𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐄 || 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐍𝐃 𝐗 𝐒𝐙𝐀

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓

Valerie's POV

"Miss Perkins, can you please print these papers? You're falling behind," Mr. Kevin said.

Mr. Kevin, an elderly man with crooked teeth and a shiny bald head, was my boss. I'd been working for his company for three years, enduring the mundane tasks of a secretary, all for the sake of a promotion that would propel me towards my dream of working for Vogue. If I could successfully complete a modeling project for them, I could finally escape this dead-end job.

As I walked into the printing room, a wave of sadness washed over me. My life was not unfolding as I had planned.

Later that day, scrolling through Instagram, I saw that my old friend Abel was thriving in his music career. His success brought back memories of a time when he was my confidant, a reliable source of comfort during difficult times.

A year ago, I had lost my father, and Abel's absence during that painful period was keenly felt. He had been busy with his own career, and I hadn't wanted to burden him with my problems.

Before I met my dear friends Raegan, Crystal, Sage, Amber, Leigh, and my boyfriend Sam, Abel was the one person I could always turn to. As a Libra, I value genuine connections, and he had been a true friend.

Before moving to the U.S., my father and I had faced financial hardship due to high medical costs in Toronto. My aunt and some distant cousins in Long Beach had helped us relocate and access government assistance.

While I appreciated their support, my aunt was the only family member who remained consistently present in my life. I had kept my distance from the rest of my extended family, feeling like a burden to them.

The reality of our situation in Long Beach was far from the warm welcome I had anticipated.

From then on, I kept my distance from most of those people. If I don't feel someone is genuinely invested in me, I won't force a relationship.

I'm grateful to them for helping us settle in California, but that was the extent of their involvement. They didn't reach out, not even with a text, until it was time to mourn him.

My heart ached for my father, who went to great lengths for me.

As for my mother, she left when I was three and never looked back. We had no contact. I barely remember her.

I tried to reach out to her after my father's passing, but my aunt couldn't find any information. It was as if she vanished. I still hope she'll reappear someday. Despite my anger, I still love her.

By the time we learned of his cancer, we were already accustomed to life in Long Beach.

It wasn't the Toronto life we were used to, but it was better than being homeless. One day, I came home from class to find my father having a seizure.

That was one of the most terrifying moments of my life.

My father had been hiding his illness, not wanting to worry me. Little did he know, the sudden news caused even more anxiety. I skipped classes to check on him, even though we had medical aid at home.