Juliana Salazar POV:
The morning sun, usually a cheerful sight, felt like a spotlight on my pain. I woke with a gasp, every nerve ending screaming. The cancer was no longer a silent thief; it was an inferno, consuming me from the inside out. Each breath was a struggle, a tiny victory against the flames. I swallowed a handful of painkillers, chasing them with water, waiting for the dulling haze to descend.
I had so much to do. So little time.
Pushing myself upright was an act of sheer will. My legs trembled under me, but I refused to fall. I had to maintain the illusion, just for a little while longer. My last performance.
As I descended the grand staircase, I heard laughter from the kitchen. Elwin's bright, carefree giggle, Debbra's softer, melodious one. It was a sound that once filled me with joy, now it was a cruel melody of my absence.
They were at the breakfast nook, a scene of domestic bliss. Elwin sat on Debbra's lap, a children's book open between them. She was pointing at the colorful illustrations, her voice gentle.
Look, Elwin, she cooed, "the little bunny is going to find his mommy!"
Elwin pointed, his face alight. "No, Debbra, that's the fox! The bunny is hiding!"
Debbra kissed his head, a gesture so natural, so tender. "Oh, you're right, sweetie! So clever!"
My appearance made them pause, but only briefly. Elwin glanced up, his eyes meeting mine, then immediately returned to Debbra and the book. I was a fleeting distraction, a shadow in their sunlit world. I was a stranger in my own home.
My feet felt like lead, but I forced myself forward, towards the warmth, towards the family I had lost. "Good morning," I said, my voice a little hoarse despite my efforts.
Elwin mumbled a quick, "Morning," without looking up. He instinctively clutched Debbra's hand, his small fingers intertwining with hers.
Debbra, he said, pulling lightly on her arm, "can we go to the park today? The one with the big slide? You promised!"
Debbra looked at me, a show of polite concern. "Oh, Elwin, that sounds lovely, but maybe you should ask Juliana first? She just got home."
Elwin rolled his eyes, a gesture that pierced me deeper than any knife. "But you're always busy, Juliana," he whined, turning back to Debbra. "You never have time for me. Debbra always takes me to the park."
His words hit me like a physical blow. Busy. Never have time. He was right. I was busy. I was building an empire for him, to ensure he never knew the hardship I did after our parents died. Every late night, every missed holiday, every cancelled playdate – it was all for him. And now, my sacrifice was twisted into neglect.
Debbra, on the other hand, had all the time in the world. My time, stolen from my company, from my life.
I forced another smile, a brittle mask. "Of course, Elwin. Go with Debbra. Have fun." My voice was even, despite the tremor in my hands.
He didn't thank me. He just hopped off Debbra's lap, grabbing her hand, already pulling her towards the door. "Come on, Mom!" he chirped, oblivious to the world shattering around me.
Mom. The word echoed, louder than any shout, in the cavernous space of my chest. My vision swam. I reached out, my fingers brushing against the cold wall, needing its support to stay upright. The physical agony flared, a brutal reminder of my failing body, but it was nothing compared to the desolation in my heart. A memory surfaced, unbidden: Elwin, no older than five, running a high fever. He had clutched his one-eyed teddy bear, refusing to sleep, keeping a solemn vigil by my bedside. That image had long been a source of my strength, a private icon of my purpose. Now, it felt like an old photograph set alight, the edges curling inward, blackening, until nothing remained but ash.
