Chapter 29

Esmeralda’s POV

“Mulan, I'm heading out.”

I picked up my handbag from the door where I had hung it last night and headed toward the door. Before I could open it, I heard her sigh deeply behind me.

“Where again?” She threw her hands up in exasperation like she was fed up with me. “You were cornered by Victor's loan sharks two days ago. Yet today you're already running up and down the street like a crazy woman! Can't you stay home and rest, at least?”

I turned around and found her staring at me with that worried expression she always wore whenever I was about to go out alone. Every time I leave the apartment, even for a simple grocery run, she acts like I am being deployed to a battlefield.

I couldn't help but smile; she's such a mother hen.

“Aren't you adorable?” I cooed, walking back to her and squeezing her cheeks. “Nothing bad will happen to me. Did you forget I can run?”

Mulan raised an eyebrow, threw a pillow at me, and looked me over from head to toe, snorting. “You think you're Usain Bolt?”

“Yes, he's got nothing on me,” I said cheekily. “I'm very fast on my feet.”

She laughed, and soon I was laughing with her. It felt good to laugh like that, especially after everything that had happened lately. For a few seconds, the fear that seemed to plague us disappeared.

I turned toward the door again, but just as I reached for the handle, Mulan's voice stopped me.

“Watch out for any black vans.”

“Yes.” I turned around slowly and gave her a look. “And don't forget what we agreed on when you get to work.”

“I will handle them,” she assured me, waving her hand dismissively. “I'll just tell them we're friends from work and that I have no idea where you are, I'll also deny any involvement with the incident and say you acted all on your own.”

She paused and looked at me seriously. “Besides, you already did the most important part by not saying a word.”

I nodded. She had a point, we both knew what could have happened if I'd stayed at Meridian any longer. Mulan, the scary guy and I could have ended up behind bars.

Talking about it made it even scarier.

“If they call you in for interrogation and things get bad, you….” Mulan finished the sentence for me.

“Run.”

I smiled, yesterday's ordeal had already become our inside joke. “Exactly.”

“Be careful. Promise me you will,” she asked softly, her eyes pleading.

“I promise to be careful.”

I opened the door and stepped outside, giving her one last smile before closing it behind me.

The smile disappeared almost immediately. What she didn't know was that I was more terrified than she was. But the pressure weighing down on me kept me from giving in to my fears.

I couldn't spend the rest of my life hiding inside an apartment. I had to find a job. I had to survive.

Hours later, I was sitting on a park bench, tired enough to feel like my bones were protesting. I clutched my bottle of water with both hands and took a long drink, letting out a weary sigh as I leaned back against the bench.

I had been to several places looking for work, and every single one had given me the same answer.

No vacancies.

At this point, I was beginning to wonder if it was simply bad luck or a bad aura following me around.

I was staring blankly at the people walking past when I suddenly heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Miss Esmeralda?”

I turned around. My eyes widened when I saw the woman standing behind me. It was the nice nurse from the government hospital where my mother had died.

I quickly stood up. “Good morning, Nurse…” I paused.

Damn it, I couldn't remember her name.

She smiled knowingly. “Nurse Abby.”

“Oh!” I immediately smiled. “Nurse Abby.”

“Yes.” She chuckled softly, making me feel slightly embarrassed. “How have you been?”

“I've been…” I hesitated before forcing a smile. “I'm doing okay.”

She looked at me for a moment, as if she wasn't quite convinced, while gesturing to the coffee and pastry shop on the opposite side of the street. “Would you mind having a cup of coffee with me? My treat.”

I glanced at the time. There was really nothing else left for me to do today. I had spent most of the day looking for jobs, and my only option now was to go home. Besides, I was curious. Why had she stopped me?

“Yeah, that would be nice.”

We walked to the small coffee shop nearby and settled into a quiet corner. Nurse Abby ordered our drinks, and for a while, neither of us spoke. She kept looking at me in a strange way, as though assessing me, which made me feel self-conscious.

Finally, she sighed. “So… how have you been coping?”

I took a sip of my coffee and a deep breath before answering. “I've been doing well, thank you for asking.”

She nodded slowly. “Have you been able to bury your mother?”

I didn't answer immediately. My fingers tightened around the cup. The silence stretched between us, and Nurse Abby's expression softened as she realized she had touched a sensitive subject.

“Oh, I'm sorry,” she said quickly. “I shouldn't have asked. I know the loss is still so fresh for you.”

“It's okay.” I gave her a small smile. “Although…” I looked down at my coffee. “I'm still getting used to the fact that she's gone.”

The words felt strange coming out of my mouth. My mother was dead. Even after everything, some part of me still expected to walk into a room and find her there.

“I haven't buried her yet. She is still at the morgue,” I continued.

Nurse Abby looked surprised. “You haven't?”

I shook my head.

She hesitated before saying, “I came by your house a while ago, but you weren't there.”

“I moved out.”

“Oh.”

“The place reminded me of her too much.” I took another sip of coffee, letting the lie slip easily from my lips. I wasn't going to tell her that I had been evicted. There was no reason to burden her with my problems.

Nurse Abby nodded sympathetically. “I understand…. I've actually been searching for you.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“The hospital tried calling your phone several times, but they couldn't reach you.”

I blinked. “Why were they calling?”

She hesitated for a second. “Mr Shawn came looking for you.”

My eyebrows rose. “Nicholas?”

“Yes. He came to the hospital after he couldn't reach you.”

I mentally slapped my forehead. I had forgotten to call him to say thank you for paying our pending hospital bills. I couldn't even remember where I’d put his number. “Oh…”

Nurse Abby stared at me. “You forgot?”

“I suppose I did.”

“He's willing to help you financially, Miss Esmeralda. It would be a waste to turn away someone who genuinely wants to help.”

I lowered my eyes. I understood what she was saying, but accepting money from someone I barely knew didn't sit right with me. I wasn't raised that way.

My mother had taught me never to make someone else's kindness an excuse to become a burden. Whatever problems I had, I learned to shoulder them myself.

“I understand,” I said quietly.

“Please call him.”

“I'll think about it.”

She gave me a look that told me she wasn't satisfied with my answer, but thankfully, she didn't push. Instead, she leaned forward slightly. “And you need to take better care of yourself.”

I frowned. “I'm fine.”

“You have dark circles under your eyes.” I instinctively touched the skin beneath my eyes. “I'm sure you've been neglecting your health.”

I smiled weakly. “I've been busy.”

“I understand.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded paper. “Our head doctor organized a health fundraiser starting this weekend. It's open to everyone, and participants will get twenty percent off their medical bills.” She looked at me. “I'd love you to be part of it.”

I nodded. “Thank you. I'll find a day to come by the clinic and get the form.”

Nurse Abby smiled. “I knew you'd say that.”

I looked at her curiously. “What?”

“I've actually been carrying the form around with me for a while now, praying we'd run into each other.” She unfolded the paper and handed it to me.

I laughed softly. “You came prepared.”

“I know how busy you are,” she chuckled.

I took the form and filled it out right there. When I was done, I handed it back to her. “Thank you, Nurse Abby. Really.”

“I'll be expecting to see you at the fundraiser on Friday.”

“I'll try to make it.”

“Have a nice day, Miss Esmeralda.”

“You too.” I watched her leave before leaning back in my chair.

I was tired and hungry, and there was nothing else I could do today. For now, I decided to go home and try my luck again tomorrow.