"Christina wake up." My eyes open slowly as I turn to see my mother leaning against my doorway with her arms crossed. She smiles at me meeting my gaze as she begins to slowly walk towards my bed, her curls bouncing with each step. 

She sits on my bed and gently caresses my face. 

"Are you really home mom?" I hold her hand and lean into her before she pushes me away. 

"Sweetheart wake up, you're going to be late."

She gives me a light tap on the cheek, and I immediately sit up in my bed. I turn to the right where I had just seen her sitting only to find the room empty and the door closed. Running my hands through my hair, I sigh and realize it was just a dream. I've been seeing her a lot lately in them and I guess its because I miss her. Sighing, I grab my phone from my bedside table to check the time when I suddenly freeze.

"7:10, shit I'm going to be late."

I quickly hop out of bed and head towards my bathroom for a quick shower. After a few stumbles and a near death experience in the tub, I make my way to my closet and select the first outfit I find. I'm currently a sophomore student at New York University majoring in Biology. I was lucky to get some financial aid, but the money doesn't cover all my fees so my mother helps me out. My family isn't well off but we're comfortable. My mother has been working non stop trying to give me the best opportunities since my father passed away when I was fourteen.  My mother works as a maid for Gloria Anderson, a famous fashion designer here in New York. 

Because of my mother's work schedule, I don't get to see her often, but she called me last night and promised me that she would be here today. Nothing would stop me from seeing her today so I called out of work. I'm the type of employee who never misses a shift and is always on time so Mark will just have to forgive me for today. I work as a barista at the University's Starbucks, and I'm lucky my boss isn't so hard on me. Other jobs I've had in the past were stricter when it came to attendance.

I pull out a pair of black and white sneakers and lace them up before applying my makeup. I'm more of a natural look kind of girl, which is why I can't stand the girls on campus who get their faces done as if they are going to the Academy awards every day. I wish half of them would take that same energy they put into their appearance and apply it to their schoolwork. It would make class all the more enjoyable when an actual discussion can happen. Once I'm done, I look myself over once more in the mirror. Feeling content with my appearance, I rush out of my house and head for the bus stop to make it to my eight o'clock Biology class on time. Once I board the bus, I notice my friend Stacy sitting in the back.

"Hey Christina, how are you?" Stacy looks up from her phone with a huge grin on her face.

"Hey Stace, I'm fine thanks for asking."

"So, is she coming?"

"That's what she said on the phone last night." I put my bag down and take the seat next to her. The bus wasn't too crowded this morning so today was starting off pretty good. It can only get better from here.

"I'm hoping that she'll make it but watch her come up with a story saying that Gloria is very demanding, and that she can't make it again."

"Christina that isn't going to happen, and you know it. You should have a little faith in your mother; she's been trying her best to provide for you since your father's accident."

"I know that, but sometimes it's just hard being home without her."

"I completely understand where you're coming from. I used to freak out when I didn't see my mother for a week, so I get it. Anyway, what classes do you have today?"

"Just Biology and then I'm going home. I can't afford the chance to miss out on her coming home early."

"I hear you." The bus stops and we get off in front of the campus.

"Well I'll see you later okay," Stacy says as she fixes her blouse.

"Really," I ask raising my eyebrows.

"Yeah I haven't seen your mother in a while and seeing as I'm her favorite child I'm sure she'll be glad to see me." I've known Stacy my whole life, so she was like a sister to me. 

"Please stop Stacy." I try to suppress my laughter but fail miserably. Stacy rolls her eyes before glaring at me. 

"Okay maybe I'm not her favorite child, but I know she still loves me."

"Of course, she loves you Stace, how could she not love my best friend?" I take a look at my phone and see that I'm about to be late for class.

"Crap I'm going to be late; I'll see you later Stacy,"

"Okay bye."

I end up making it to class on time and sit in my usual seat in the front. This class is one of the few that I actually enjoy because the professor is young and attractive, which isn't really common in this field of study. The only thing I hate is the constant attention I get from Drew. He's been trying to get me to go out with him for the last five weeks, and he still hasn't taken a hint.

"Morning Christina, you look beautiful as always." 

"Thank you Drew." I briefly turn to meet his eyes and smile at him. Drew was nice but he just wasn't my cup of tea. 

"Do you have any plans tonight? Because I was thinking that maybe we could..." He rubs the back of his neck nervously as he attempts to ask me out. 

"Sorry I have other plans." I just want this conversation to end to be honest. Thankfully the professor walks in and class starts. 

 After three hours of lecture, jokes, and group work, class ends, and I get on a bus to go home. I hadn't been keen on public transportation, but after the first day of school and the parking fiasco I went through, the bus was well worth it.

Getting off the bus, I decide to grab a cake from my favorite bakery, Esmeralda's, in town. My mother's favorite happens to be strawberry shortcake, but she'll probably have to fight off Stacy seeing as it's her favorite as well.

"Hola Esmeralda." (Hello Esmeralda)

"Hola Christina, Como Estas?" (Hello Christina, How are you?")

"Estoy bien gracias, Y tu?" (I am well thank you, and you?")

"Estupendo." (Great)

"So, I need a strawberry shortcake today do you happen to have any?"

"Yes of course."

"Thank goodness." I place my hand on my chest and let out a sigh of relief.

"Is your mother coming into town dear?" Esmeralda quickly packages the cake while I search for my wallet.

"Yeah she is, so I figured I'd pick up her favorite dessert."

"That's' so sweet of you." I shrug my shoulders and give Esmeralda a big smile. She rings up the cake and gives me my total.

"That will be ten dollars and fifty cents dear." I pay her and grab the cake as she extends her welcome wishes to my mother before I leave her store.

As I'm walking down my street, I see my mother's car parked in our driveway and I immediately pick up my pace. I run towards my house and fumble with the keys before opening the door and heading inside. I place the keys on the side table beside the door and call out to her.

"Mama I'm home."

There's no answer and no sounds coming from inside the house, which makes me worried. As I walk towards the kitchen, I see a foot in the doorway. I quickly run to the kitchen only to find my mother on the floor face down.

"Oh my god!" I rush to her side as I kneel on the floor.

"Mama please get up," I say shaking her softly. She continues laying there unresponsive, before grabbing my cellphone from my back pocket and quickly dial 911 for help. I begin to tear up as I wait for the operator to answer the call.

"911 what is your emergency?"

"Yes hello, I need an ambulance fast. I just got home and found my mother on the floor unresponsive please come quick." My breathing is quick, and my voice comes out ragged, prompting the operator to calm me down.

"Okay miss please calm down. What is your location?"

"I'm located at 230 Broadway Street."

"Okay miss help is on the way, could you check and see if she is breathing?"

"Yeah sure." My voice cracks as I try to stay calm, but I don't know what to think at this point.

I lower my head and see that my mother is shallowly breathing, which is a bit of a relief.

"She's breathing."

"Okay the paramedics should be there any minute now."

"Thank you so much."

I hang up the phone and wait patiently for the paramedics to come. Within five minutes I hear knocking on my front door. I run and open the door for the paramedics who come in with a gurney. They lift my mother up on the gurney and administer oxygen to her. I follow them outside locking my house before getting into the ambulance and heading to the hospital.

A couple of hours have passed since we arrived, and with each passing second, I become more anxious. They told me they needed to run some tests and that it would take a while, but I feel like I'm about to have a panic attack. I fidget with my fingers in the waiting room while I wait for the doctors to finish their tests, until I get a call from Stacy.

"Christina, where are you? I'm at your house."

I try to answer her, but my voice comes out in a muffled cry.

"Christina what happened? Where are you?" The worry in Stacy's voice is apparent, and the last thing I want her to do is to get hurt worrying about me.

'I'm at the hospital; I came home only to find my mother on the floor Stace."

"Oh my god, which hospital are you at?"

"We're at the NYU Langone Medical Center."

"Don't worry I'm on my way."

"Okay."

I hang up the phone and see the doctor coming towards me. "Are you Maria's daughter?"

"Yes."

"Hi, my name is Dr. Roberts. I have an update on your mother's condition."

"What is it? What's wrong with her?" I was eager to find out the problem, but I was scared at the same time.

"After doing some tests, we've found that your mother has a lump on her breast. It may be cancer but we'll know more once we get the results from the biopsy."

My whole world shattered in that moment. I kept thinking to myself no this can't be happening not right now.

"If it is cancer she can be treated right, by going to chemotherapy." I was hopeful at first, but I watched as pained expression formed on Dr. Roberts face.

"Yes that is a possibility so long as the cancer has not spread to other parts of her body. In the case that it has spread, we'll need to determine if there is a viable path to recovery for her. 

I try to hold myself from bursting into tears. "Is there any way I can see her?"

"Sure, but only for a bit, she is still sleeping."

I walk into the room and see mother covered in tubes hooked up to a bunch of machines. I had seen this type of scene in a lot of movies, but I never thought I would be in this very situation so early in my life. I walk over to her and rub her forehead before I sit down and break down crying.

The door opens and Stacy comes running to my side. She pulls me into a tight hug, and I release all the pent-up emotion I have onto her.

"It's going to be okay Christina; your mother will get through this."

"Stacy what if she doesn't? What if it really is cancer? I'm so scared, I lost my dad already I can't lose her too. There is still so much we haven't done together." 

"Oh, honey I'm so sorry. Stacy brings me in for a hug as she begins to sob softly. I'm just glad she came; I don't know what I would do without her.

We both take a seat and wait quietly for my mother to wake up. After a few hours, I see her move a bit and her eyes open. I immediately rush to her side and hold her hand.

"Mama, it's me Christina."

"Sweetheart, where am I?"

"You're in the hospital, I found you on the floor when I got home."

"How long have I been out of it?"

"About seven hours."

"I'll go call for a nurse and doctor," Stacy says as she runs outside to get help. Two minutes later a nurse and Dr. Roberts come in.

"Hello Mrs. Munoz, I'm Dr. Roberts. During your examination we discovered a lump on one of your breasts." 

"Do I have Cancer doctor?" My mother looked at Doctor Robert's warily as she squeezed my hands." 

"A biopsy of your breast tissue was conducted and we should know more in the coming days. For now I need you to remain calm and rest." 

My mother began to shake as she broke down in tears. "Don't worry Mama I'll be here with you always." I wiped a tear that fell down her cheek with my other hand.

"Thank you Doctor Robert's I'll be sure to keep her calm." Doctor Roberts gives me a brief nod before leaving the room with the nurse. Stacy walked over to the other side of my mother's bed and held her other hand. 

"Christina  Stacy I'm so sorry."

"Mama it's not your fault okay. You have no control over what happens in your body. Everything happens for a reason we just need to have faith in God that you will be alright."

"What if I really am sick though? I worry about you. How you will live? Who will be there for you?"

"I have Stacy, and my job."

"Speaking of jobs, how will I tell Gloria?"

"Mama you are in no condition right now to work. I will take your place at the Anderson house for now okay. Right now, I want you to rest and not stress about anything. Stress may worsen your condition." 

"You're right, thank you, sweetheart."

"What time are you supposed to be back for work?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Okay perfect I don't have any class tomorrow, so I'll go talk to her."

I decided to stay the night in the hospital, so I sent Stacy home. My mother fell asleep again and the nurse brought me a bed so that I could sleep as well.

In the morning my mother was still asleep, so I decided to go home, and get ready to see Mrs. Anderson. I took my mother car keys and used a GPS to find where she lived. The address my mother gave me is in Saddle River New Jersey. When I plugged it into the GPS, I saw that it was almost a three-hour drive. Now I understand why I don't get to see her as much.

After the three-hour car ride, I arrive at a huge estate, with a gate keeper.

"What can I do for you miss?"

"I'm here to see Mrs. Anderson."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No, I'm the daughter of her maid."

"Which one?"

"Maria Munoz."

"Alright come in." After I parked my car in the driveway, I walk up to the front door and take a deep breath.

I ring the doorbell and I am greeted by what appears to be the head maid. She wasn't dressed in a traditional outfit, but she was very polite when she spoke.

"How can I help you?"

"Hi is Mrs. Anderson in?"

"You are?" She looked me up and down in a suspicious manner as if I was some type of spy. 

"Maria Munoz's daughter." 

"Oh yes, come right this way."

I follow her down a long hallway which ends with a huge white double door, which I presume is Mrs. Anderson's office.

I knock on the door, and when she answers she looked surprised, confused, and angry all at the same time.

"Who are you, and how did you get in?"

"Mrs. Anderson, I'm the daughter of Maria Munoz. Yesterday she came home to see me, but when I returned, I found her on the floor unresponsive. I took her to the hospital, but we are still waiting for some tests to come back." Her expression softened as she placed her hand on her chest, "please come in." I followed her into her office where she took a seat and gestured for me to do the same.

"Dear I'm so sorry. This news is totally unexpected." Mrs. Anderson showed genuine concern for my mother which I could see in her eyes.

"Thank you for your concern, unfortunately my mother can no longer work for you, so I am here to take her place for today."

"Dear, I'm sorry but if you take her place you have to live here."

"But I go to school in New York."

"Well dear then you have a decision to make don't you. If you decide to stay, I'll see you here on Saturday. Tell your mother she's in my prayers dear." I nod my head and got up to leave her office.

"Thank you and I will."

I leave her home, and head back to New York. I can't believe I will have to leave school, but if I don't, I may not have a place to live. Living in the Anderson house would be a dream if I wasn't coming as a maid. It looks like I have a new struggle on my hands, school, my mom's health, and where I'll be living in the months to come. 

AN

Hello everyone its been eight years since this story was first published. I am grateful for the positive response it has had, but I've decided to do a rewrite of this book. This was my first book I wrote and I was very young. Looking back at it I see where there could have been improvements. I originally moved this book over to radish, but I've decided to move it back here along with its the other two books in this series for everyone to enjoy. I hope everyone will enjoy the rewrite. 

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