How do you navigate a world that has always seemed just out of grasp?
Isabela has always known how to navigate life without sight. Growing up in a small town on California's coast, she relied on her instincts, her unbreakable connection to the sea...
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"Mom, I'm fine," I said, trying my best to sound calm, though I could hear the tremor in my own voice. "It was just a few stitches. I passed out because of the blood loss, but it's all fine now. Really."
There was a beat of silence on the other end, and then I could practically hear my mom's anxiety crackling through the phone.
"Isabela, minha filha! Don't lie to me. You passed out? Oh, meu Deus! I'm getting on the next plane. I'll be there as soon as I can!" Her voice was frantic, each word layered with that fierce motherly protectiveness.
I glanced at Julian, who was sitting beside me, giving me a reassuring smile. He could hear every word, of course, and whispered something like "I can try to calm her down!" that made me relax just a little. "I've got this," I mouthed back to him.
"Mom, no, listen," I continued, "you have that big interview in a couple of days, remember? For the head chef position? You can't drop everything just to come here. I promise I'm okay. Julian's with me."
"Rafaela," Julian jumped in, leaning closer so she could hear him through the phone, "I promise I'll take good care of her. We're just waiting for her to get cleared, and then I'll take her back to the apartment. There's no need to worry."
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a deep breath from my mom. "I don't know, Isabela. Maybe I should reschedule the interview. Family comes first."
I could feel the concern in her voice, but I couldn't let her put her whole career on hold because of me. "Mom," I said gently, "this is your dream job. You've been working toward this for years. Don't let this mess ruin your chance."
Julian squeezed my hand, giving me a silent nod of encouragement. I could hear my mom sigh deeply again, her worry still palpable.
"Fine," she finally relented, though I could tell it took everything in her not to book a flight right then and there. "But you have to call me the moment anything changes. If anything feels off, I'm there in a heartbeat. Got it?"
"I got it, Mom," I said, the tension easing from my shoulders. "Promise."
Julian leaned in closer, whispering in my ear, "You should tell her you just took a nice nap. Everyone's acting like it was a long, dramatic scene."
I stifled a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand. The whole thing was still so surreal, but hearing him joke about it lightened the mood. "Mom, I'm serious," I said, unable to hold back a giggle. "Julian says I just took a little nap. Everything's fine."
There was a shocked silence on the other end, followed by my mother's reprimand. "Não é gracioso, Isabela!" (Isn't that nice, Isabela!) She tried to sound stern, but there was an undeniable smile in her voice now. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
Before long, she too was laughing, the sound of her amusement finally breaking through the tension of the conversation. Julian's laugh mixed with mine, and I felt lighter than I had since the accident.
