I rest my head on the counter, feeling the cool surface against my skin. My eyes close and I take a deep breath, trying to get the sleep I desperately deserve. It’s only seven am and I’m feeling extremely drained, I guess that coffee I took earlier isn’t strong enough.Sighing, I realized how much I loathe mornings because I'm always exhausted. The struggle is real--waking up by six in the morning and getting to bed by eleven at night is just so daunting. And the annoying part of this is that I have no choice because my first job requires me to be there by seven am. This is because my boss says that "People need to have their breakfast early" but I seriously think he said that because he likes to earn more money that’s why he opens the cafe by eight am and closes it by ten. Every single day is the same stress and pressure except for Sunday when I use my church time to sleep. I know it’s not the right thing to do but I’m pretty sure God will forgive me for that. Ugh, it's happening ag

I arrive at the hospital, my heart pounding with fear for Layla. I sprint towards the receptionist's desk, but then I see Kate. She's sitting in the waiting area, tears streaming down her face. "Kate," I whisper, my voice trembling. She stands up and rushes towards me, wrapping her arms around me. I can feel her sobs shaking her body as she clings to me. "Bella," She whispers. I can feel my tears welling up as I realize that something terrible has happened. I just hope it’s not what I think it is. "What happened? Is it Layla?" I ask, my voice shaking with fear.Kate pulls away from me, her eyes red and puffy. "Yes," She chokes out. "The doctor says we have to make the payment soon because she needs to be operated on urgently." She says My heart drops to my stomach as I realize how serious the situation is. "Or?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper."We might lose her."I feel a lump form in my throat as I try to process the information. "Did the doctor give any time limit?" I as

~BELLA’S POVI wake up to the ray of sunlight creeping through my window, groaning I turn around and cover my face with a pillow. I am beyond exhausted and I don’t even want to get started with how angry I am; mostly at myself. I still can not believe I went ahead with what Matt said and left Layla to spend the night alone at the hospital. I mean, she’s just thirteen years old, god knows how scared she will be when she wakes up and realizes I’m not there with her. She’s gonna freak out about it and she already has enough to deal with - her illness, the treatments, and now this. Oh my God, I’m such a bad sister, I shouldn’t have left her alone like that. I swear to god, if Layla freaks out about this, I won’t care what the doctors will say, I will stay with her all night whether it means sleeping on the waiting chairs or sleeping while standing, I’m just not gonna leave her alone. I sit up from bed with a sinking feeling in my chest. The guilt gnaws at me, amplifying the anger coursin

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, tilting my head to the side as I check myself out. I bit my bottom lip, wondering if the dress is okay or not. Austin picked out the dress for me and I kinda find it a little revealing. I am wearing a sleeveless black tulle gown with white flowers, sequins, appliqué, and a deep V-neck. The back is also open in the same style as the front, with a slit exposing my leg. I have never worn a dress like this before, normally it’s always cozy and baggy outfits for me but tonight’s outfit is just way different. I’m not really comfortable in it and not to mention I am wearing a heel with it. I have never worn heels before. Releasing a heavy breath, I look away from the mirror, considering if I should change into something else. I look through the rack checking each outfit trying to find something that I like. I notice a cute two-piece outfit that hung on a hanger together. It’s a long-sleeved top and a high-waisted, knee-length skirt. I grab the hanger

Using the towel to gently rub my hair, I walk out of the bathroom feeling refreshed. I approach the mirror and as I reach for my hair dryer, my heart skips, and I flinch backward noticing a figure sitting on my couch. I turn around to have a clear view of the person; it’s Austin."What the hell are you doing here?" My voice comes out as more of a squeak than I intend. My hands clench around the soft fabric of my towel, my eyes keep darting down to make sure the towel is securely covering my naked body.Austin is sitting on the couch across the room with a coffee mug in his hand. He looks at me, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly but he didn’t say a word."Hello?" I wave my hand at him "Didn’t you hear me? I asked you why you are here?" I repeat, holding onto the towel tightly.Austin still, doesn’t say a word and he just sits there looking at me with his eyes raking every inch of my body making me even more uncomfortable than I already am. "Are you gonna talk or what?" I inqui