Lena's POV

"Hey, Lena!" called out Maria, the owner of the diner, from where the counter was. 

"Table five needs another round of fries, and don't forget the extra ketchup!" She said to me. 

"I'm on it!" I replied her with a small smile on my lips as I tried to catch my breath. 

I carefully checked the plates on my hand and I was making my way to the corner where a group of people, our customer were sitting down and their laughter was all over the room.

"Look at you, Lena," one of them, Mr. Jenkins, said to me with a smile as I set the hot plate of fries in front of him. "Fast as always. You are a lifesaver, you know that right?"

"I am just doing my job, Mr. Jenkins," I replied him with a smile too. 

The happiness of the customer's appreciation made me forget the tiredness I was feeling, even if it was for some time though.

"It must have been a long day for you," another person said observing me, noticing the dark points that are lying under my eyes.

"It is always," I accepted, rubbing my hands on my apron. "But it keeps me going."

"Don't over do yourself until you get tired, kid," Mr. Jenkins said with a concern in his voice.

I only smiled and I thanked them again before I went back towards the counter where Maria was telling me to serve another round of order.

 This was my second job of the day, after my shift at a clothing store. With my mother's medical expenses piling up every single day, every salary day is always choking.

After my shift ended at the restaurant, I quickly changed out of my diner uniform and rushed out to go to my next job because I was already getting late. 

So i rushed in at the supermarket, I started from where the person that left stopped, as I arranged some shelves that was scattered and I helped some customers pack their goods and at the same time I was checking the time as well.

 I was checking my phone, checking the time when I will be going home to meet my mother.

"Okay let me even call my mum" I said to myself thinking about my mother's health and trying to check if she's fine. 

Margaret's POV

I was at home on the cushion chair in the room, glancing through the window to see the brightness of the sky. 

That was when I heard my phone ringing, I quickly stood up and kind of moving just slowly to where I put it on the bed. 

"Ohhh it is my daughter" I picked as I smiled to myself. 

 "Hello my lovely daughter, how's work going, I hope you are not stressing yourself for me?" I said asking my daughter on the phone. 

"Hello Mum, I am very well, hope you are taking care of your health, and you have been eating your food that I put in the kitchen before taking your drugs?, I just want to check up on you, I will be home very soon, take care of yourself till I got back, okay?" Lena, my daughter said to me on the phone. 

"Okay my baby" I said as she hung up the call. 

As she hung up, I sat on the chair I was sitting before she called and I was thinking about how life has been for me and my daughter. 

We have been poor for a very long time and all of a sudden I said to myself "This is not how we are supposed to be living our life."

"My daughter is not supposed to be suffering like this." I said to my self, I was lost in a very long thought. 

My eyes was already rolling and before I knew it, I was already on the floor. 

Everything around me was very blurry, that I don't even know what was going on. 

I wanted to shout but I can feel that my voice was not going as loud as I want it to go. 

Then everything went totally black. 

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Lena's POV 

As I was calculating one of the regulars goods, my phone started ringing where I left it in my bag beside me at the counter. 

I quickly wiped my hands on the cloth on the desk before me as I checked the person calling, It was an unknown number.

"Hello?" I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Is this Lena Thompson?" The voice on the other end was serious, filled with urgency.

"Yes, it is. Who is speaking please?" My heart started beating, sensing something was not really right.

"This is the hospital. I am calling about your mother, Margaret Thompson. You need to come in here as soon as possible, It is urgent if you want to save her."

I was shaking heavily and asked. "What happened? Is she okay?, I spoke to her not quite long ago"

"I'm so sorry but she collapsed and was brought in here. You just need to get here immediately."

"Can I talk to her please?, Is she okay please?" I was very scared hearing what the doctor was saying. 

"I am so sorry, but I don't have all those details. Just come here as soon as possible."

The call ended immediately , I was standing shocked, I don't even know what to do. 

"Lena?" David, my co-worker's voice broke through my thought. "What happened?"

"I have to go now. It is my mom… she was rushed to the hospital," I said stammering, already packing my things.

"Go! I will cover for you!" David said, his expression shifted from concern to urgency.

I nodded and I rushed out of the supermarket, entered a taxi and he drove down to the hospital, the thought of my mother was just on my mind. 

I whispered softly several times. "Please mum be okay for me..."