So from the hotel, we visited my mother’s clinic, and Bain talked to the doctor about the procedures and the financial aspect of my mother’s care. I was dazed after we left the clinic, as I was now in possession of a check worth twice the amount the doctor surmised was going to be the approximate cost of my mother’s treatment. My mother and Nana Maria had just been told that a pharmaceutical company had chosen my mother to be a part of the study program for a chemotherapy procedure she was already undergoing. All of her treatment expenses and medicine would be paid because of it.Although I was grateful after we’d left the hospital that my mother’s treatments would continue without fail and that she wouldn’t have to secretly scrimp on her pills, I felt anxious as the day went on, waiting for the shoe to drop. I was secretly attacked by misgivings. I shouldn’t have slept with him this morning. No, that was wrong. As he’d said, it was mutual consent to practice.But I shouldn’t be

I looked over at him and smiled. “I think I’m okay.” He was watching me closely but was quiet, as if he knew intuitively that I was wrestling with personal boulders and needed time to organize their placements inside my head. Alone. “You are?” he asked as if confirming. I nodded. “I am.” I looked down at our pizza and suddenly, I was hungrier. I put the last piece of the sliced pizza he’d cut for me in my mouth and chewed cheerfully. I thought this was the first time I admitted to myself that I was really having fun and it was alright to feel this way. Since my mother’s sickness, it’s been tough to feel even remotely happy about anything. And being a gloomy idiot was not going to help my cause. I felt him pulling at me. I slid towards him and leaned on him as we ate companionably. He pinched my cheek a little when I was biting on my second slice of pizza. Then I smiled as I thought about how we both liked pineapples on our pizzas. Again, I was reminded of how lucky I was to be doi

“What do you think?” I asked after I, smilingly, made a turn in front of him. “Passable?” “Passable? Are you kidding me?” he said slowly. His eyes were glazed and he looked like he was in a trance. “I saw this color on an online dress I was looking through this morning and I knew I wanted to see you in this color.” His eyes went back up her face. “You’re breathtaking. I knew it.” I giggled nervously. And nodded. “I did like how I looked in the mirror. I’m glad you like it, too. So…” I shifted to a more serious note. “Is this how I’m expected to dress when I get there?” His hand reached out and caressed my cheek. “Don’t worry about the wardrobe. I’ve already got you booked with an agency and they’re going to take care of everything. I got something for you tonight, though.” And he produced a box of jewelry which, when opened, produced a set of diamond earrings, a necklace, and a delicate bracelet all in gold. “Oh, these are beautiful.” I bit on my lower lip as he made me turn so he