Chapter 2 The second chapter

Laura Thompson's small and cozy flat was in complete contrast to Alexander Russo's penthouse, which was magnificent and luxurious. The building, located in a quiet, hidden area on the outskirts of the city, was old but well-maintained. The staircase was slightly broken, and the passageways smelled of the food being cooked behind each door.

But, for Laura, this was home; a place of comfort, no matter how small. Laura's life had never been luxurious. She had grown up in a working-class family where money was limited and every step had to be calculated. Her father, a construction worker, died when she was still a teenager due to sickness, leaving her mother to raise her and her younger brother alone. This made Laura step up from a very young age. She had to start working to support her mother so as the pressure won't weigh her down, she had who to take up extra shifts at the local diner to help make ends meet, she also had to look out for her younger brother, always made sure he did his schoolwork, she had to learn how to cook, clean, and care for the house so her mother didn't have to do much. Laura, now in her mid-twenties, had taken up the primary care of her mother, whose health had deteriorated over the previous few years. Her mother, once a vibrant, strong woman, had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

The condition had taken its toll, both physically and mentally, and the medical expenses had begun to pile up, leaving Laura feeling like she was drowning in debt. Despite working two jobs, one as a receptionist at a firm during the day and another as a waitress at a local cafe in the evenings, Laura still struggled to cover the costs of her mother's care.

Laura's apartment reflected her life, it was basic, efficient, and full of memories from the past. The furniture was a mixture of hand-me-downs and stuff they found at the thrift store. The walls were covered with family portraits, which captured scenes from a simpler, happier time. There was a photo of Laura as a child, standing between her parents with a wide, smile and her father's arm placed across her shoulders. Another photo showed her with her brother, Ferdinand, who now moved across the country and was attempting to navigate his own way in life.

The kitchen was small and a little clustered and the countertops were littered with medication bottles. The refrigerator door was covered in reminders, appointments, medication schedules, and a few messages of encouragement that Laura had written to lift her spirits. Laura had a message written in her mother's unsteady handwriting and fixed to the fridge with a magnet.

"We'll get through this together."

Every time Laura saw it, it gave her the strength to persevere, even on the most difficult days. Elizabeth, Laura's mother, spent the majority of her time in bed now. The sickness had weakened her to the point where even the most basic tasks were tedious.

Despite this, she attempted to put on a brave face for Laura's sake, always offering a little smile whenever her daughter entered the room. Laura would often sit by her mother's bedside whenever she got back from work, either reading to her or simply holding her hand. They formed a close friendship through suffering and love. Despite Laura's love and concern for her mother, she felt a terrible sense of helplessness. No matter how hard she worked or how much she sacrificed, nothing seemed to be enough. The medical bills continued to pile. It was as if she was fighting an already lost battle, but she would not give up. Laura refused to give up. Her days were a mess of work and anxiety. She would get up before dawn to make breakfast for her mother, make sure she took her medication, and then rush off to her first job as a receptionist at the firm. She would spend hours answering phones, filing paperwork, and dealing with demanding clients, all while attempting to push her continuous anxiety over her mother's illness away from her mind cause it was constantly distracting her.

After her duty was over, she would rush to the cafe, where she would spend the evening on her feet, serving customers with a smile that never quite reached her eyes. Despite the tiredness that gripped her like a leech, Laura never complained. She had long realized that life was not always fair, and that some people had to work harder than others in order to live. She had accepted this, and while it weighed hard on her, she carried it with strength. But there were times, in the quiet of the night, when the weight of it all seemed to overwhelm her. When the world was dark and silent and most people are asleep Laura would allow herself to cry, releasing all of the anxiety and frustration she had to hold up during the day while trying to be silent in order for her mum not to hear her.

However, after pouring out her fears, she would wipe her eyes, take a deep breath, and prepare to face another day. Laura's friends, who had known her for years, were concerned about her. They could see the toll it was taking, the stress and exhaustion had begun to form wrinkles into her smooth skin and her once lively eyes now bore a permanent shadow of tiredness. They would often advise her to take a break and care for herself, but Laura would always shake her head and grin.

"My mother needs me," she would say, signaling the end of the conversation.

Her best friend, Anita would sometimes come over at her house to assist her in taking care of her mother and sometimes help with some chores. Anita was of great support to Laura.

Her social life, once full of nights out and joyful laughing, had been reduced to nearly nothing. There simply wasn't time for it anymore. When she did go out, it was typically at the persuasion of Anita, and it's almost impossible to have fun. Her thoughts were constantly elsewhere, worrying about her mother, the bills that needed to be paid, the next doctor's appointment, and the next treatment. It was a lot for her to bear and having fun was the least of her problems.

Despite her difficulties, Laura was determined to persevere. She was very protective of her mother and would do anything to ensure she received the attention she required. This determination kept her going, even when she thought she had nothing more to offer. She had given up so much of her time, her energy, her own happiness but Laura believed it was worthwhile if it meant her mother could live another day. But Laura had a great desire for something more. She once had dreams about a life outside of her tiny apartment and the never-ending cycle of work and stress.

She had dreams of traveling, seeing the world, and finding love. However, those dreams had been placed on hold. They were now only distant memories, hidden away in the back of her mind, as her problems seemed to have overwhelm her.

As she sat by her mother's bedside one evening, reading aloud from a worn copy of one of her mother's favorite novels, Laura couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. The story was one of adventure and romance. It was the type of story Laura used to enjoy, and it gave her hope. But now it seemed like a reminder of everything she'd given up and never had. Her mother, sensing Laura's sadness, reached out and held her hand in her own.

"You should be out there living your life, Laura."she whispered softly, her voice weak but full of love.

"You have done so much for me. "You deserve to be happy."

Laura smiled and softly squeezed her mother's hand.

"I'm happy Mom, I'm just doing all this so you can get better. She said, her eyes getting a little teary.

"Now let's finish this book so you can go to sleep."

She said while wiping the tears from her eyes. Laura read to her her mother until she slept off while holding her hand.