NATHAN

What a disastrous date I had last night! My brilliant idea of opening a dating profile backfired. My date looked nothing like her pictures and the whole time I felt as if I was talking with a different person. Zara and I spoke on the phone a few times before we agreed to go out. I'm wondering what went wrong or if it was something I did or said. It also annoyed me that she ordered tons of food, then ate a few pieces of lettuce, and declared she was full. It was a waste of food and a waste of my time.

I'm not losing hope yet. David and Kaley's relationship has shown me that not all is lost for me. Whenever I need a break from my mother, I'm welcome at their house, where Kaley insists on feeding me, and David is always a phone call or message away with kind advice, the same as Owen. I see David and Kaley as role models and I aspire to one day meet a woman who completes me. The news of the twins made me feel even happier for them. David can barely contain his pride when he talks about it.

My phone's light turns on with a notification and I find a message from my cousin Patricia saying she will come in the afternoon to pick the posters I made for her fundraiser. I won't be here to give them to her so I need to let my mom know. At least she's talking to me after our argument, but I believe we'll never have a deeper relationship after she let me know how she feels about me.

"Mom?" I knock on her door. "I left posters for Patricia on the kitchen table. She's coming in the afternoon to pick them, but I don't know exactly at what time. Can you give them to her?"

I wait for her confirmation, but all is silent.

"Mom, did you hear me?"

Nothing. Is she sleeping? I open the door and try to make as little noise as possible just in case she is.

"Hey," I whisper. "I'm about to leave for the studio-"

Mom lies on the floor. Her mouth hangs strangely and her lips are purple, her skin is a waxy yellow color.

"Mom? Mom!" I kneel next to her and pat her cheek. Her chest doesn't move, and she feels cold to the touch.

"Fuck! No! No... No... No..."

I grab the phone from her nightstand and dial the emergency services, even though I know it is pointless by now. As best as I can, I try to explain between sobs what is going on. I gaze around the room and my upset and disappointment grows when I see a bottle under the bed.

Paramedics rush by me as I open the door and my knees feel weak. I slide down the wall and all I do is cry from pain and sadness. It doesn't take long for the paramedics to figure out there's nothing more they can do as one of them approaches me, kneels and pats my arm. He asks me if there's someone I can call to keep me company. I think immediately of David and nod. Then he explains they'll bring my mom to the emergency room where a doctor will make and sign a death declaration, and again I can only nod. When I see the gurney coming down the hallway, I look the other way to control my feelings.

"I'm very sorry for your loss," the other paramedic says as they walk by me.

Once they take her body away, I break in heavy sobs and feel so much anger. She always complained I left her when I went to college, but what about now? What about all the moments when I was a child, and she was too drunk to take care of me? Didn't she leave me in each of those moments? And now she has left me forever. Finally, she got what she desired, to get rid of the life she never wanted. I know she loved me. In her twisted, manipulative way she loved me, and now she is gone... Mom, you win.

DAVID

This isn't how I pictured this day would happen. I've just informed the team that Nathan's mom has passed away and the reaction has been one full of empathy, except for Elvam who looks truly shocked. Kaley wipes a few tears and I understand how she feels. We have become close friends with Nathan and know the struggles with his mom; her alcoholism, health issues, fights, and financial struggles.

I'm no stranger to loss myself after I lost Cora and Peter, but even as a child, I had to often say goodbye to friends who got adopted or placed in foster homes. I was protective of a little girl, who had a horrible experience, and I was the one who had to say goodbye to her when I was placed away. If anything, it has strengthened me, but I'm not immune to the pain of loss.

"Guys," I say after clearing my throat. "I think that Nathan could use help with the arrangements. Unless you need me, I would like to see what I can do for him."

"Of course," Zack says, eyes full of sorrow. "If anyone else wants to help, please do so." Owen nods and gathers his stuff. "David, keep us posted and please call if you need us there."

"Sure."

Kaley gets a little paper napkin and clears her nose quietly. I walk to her and she stands up searching for comfort. I hug her and kiss her head while caressing her hair. I don't care if Zak figures out we are together since everybody else already knows. I tip her chin to make her look at me and give her a small kiss on her lips.

"Zack, Elvam, can you keep an eye on her for me? If she doesn't feel well, please bring her home."

"Okay," Zacks says, and looks from me to Kaley, who seems embarrassed at the way her friend had to find out.

ZACK

David... David? Really? How come I never noticed when we are practically every day together? I wonder how long this has been going on. He didn't say a thing when I accused her of dating Nathan, and he knows I kissed her. He must have helped Kaley and Elvam as well with the changes in my apartment, that isn't something Elvam could have done on his own.

"Kaley..." I whisper after I stand up from our shared workstation and approach her.

"I'm sorry, Zack. I didn't know how to tell you."

"I'm not mad at you, more like surprised. He doesn't seem like your type," I rub her hand to show her I mean it. "He's the dad of your babies."

"He is, and will hopefully continue to be if I reach the term. I'm further than when I had the miscarriage, but I'm not out of danger yet. Sometimes I feel as if this is a miracle," she places her hand on her belly.

"Some things are meant to be," I say, thinking about how I met Mila.

"David and I know everything about Nathan's mom. She was a difficult woman, an alcoholic, but he loved her very much. If something happened to my mom, I would die," she says while letting out a shaky breath.

I can't agree more with her, because I love my mom a lot as well. I turn around and look at Elvam, who's gone quite pale.

"Elvam? Are you okay?"

"Huh? Yeah... Yeah... I'm okay. This is just... You know? Bad news. No one wants to go through that," he says, but avoids looking at me.

"Kaley, I think all this stress is not good for you and your babies. Do you want me to bring you to your apartment?"

"David and I live together at his house. I will be grateful if you can bring me there."

"Sure. Elvam, I'll be right back."

Elvam doesn't answer and places his headphones back on. Hopefully he'll tell me what's going on with him when I return.

OWEN

I'm glad I came here together with David because Nathan is a total mess at the moment. While David is sorting through every possible administration document for insurance papers, funeral arrangements or a will, I have been taking care of Nathan's health.

"I found an insurance policy for the funeral, but this here is bad news."

"What is it?" I move closer to look at the papers in his hand.

"They are in huge debt and it is worse than I thought. These are unpaid medical bills. I still have to go through another pack of documents and with luck I'll find some sort of insurance. Otherwise, Nathan will get in a lot of trouble, maybe even lose this house."

"Fuck! Really?"

We turn around to find Nathan with a shocked expression.

"Nathan, we will figure this out," I walk to him and put my arm over his shoulders.

"How much?" Nathan asks.

"Don't worry about that now," David puts the papers away. "You need to rest to get rid of that migraine. I'm about to call the funeral home, I found the insurance for the arrangements and will take care of that."

"David, how much?" Nathan demands in a harsh voice.

"About three hundred thousand."

I feel Nathan get weak and his knees falter, but I manage to support him. Together, we walk to his room where I help him to get back in bed.

"What am I going to do?" He runs his fingers through his curls.

"We'll think of a plan," David says from the room's entrance. "Maybe I can agree with the hospital on a payment plan for the bills. This house has low mortgage payments already, and that's positive. I will keep looking for insurance papers."

"I'm amazed there's something for a funeral. Most likely she got that after my father passed away. They never cared about arranging things, so I doubt there is an insurance with a large payout," he shakes his head.

An idea pops in my head, and maybe he won't like it, but it's worth trying it.

"Nathan, I have a spare room in my house. You can move in with us and rent this house to earn money to pay the bills."

Nathan looks at me with surprise, then shakes his head.

"I can't do that Owen. That is the room for your grandkid, plus I'll be invading your privacy. Ciara might feel uncomfortable having a strange man in her house."

"It's only until you are financially stable. The baby will spend almost the whole first year with Ciara in her room. It is more practical that way."

"Nathan, I think you should consider Owen's offer. This is a good neighborhood, and you will be able to ask double in rent of what you are currently paying," says David, always helpful.

"I'll think about it. Thank you, guys. I would have lost my mind without you."

"That's what friends are for," says David.

Friends... That's indeed what we are.