CHAPTER 1: It's Complicated.

MARA'S POV

“Miss Mara, I need you to know that your mother's sickness has gotten worse.”

For a second, I don't understand what the doctor means. I sit there staring at him, my fingers locked together so tightly that my nails dig into my palms.

“What do you mean, worse?”

Dr. Collins takes off his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose before looking back at me.

“Your mother's condition has progressed. We've run the tests again, and the results aren't what we hoped for.”

My stomach twists. I look down at the folder sitting on his desk, at the pages I can't bring myself to touch.

“How bad is it?”

He doesn't answer immediately, and that scares me more than anything. My heart skips a beat.

“Dr. Collins?”

He exhales quietly. “She needs to continue treatment. We can't stop now.”

I stare at him.

“Of course she needs to continue. I know that already.”

My voice comes out sharper than I intend.

“How much are we talking about?”

He looks at me again, and I already know what he's going to say. I just don't want to hear it.

“The outstanding balance was—”

“Wait, was?”

His expression changes. “Yes. The balance has been cleared.”

I blink. “What? The outstanding hospital bill has been paid, again?” I sit up straighter. “By who?”

He leans back in his chair.

“An anonymous payer.”

I stare at him again. “I'm sorry?”

He continues, his voice low, almost like a calm voice in the middle of my storm.

“The payment was made this morning, Miss Mara.”

My hands go numb. I open my mouth, but the words hang in my throat.

Someone had paid my mother's hospital bill again. I look at the doctor, curiosity and confusion filling my eyes.

“How much was paid?”

“The full amount.”

My fingers loosen, then tighten again.

“The full amount?”

“Yes.”

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. For about three seconds, relief washes over me, but then suspicion quickly replaces it.

“I need to know who.”

Dr. Collins reaches for his glasses. “I've already told you. It's anonymous, and the hospital has been asked not to disclose the identity.”

I stare at him. “Doctor, this is the fifth time.”

His eyes soften. “Yes, I know.”

“Then you should understand why I'm asking. Someone has been paying my mother's bills. It is no longer looking normal to me.”

He exhales, seemingly done with the conversation, and goes back to sorting through my mother's files.

I lean back in the chair. Five payments made by a stranger? What are they looking for?

The first time, I thought it was a mistake. The second time, I thought maybe the hospital had applied someone else's payment to my mother's account. By the third time, I started getting suspicious. By the fourth, I had stopped sleeping properly, and now there is a fifth payment sitting in front of me.

Who does that? Who pays someone else's medical bills and doesn't even want a thank-you?

I don't have anyone. That's the part that makes no sense.

My father left my mother for another woman years ago, and he isn't even in the country anymore. For all I know, he doesn't even know whether he has a family or if we still exist.

I don't have a rich aunt secretly watching over us. I don't have an uncle with money, and I don't have some mysterious family member waiting to rescue us.

It's just me, Mum, and my younger brother, Noah.

I've been working two jobs to keep us afloat, so who the hell keeps stepping in every time we're about to drown?

“Can you at least tell me when the payment was made?”

“This morning.”

“Through what account?”

“Miss Mara.”

I look up. He gives me the same sympathetic smile doctors give when they know something you're asking for isn't going to happen.

“I really can't tell you more.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. I want to argue. I want to demand the name. I want to know who has been paying thousands of dollars for my mother while I spend every night calculating whether I can afford groceries after paying the electricity bill.

Instead, I force myself to breathe.

“Is she stable?”

“She is for now.”

For now, those are two words I have learned to hate.

“Can I see her?”

“Of course.”

I stand and grab my bag, but before I leave, I stop.

“Doctor?”

“Yes?”

“If they pay again…”

I hesitate.

“Please don't take it if I'm not going to know who this savior is.”

He gives me a small smile. “I'll pass that along.”

I don't know why, but somehow I doubt he will.

~~~

By the time I leave the hospital, the sun is already high. I stand outside for a moment, staring at the busy road while cars move past me. People are laughing, people are arguing, and someone is honking because the car in front isn't moving fast enough.

Life is continuing like nothing happened. Meanwhile, my mother's sickness is getting worse, and some stranger keeps paying the bills I can't afford.

I pull out my phone and see three messages from my brother.

Noah: I already left the hospital to get more water for Mum. She's sleeping.

Noah: Hey sis, have you gone to the hospital?

Noah: Where are you?

I type back.

Me: On my way to the shop. I stopped by the hospital. I will come back later.

I put my phone away and hop into a cab.

~~~

The little bell above the flower shop door rings when I push it open, and the familiar smell of roses, lilies, and fresh leaves immediately surrounds me.

For the first time since leaving the hospital, my shoulders relax. This place has always been my escape.

Flowers don't ask questions. They don't care how much money I have, they don't care that my mother is sick, and they don't care that my father walked out on us.

They just need water, sunlight, and someone willing to keep them alive. Sometimes I think people aren't much different. Give them enough care, and maybe they survive.

“Mara!”

I look up. Nina comes through the back door carrying two cups of coffee. Her curly hair is pulled into a messy bun, and she's wearing the same black work shirt from the bar last night.

She puts one of the cups on the counter.

“Don't tell me you forgot breakfast again.”

I pick it up.

“You're becoming annoying.”

“No, baby, I am becoming concerned.”

“I prefer annoying, thanks.”

She gives me a look, the corner of her mouth twitching.

“How's your mum?”

The smile disappears from my face. “Not good.”

Nina's expression softens. “What happened?”

I tell her everything. She listens quietly, leaning against the counter, and when I finish, she reaches across and squeezes my hand.

“I'm sorry, Mara.”

I nod. “She’s stable for now. Thank God she is.”

“That sounds like doctor language for ‘we don't know what the hell is happening.’ ” Nina whispers.

A laugh escapes me. “Pretty much.”

Nina watches me for a moment. “You said there was something else?”

I look at her and sigh, then put my coffee down.

“The bill was paid.”

Her eyebrows pull together.

“Your mother's bill?” Her mouth falls open. “Again?”

“The fifth time now.” I wipe the sweat off my face.

“Wait, someone is still doing that? Who? And what does he or she want?”

“I honestly don't know. The doctor won't tell me.”

Nina stares at me, eyes wide. “You're telling me some mystery person keeps paying your mother's hospital bills and you don't know who it is? That is insane.”

I nod slowly, my hands clenching into fists at the thought of it again.

“Could it be your father?” Nina blurts.

I shake my head. “My father doesn't even know if we're alive, Nina. He doesn't call or send money. So?”

She goes quiet for a moment. “Then who?”

I look toward the rows of flowers behind me and shrug, staying completely silent.

Nina folds her arms. “This is honestly getting creepy.”

“Thank you for making me feel better.”

I look at her and start trimming the flowers in front of me.

She is quiet for approximately ten seconds before her expression changes. “Oh, Mara, while you search for this anonymous helper, you should also check when Adrian will be hopelessly in love with you. I bet that would be in the next life, or it probably would never happen.”

Nina chuckles, her loud, mocking laughter making me almost cut the stem too short.

“For the tenth time, Nina, I am not hopelessly in love with Adrian.”

“Right.”

“I have just known him for a long time.”

“Six years, or am I missing something?”

I glare at her. She smiles. “Six years, Mara, you are hopeless.”

“What’s the crime in that?”

“Dedicating six years of your life to a man who hasn't asked you out might be one.”

I put the scissors down. “Adrian is my friend, Nina, and I don't need to force anything. He will come around when he's ready.”

She stares at me, then bursts out laughing. Her laughter echoes so loudly that it makes my heart ache. I grit my teeth and keep trimming my flowers.

“Mara, you've been saying that since college. Listen, you need to stop chasing after shadows. If Adrian wants you, he would have done the needful already. Girl, you need to wake up. I can't believe you are this devoted to a guy who just keeps you on the side.”

I roll my eyes. “He's busy. He just has a lot going on. Stop making me feel stupid for genuinely caring about my friend.”

She scoffs. “You mean, he has a lot of women going on? When you stop making excuses for Adrian and think of yourself for a while, you will thank me later.”

My face tightens, and I bang the scissors on the table. Nina flinches.

“Adrian doesn't owe me anything. He can date whoever he wants. He is still my best friend. I chose to love him. I haven't even confessed my feelings to him.”

She points at me, her face suddenly turning red.

“So if he doesn't owe you anything, why are you so devoted? You've rejected every man who has shown interest in you because you're waiting for Adrian to suddenly look at you and realize you're the love of his life.”

She steps closer, her eyes burning with frustration, like she has been waiting to tell me this for a long time.

“You've spent six years loving this man quietly while he dates other women, flirts with other women, breaks up with Clara, gets back together with Clara, and then acts like you're his favorite person whenever he needs someone to listen to him.”

I don't answer because she's right, and I hate that she's right. I swallow hard, looking at the flower in front of me, but I don't really see it.

Nina exhales, letting out all the steam. Her voice softens.

“Mara.”

I look at her, gripping the scissors tightly, my eyes burning at the corners. She places her hands on my shoulders and continues.

“Any man who has had six years to notice the woman standing right in front of him and still chooses everyone else isn't confused.”

She pauses. “He's comfortable knowing you'll always be there.”

The words land harder than they should. I look down at the roses. I don't want to hear this because a small part of me has always known. I've just never wanted to say it out loud.

My phone buzzes on the counter, I glance at the screen. Adrian.

My heart races. A part of me wants to listen to Nina, but I can't leave the call hanging, right?

Nina sees my face and groans. “See? You are just addicted to heartbreak and toxicity. Go on, pick up like you always do.”

I pick up the phone. “He probably needs something, Nina.”

She rolls her eyes. “Of course he does.”

I open the message.

Adrian: Hey you. You working today?

I smile before I can stop myself.

Nina throws her hands up and walks out. “I give up.”

She grabs her bag. “I'm leaving before I say something that ruins our friendship.” She storms off, banging the door behind her.

I ignore her, completely invested in my chat with Adrian, and type back.

Me: I'm at the flower shop.

Three dots appear almost immediately.

Adrian: Good. I'll see you later.

I stare at the message for a moment. My smile slowly fades, maybe Nina is right?