𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 100 : 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐲.

𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬°°°

She sat on the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped. "Nevena," she called, softer. "I didn't mean to be rude. Forgive me if it hurt you."

Nevena shook her head. Sophia waited. Then she pulled Nevena close to her chest and consoled her. They just stayed there while the morning light crawled across the floor.

"I won't scold ever again. Okay?"

Nevena swallowed. Tried to speak. Nothing came out. Sophia didn't push.

Finally, her voice emerged—cracked, raw. "It's not that. We went to Antonio."

Sophia went still. "Antonio? That's reckless."

"Junior took me. He spoke some language I didn't understand and paid the driver with words." Nevena laughed once—hollow. "He had Antonio's personal contact card."

"That boy is going to put someone in trouble one day." Sophia seethed.

"He just wanted to tell his buddy that his mother was in trouble and ask for help."

"I bet Antonio wouldn't pay an ear."

"He said yes." Nevena sat up. "But there's a condition."

"I know it." Sophia stared. "The devil gives nothing for free."

"He said I should stay away. No visits. No calls. No running into him." Nevena's eyes welled again.

"Just that?" Sophia stared. "He's only cutting you out."

"He already did." Nevena wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I just didn't realize until he said it out loud in front of Junior."

Sophia studied her. There was something beneath the tears. Something Nevena wasn't saying. "Nevena." Her voice dropped. "What aren't you telling me?"

Nevena's breath hitched. She looked away. Then back. Then away again without answering. Sophia reached over and pulled her into a side hug. Neither of them spoke for a long moment.

Then Sophia pulled back. "Were you in love with him?"

"Unrequited." She laughed—bitter, wet. "I don't even know how it happened. But he looked at me like I was a precious gem. And I got so blinded that I slept with him."

"Nevena—"

"I feel so ashamed. Like a dog." Nevena held up a hand. Shaking. "He started pulling away after I thought he was mine. Shorter visits. Longer silences."

Silence.

Sophia reached out again. Took her hand. "You're not a dog."

She didn't speak. Sophia continued. "He's just a loser who collects people. Uses them and throws them away like—"

Nevena broke then—really broke. Shoulders shaking. Face buried in Sophia's neck. "Sophia. I loved him. He saved me multiple times. Made me feel alive and didn't ask for anything. Didn't even want a thank you."

Sophia held on, letting her pour out her heart.

"Why do I always end up where I'm not wanted, Sophia? I came here to see the world with my borrowed time."

"What do you mean, 'borrowed time'?"

Nevena paused. "I'm dying."

The words landed like a gunshot.

Sophia didn't breathe. She gradually pulled her away. "Stop playing."

"No, I'm not." Nevena's voice was steady now. Flat. "Kidney failure. Late stage. I have maybe two years left. I gave one of my kidneys to my ex—Alexandru. Back in Bulgaria. He needed it. I loved him."

"What happened?"

"He cheated." Nevena laughed—dry, broken. "With my step-sister. Told me I was too damaged. That I'd 'given him a gift he didn't ask for.'"

Sophia's hands curled into fists.

"So I left home. Came here. Decided to spend whatever time I had left not being invisible." Nevena met her eyes. "And then Antonio happened. From Arizona down to here, he was my guardian angel."

Sophia stood up. Paced to the window. Turned back.

"That's not love, Nevena. That's desperation."

"I know."

Sophia's jaw worked. "You should have told me. About the kidney. About the dying. About all of it."

"What would you have done? Pitied me? Treated me like glass?" Nevena shook her head. "I didn't want pity. I wanted one thing that was mine."

"Antonio Hunt is nothing but a scumbag. And he's not yours."

"I know." Nevena's voice dropped to a whisper. "I know."

Sophia crossed the room. Stopped in front of her. Her face was hard, but her eyes were wet.

"You're an idiot," she said.

"Yes."

"A reckless, foolish idiot."

"Yes."

Sophia sat back down. Took her hand again. Squeezed hard.

"I'm not going to scold you for sleeping with him. You're a grown woman. But I am going to scold you for not telling me you're dying. All those times we locked you up." Her voice broke on the last word.

Nevena's face crumpled. "I already accepted my fate."

"How long?"

"Months. Maybe less. I boycotted the treatment Stefan arranged ahead of my arrival."

Sophia pulled her in. Held her tight. She sobbed into her shoulder—not quiet, not dignified. Just raw.

"What now?" Sophia whispered into her hair.

"Now I stay away. Like he said." Nevena's voice hardened. "And I watch Junior grow up for as long as I can. And when I recover my ticket and phone, I will go home to Bulgaria and die in a hospital that smells like bleach."

Sophia shook her head. "You're not going back there to die alone."

"Sophia—"

"I mean it. You're staying here. With me. For as long as—" She stopped. Swallowed. "For as long as."

Nevena stared at her. Fresh tears spilled.

"You barely know me."

"I know enough." Sophia's voice was fierce. "You're that naive girl who gave a kidney to a man who didn't deserve it. You survived kidnapping attempts. You're dying, yet you always showed up for my little boy every time. That's enough."

Nevena didn't answer. Just leaned her head on Sophia's shoulder.

Sophia held her, and they sat in silence for a long beat. Then Sophia stood.

"I'll make tea. You stay here and don't shed another drop. Junior's on the sofa—I'll check on him."

Nevena nodded. Lay back down. Stared at the ceiling.

—---

☆LIVING ROOM☆

Junior hadn't moved. He was curled into the corner of the sofa, knees to his chest, briefcase on the floor.

Sophia sat beside him but didn't touch him. "You hungry?"

"No."

"Thirsty?"

A shake of the head.

Sophia studied his profile. The suit was still buttoned. The tie still straight. He looked like a small businessman who'd just lost his first merger.

"Junior," she said quietly. "You did a brave thing today."

He didn't answer.

"Your mother is going to be okay."

Slowly he turned. His eyes were dry, but red-rimmed. "You sure about that?"

"Yes." Sophia's voice was gentle but firm. "Antonio Hunt doesn't say he'll do something unless he means it."

Junior looked away. "Buddy made my Bestie cry."

Sophia's chest tightened. "She'll be okay too. She's one tough bestie."

"He shouldn't have to be so inconsiderate. The three of us were a great trio."

Sophia didn't have a response. So she just sat there, shoulder to shoulder with a seven-year-old who'd just outgrown his capacity.

She thought about telling him the rest—about the kidney. About the dying.

She didn't. The boy won't understand and some secrets weren't hers to tell.