About halfway through the meal I tell her how the interview went.
"Mama, you won't believe who my boss is. It's none other than the mighty devil himself, Lorenzo Costanzo."
"How many times have I told you to stop calling him that?"
"But that's what he is."
"No, he is just a confused man who does not know how to express his feelings."
"I am pretty sure he has expressed them well by showing how much he hates me."
"He does not hate you."
"He does mama, and do you know the funny thing is we were not even classmates. He was my senior in high school. I don't even understand how he noticed me or had time to bully me when there were other girls in school, and prettier ones in his class, who would die for the attention he gave me."
"He noticed you because he likes you."
"How do you know that, mama?"
"I just feel it."
"Okay, whatever you say. But I still doubt he does, and mama, do you know he acted like he did not know me at first."
"What do you mean?"
I explain to her about what happened in the office and how much of a jerk he was, but she feels maybe he just wanted to be sure.
Mama left shortly after we finished talking and eating as she got a call from her office.
After lunch I decide to go shopping, because last time I checked my closet it does not have clothes fit for a personal assistant. I also have a lot of time to spare before going home so I take a taxi and go to the mall.
I visit about ten different stores or more, looking for the best outfits that say 'sophisticated'. I won't lie, it was hard but worth it. I am visiting the last store for the day when a strange number appears on my phone screen. I answer, wondering if maybe it is Enzo wanting to remind me of something.
I answer and hear the worst news anyone could receive about their mother. The person on the phone says mama was rushed to the hospital while on her way home from the office. She said she fainted, and they tried waking her up but to no avail, so they rushed her to the hospital. I ask the person to send the address of the hospital so I can be on my way.
I take a taxi and ask the driver to drive as fast as he can without killing us. To say I am scared would be an understatement! I am terrified because mama is one of those people who is always healthy and hardly ever gets sick, so to hear she fainted and is in the hospital makes me very scared.
I arrive at the hospital and quickly go up to the front desk to find out how mama is doing.
"Where is my mother?" I say to the nurse at the front desk.
"What is her name?" a lady wearing a nurse's uniform asks.
"Christine Luciano," I say.
"Your mother is on the second floor. Take the elevator to the second floor. Once you get there, walk straight down the hall. The first door to your left is where you will find her."
"Thank you,"I say taking the elevator to the second floor.
I follow her directions and find the room with no difficulty.
I walk inside and see mama using an oxygen mask to breathe. Oh, my God! What is happening?
I walk towards mama's side and notice she is awake. Thank God!
"Mama, what is wrong?"
"Don't cry, my baby girl. Everything is going to be fine. I am going to be okay, you should not be worried." she says taking off the mask to speak to me.
"How won't I cry mama, when I see you like this," I say, holding her hands in mine.
"Don't worry, everything is going to be fine" she says giving my hand a warm squeeze.
A doctor walks in later and asks me to see him in his office about mama's condition. I follow him to his office praying there's nothing too seriously wrong with mama. He asks me to take a seat, but I insist on standing. The way I am feeling right now, all I want to do is to hear what he has to say and be by mama's side. But he insists, so I sit down with trembling hands.
"Your mother has breast cancer, but we can..." he says, but I don't let him finish talking before I cut him off.
"No—No, this can't be happening!" I cry before I breakdown in tears.
"Miss Luciano, I need you to be strong. Everything is going to be fine," he says while he tries to comfort me.
"Your mother needs all the support she can get, so you need to be strong."
"You are right. I need to be strong for mama," I say wiping the tears that have fallen and trying to keep the others at bay.
"So, what can we do?" I ask trying to sound strong.
"That's more like it," he says smiling reassuringly.
"Your mother is at the first stage of cancer, luckily we detected it in time. She will need surgery, but everything should be fine."
"How much does it cost?" I ask the one question I have been scared to ask since I found out mama has cancer. Mama and I do not have much money, but you could not call us poor, because we have three meals a day and live a comfortable life.
"$20,000," he says, and I think to myself, 'where am I going to get that kind of money?'
"Doctor, I don't have that kind of money now but I promise you I will get the money within due time. Please don't stop the treatment for my mother." I say praying Enzo pays well so I will be able to pay for mama's treatment and surgery.
"The only thing I can do for her now before you get the money is to put her on drugs until we have to do the surgery."
"Thank you so much doctor, thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I will go and see my mother now."
"Alright, see you next time Miss Luciano."
I walk back to mama's room to find her sleeping. I sit down on the chair beside her bed. I can't imagine my life without mama—she is the only family I have. I hope Enzo pays well so I can pay the hospital bills as soon as possible. I spend the weekend with mama at the hospital. On Monday she will be discharged, so after work I will be coming back to get her.