabbage anyday."

"Ok, you ready? Put your game face on, KP!" I grab my purse.

Kimmy clenches her knuckles. "Hwaiting!"

***

Mr. and Mrs. Park live on the top floor of the tallest building in New York, possibly even the entire country. They're situated higher than the observatories at both the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center. I couldn't imagine living that high up. I get vertigo every time I look out their windows, which unfortunately are everywhere.

"Ah!" Mrs. Park exclaims as we walk through their front door. She throws her arms around us into an uncomfortable group hug. "You're here!"

We take off our shoes and put on the house slippers. Greta, their housekeeper, takes our jackets before we make our way to the dining room.

Mr. Park is sitting at the large banquet style table, the fanned out Wall Street Journal obscures his face.

"Appa!" Kimmy runs towards her dad and throws her arms around him, crushing the newspaper in her wake.

"Oh, Kimmy." Mr. Park hugs her back. "You're lucky I was almost done reading that."

Mrs. Park and I take our seats at the table and Greta begins bringing out various platters full of pastries, eggs, meat, and fruit.

"So, Kimmy." Mrs. Park holds out her cup as Greta pours her a coffee. "What is happening in your life that we should know about?"

Kimmy bites the inside of her cheek. "Um, I got a call-back for a pilot for the CW."

For ten minutes Kimmy's parents discuss her 'unstable' career choice. Mrs. Park tries to convince Kimmy to join her design company but to no avail. They talk around in circles before Kimmy throws me an apologetic look.

"Lilah has some great news!" Kimmy exclaims loudly causing her parents to stop talking. I glare at Kimmy.

"Oh? What is it?" Mrs. Park asks.

I swallow the remaining croissant in my mouth and sigh. Time to be the buffer. "I got a call last night from Happy Living Care Center. The facility my mom is staying at and they told me that she's finally regained consciousness."

Mr. and Mrs. Park both smile widely. "That's fantastic news, sweetheart!" Mrs. Park stands up and walks around the table to give me a quick hug. "We've been praying every day for Anita, isn't that right Jae?"

"It's true," Mr. Park confirms. "Yoona lights a candle for your mother every Sunday."

"Well, thank you both, that means a lot." Mrs. Park gives me a peck on the cheek before returning to her seat. "Kim and I are going to see her tomorrow."

"Send her our best wishes."

"I will."

I think Kimmy thought this news would make for a longer conversation, but Mr. and Mrs. Park aren't very nosy people, at least not towards me. They turn their attention back to Kimmy.

Kimmy's eyes light up as if she got an idea. "She also has a new boyfriend!" Kimmy! Nope. Enough.

I shake my head at Kimmy and look sweetly towards her parents. "So does Kimmy."

Kimmy's mouth widens and then scrunches up into a pout.

"Tto?" Mrs. Park murmurs. "Gijibae." Uh oh, I've heard that before.

"Mom!" Kimmy whines. "That's mean! He's a really nice guy, you'd actually like him."

Mrs. Park scoffs. "It is the boy that was on your screensaver?"

Kimmy narrows her eyes. "That's Kim Woo Bin, Mom."

"Well, a mother can dream!" I'm sure Kimmy's had that dream too, truthfully so have I. The amount of k-drama we watch is probably unhealthy.

Mr. Park chuckles and Mrs. Park scowls and nudges him in the arm. I love dysfunctional family brunches when they're not my own. Although I should help Kimmy out a little.

"He's a doctor," I offer. Mrs. Park purses her lips. Ok, we're getting somewhere.

"Yeah! He's a researcher actually," Kimmy adds. Mrs. Parks starts to slowly uncross her arms. "For a pharmaceutical company."

Mr. Park arches an eyebrow. "Public or private?" Kimmy looks at me confused and I shrug. How does he expect us to know this! Mr. Park pulls out his phone from his pocket and puts on his reading glasses. "Name?"

"Fairview Pharmaceuticals," Kimmy mutters. Mr. Park types into his phone, all three of us stare at him in silence.

"Hmm," Mr. Park mumbles, then his eyes grow wider. "Carlisle Industries?"

Kimmy nods. Based on Mr. Park's reaction I'm guessing the company has gone public.

"What is this doctor's name?" Mr. Park asks slowly.

"Jack." Kimmy lowers her head. "Carlisle," she whispers.

Mrs. Park perks up. Her mouth curls up like the Cheshire Cat. "Come again?"

Kimmy sighs. "Carlisle. I am dating Jack Carlisle."

Mr. Park is silent for a moment and then nods in approval. "Ok. Sunday. Dinner. Bring him."

Kimmy looks like she's about to throw up and I can't help but giggle. I don't think Kimmy has introduced any of her boyfriends to her parents. Well, more like her parents wanted nothing to do with any of her boyfriends. I take a sip of my tea, feeling very much like that Kermit the frog meme.

For the rest of the brunch, it was like I was invisible. Kimmy's parents asked her so many hard hitting questions about Jack it was like I was watching an FBI interrogation through a two-way mirror. I'm going to owe Kimmy big.

After we say goodbye to her parents, Kimmy and I get into the elevator. As soon as the doors close Kimmy winds up her boney elbow and strikes me in the kidney. Ouch!

"Now we're even." Kimmy tightens her bun and gives me a curt smile.

The entire drive to Brooklyn, Kimmy complains about her impending dinner date with Jack and her parents.

As we approach the used car dealership, I'm surprised by how professional it looks, I thought it would be a bit more shabby. All the cars are packed in one after another. I've always wondered what kind of system they have for getting a car out if someone wants to buy it. It's like a life size version of that board game Rush Hour.

I ask the salesman to lead us to the section of cars under $2000. He flashes me a disappointed smile. He probably saw us roll up in Kimmy's Lexus thinking he was going to get a big commission today. Sorry pal.

After walking around for an hour, Kimmy points out a relatively decent looking electric blue Chevrolet Cavalier. The salesman informs me of its year. 1996. Great. it's older than I am.

We test drive it around the block. The interiors aren't as horrible as I thought they'd be. And for only $2000, the sound system is quite decent. 

As I'm filling out the paperwork for the purchase Kimmy pokes me in my sore kidney.

"Kimmy! Ouch!"

"Hey, so for tomorrow-" I knew this was coming.

"I can go alone, it's fine." She probably needs the whole day to prep Jack for the Park inquisition.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I think it's better this way anyway. I don't want to overwhelm her." I hesitantly hand the salesman my credit card. Goodbye money. "Plus now I have a car so I can get there myself."

"You're the best!  Love you!"

"Good luck tomorrow."

Kimmy tilts her head. "Yeah... you too."