'Lila...'
A gentle hand softly squeezed her shoulder, rousing her from a half-sleep state. Another day was ahead; there was more work to tackle and so much money to earn, and time was scarce. Lila let out a tired sigh, pressing her face into the pillow, hoping for a few more moments of precious sleep. She was incredibly exhausted, and...
'Lila!'
The voice was insistently urgent this time, and the hand shook her with determination. Lila's sleepy resistance faded into the realm of fading dreams. The importance of what lay ahead couldn't be ignored.
She rolled over and looked drowsily at Esme's vibrant orange hair. Gradually, her gaze focused on the face that radiated positivity. It wasn't a face that would launch ships, but it held a wonderful expression of life. It grinned with empathetic understanding.
"Time to get up. I brought you coffee."
"Thanks," Lila replied wearily, forcing her legs out from under the covers.
"Late night?" There was concern in the question.
Lila dismissed it with a shrug. "Not too bad."
Esme shook her head. "You can't keep up with this pace, Lila. Three jobs—it's just too much. Even for someone as capable as you. And skipping breakfast to start the day... you're getting too thin!"
Lila managed a wry smile. Esme, in contrast, had a sturdy build, like a nurturing figure. Her tall frame carried a lot of weight, but her caring heart was her most prominent feature. Since taking Lila and Emma under her wing, Esme has always fretted about their eating habits.
"I had a big dinner last night," Lila reassured her. "And I won't give up, Esme. I'll do whatever it takes to save Emma's eyesight."
"It won't help if you compromise your health," Esme grumbled, going to the wardrobe to fetch Lila's work attire.
Lila sipped her coffee, letting the remark slide. As valid as it might be, it's not the primary concern right now. She was determined to maintain her well-being through sheer determination, if need be.
"Did you encounter any issues?"
"With what?" She hadn't followed Esme's train of thought.
"The Italian gentleman you were taking care of last night."
Lila shook her head in exasperation. "Of course not! The company makes it clear that clients can't misbehave. Mr. Arman was older and quite round, well into his fifties. A proper gentleman."
Just to ease Esme's persistent worries, she added, "It was an easy evening. Mr. Arman spoke great English. I didn't need my Italian at all. His struggle in Sydney was understanding the Australian accent. And we talk too fast for him. Anyhow, I ensured he reached his destination safely and avoided being overcharged. It was actually quite enjoyable. He had impeccable manners."
"Hmm," Esme grunted. "You still have to be cautious with these European types. And what about the man who made advances?"
"He initiated it himself, but he quickly backed off," Lila responded with a hint of annoyance, then softened her tone, feeling bad for her impatience in front of Esme's concern. Please don't worry about me. The company screens these clients carefully."
Esme looked at her skeptically. "The issue is that you're attractive. Men tend to get ideas when..."
Lila teased with a grin. "I thought I was just skin and bones."
Esme smiled. "Elegantly slim, let's say."
"Artistic, then," Lila said dryly. "Mr. Arman raved about art all night. The beauty of Rome, Florence, and Venice He was homesick and uninterested in Sydney or Australia. He simply needed someone to listen." She shared a triumphant look with her friend.
"And he was so appreciative that he gave me a fifty-dollar tip. I don't get such bonuses from my other jobs."
"I can't argue with that," Esme conceded.
Esme sympathized completely with Lila's goal, even if she worried about the toll it took on her friend's life. Regardless of the time it took and the sacrifices made, Lila was resolute that her daughter wouldn't remain blind forever. The problem was that the surgery Emma needed to regain her eyesight had to be done in Los Angeles.
The initial diagnosis of a cyst pressing on Emma's optic nerves had been concerning, and as it grew, her vision deteriorated. Despite the doctors' caution that the surgery only had a fifty-fifty chance of success, it was worth any sacrifice. Lila's primary concern was how much Emma's condition would worsen before she could save enough for the operation.
But how much more could she endure? With Esme's support, they lived frugally. Lila did office work during the week, waited tables on weekends, and accepted every evening job from the company.
"I wish I knew Japanese," she sighed. "The company deals with more Japanese clients than any other nationality. Learning that language would get me more work. I wonder if there's a..."
"Lila, you can't take on more," Esme vehemently protested.
Lila lifted a determined face, and Esme shook her head. "I know you're focused on Emma's well-being, but she also needs her mother around."
The words hit home. Lila was out so much that Emma was starting to see Esme as a mother figure instead of...
Lila swallowed her coffee and blinked back the fatigue-induced tears that had welled up in her eyes. Just fatigue, she told herself.
