Chapter 4

Catherine:

It took me another half hour before I finally stepped out of the room, my knees barely holding me, and I couldn’t even take one steady step downstairs. 

“My favorite new girl!” The old lady said. She was standing at the reception, her makeup was different from last night, and the smile that was covering her face made me realize she got a nice payment because of me, or else why would she call me her favorite new girl?

“If you need a shower, new clothes...” She started, but I shot her one deadly glare, making her smile vanishing.

“Someone is grumpy” She stopped chewing gum then started walking toward me all of a sudden.

“Why didn’t you stop it? You knew I was drunk!” I said, on the verge of tears. She opened her mouth to say something, but I only walked past her, not giving her the slightest chance to defend herself.

I could hear her cursing under her breath, but all I did was pointing my middle finger toward her without turning around to look at her face.

I just couldn’t believe there’s actually horrible women who are willing to sacrifice other women!

My feet dragged me outside the dirty place, the place where I lost my virginity at, and the place where it cost me everything!

I tightened my grip around my little purse, as if the money inside it would fly away. I wondered if that amount would save my mother, and pay the huge bills waiting for me.

I reached for my phone to call the hospital and ask about my mother, but I was shocked to see that my phone died. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets as if that could be the end of the world. What if they called me again and couldn’t reach for me? What if something bad happened to my mother? My chest tightened at the thought.

I froze, my eyes scanning the empty, calm street for any cab, but it was too early to even find any cab.

After ten minutes of running, I finally managed to catch a cab and head straight to the hospital, praying and hoping I wasn't late, that my mother was awake from her surgery, and that she survived.

As soon as the cab stopped in front of the hospital's grand entrance, I opened the door and jumped out, not even thinking I had time to pay the driver. “Can you please wait here?” I pleaded, and he simply nodded in understanding.

My feet carried me inside the hospital, heading straight to the lady at the reception, grabbing the money from my purse, I didn't hesitate for a moment to throw them on the counter.

“Miss…please…” She started to calm me, but I didn't even listen to her.

“It’s Catherine Moretti, my mother is a patient here, and they told me she needs an urgent surgery” I explained to her. I gave her the information and watched her as she started typing on the computer.

“It says here you still didn’t pay…” She said, but I glanced toward the money on the counter, making  her realize I was already ready to pay.

“Here” I pointed to the money on the counter, “We owe you three thousand…but after last night's surgery, the total will be nine thousand” She said, her eyes still fixed on the computer screen..

I counted the money to realize it wasn't only enough for paying the bills, but to cover all our debts…Seriously, who was that guy? I was starting to think I might've slept with the president’s son.

My eyes were staring at the void for a few moments before realizing that the receptionist was still waiting for me to pay.

After I paid, the receptionist provided me with more information, such as where I could possibly find my mother and what floor her surgery was on.

I sat on the bench outside and started to wait impatiently, worry was eating me alive as I kept replaying last night. I cover my face and I suddenly remember his black features, his dark eyes staring down at me.

I gulped nervously, what the fuck was happening to me? Why couldn’t I just let this go? It’s just a one night thing, he probably lived in Italy and he was just a tourist, I was a bit relieved when I thought our paths would never cross again.

Then why was I still thinking about it? I ran my fingers through my hair, shaking the stupid memories away.

It wasn’t a big deal…I continued to convince myself, but it still didn't feel right. That’s why last night was going to be my secret, a secret no one would ever find out about.

My eye suddenly spotted a strange guy from afar, wearing black and holding his phone. That was not even the weirdest part, because he was staring at me, and once my eyes caught him looking, he all of a sudden turned his head to the opposite direction, avoiding looking at me.

I frowned, and I suddenly started to stand from the bench, my feet driving me toward him. “Are you following me?” I shot before I even got closer to him.

The guy froze for a few seconds before he handed me the phone. “It’s for you…” He said, a serious look on his face. I hesitated for a moment before reaching out for the phone.

I placed the phone on my ear, but once I did, my heart throbbed, and my  eyes widened. I froze at my spot. “My sweet daughter…” His voice sent terror in me as I started to breathe heavily.

“What do you want?” I freaked out, but I kept my voice cold and sharp.

“You’re my daughter, what could I possibly want?” His voice was all of a sudden soft, but I didn't buy it, he definitely wanted something.

“Stop stalking me, I’m no longer your daughter…” I reminded him.

“Running away doesn’t change the fact I’m your father, accept that!” He yelled over the phone, but I took a deep breath, calming myself.

“We don’t need you, not anymore!” I said, but he laughed once he heard my words.

“We’ll see about that” His threatening tone made me even angrier, which made me throw the phone hard to the ground and watch it shatter into pieces.

As soon as I looked around me, I was surprised to see the guy who just gave me the phone had already disappeared, leaving me by myself.

Just as I was about to sit back on the bench, I watched the doctor stepping out of the surgery room, his pale face already telling me the bad news.

“Doctor, how was the surgery?” I ran to him, but he shook head silently, making my frown deepen.

“I’m sorry, we did our best, but we couldn't save her” The doctor said the words, leaving me frozen on the same spot, still couldn’t process his words. What does he mean? 

My knees couldn’t hold me anymore, my whole body was all of a sudden sliding on the floor, a few tears falling down as I was still denying the ugly truth. The fact that my mother left, she couldn’t make it, she didn’t survive! The only person that’s left for me, she's gone…