My name is Andrea Smith Robles, I am a surgeon, with a specialization in cardiology. I live in Miami, Florida. Six months ago I made the decision to move from my mother's house to a small apartment. I have the basics, but somehow I feel more at peace there. Let me tell you, I left my mom's house because for some time now, Carlos, her current partner, is a gambler, and when gambling debts pile up, my mom turns to me to pay. I always refuse, but she finds ways to threaten me with my nanny. She has been like a real mother to me, she was always there for every achievement I had. I would give everything for her and I have tried to get her out of the house, but my mom always finds us, and she gets the worst of it. I won't give up, I will get her out of that house, but I will have to be more cautious.

Physically I am 5'4", I am not very tall, I know. I have long, straight black hair, my skin is white, my eyes are brown, my lips are moderately thin. I am very cheerful and I have a hobby besides medicine, and it is technology. I am an excellent hacker but only my best friends know that: Lucas, an excellent neurologist, and Daniela, an anesthesiologist. I met them at the beginning of medical school and we have been together ever since. We work in the same hospital, they know my history and even my biggest trauma, which is being alone in a huge place. No matter how many psychologists I've seen, I haven't been able to overcome it.

I am getting ready in my little apartment for a new day at the hospital. After doing my exercise routine, I shower, have a light breakfast, and go out to take the bus. I get to the corner of the hospital, cross the street to enter a coffee shop, buy my coffee and that of my friends. When I arrive, they are already waiting for me at the entrance with a smile.

Andrea: - Hi, good morning!!!

Lucas: - Good morning, friend, thank you very much for this delicious coffee, I was about to faint without it, I love you, friend.

Daniela: - Good morning, friend, thanks for the coffee, you already know this one is always so dramatic and more so without his precious coffee. We both laughed.

Andrea: - I know, friend, sometimes I think he loves coffee more than us, ha, ha, ha. Let's go in, we have a difficult day ahead of us.

Each one went to their office to start the day, with the promise that we would meet for lunch in the hospital cafeteria. I started my day, I had several consultations scheduled. Mid-morning I heard the office door being knocked on. I thought it was Susan, the floor nurse, so without looking up from the document I was filling out, I gave the go-ahead.

Andrea: - Come in, Susi, I'll give you the patient's report in a minute.

Margarita (mom): - I'm not Susi, but I'll come in anyway. You know why I'm here, spare me the lecture, and I hope you don't say no, or you know what will happen to your "nanny", my mom says scornfully.

Andrea - Mom? (Not now, God, I think) understands that I can't pay any more debts, I also have expenses to cover.

Margarita (mom) - You know what will happen to the old lady if you don't cover the debt, Andrea, so it's up to you.

Andrea - Enough, Mom, stop using Nana to blackmail me, why don't you get a job and stop gambling, Carlos. I'm tired of always covering debts, Mom.

Margarita (mom) - That's what you're here for, (yelling) you have to pay us back for the years we kept you with us, you ungrateful girl, you think that living in that shack you call an apartment frees you from helping your mother? No, Andrea, you are very wrong.

Andrea - One thing is to help you and quite another is to pay the debts of a person who always hates me, what do I have to thank him for? For God's sake, Mom, are you listening to yourself?

Margarita (mom) - Shut up (slap) Carlos has always treated you well since you were a little girl, he cares about you, he is your father, you have to help him.

Andrea - He is not my father (screaming) he never will be, Mom.

Margarita (mom) - (grabs my arm, squeezing) Of course he's your father, one who did take responsibility for you, not like the other one who just ran away and left me alone with a horrible little girl, with traumas who preferred to live his life than raise you, you call that a father?

Andrea - (I just cry when I hear her talk about my biological father, I want to believe it wasn't like that) enough, enough please, Mom, you're hurting me.

Margarita (mom) - It hurts to hear the truth about your biological father, but that's how it was, you're going to pay for that debt so give me 3 thousand dollars and I'll leave.

Andrea - 3 thousand? Mom, for God's sake, I don't have that amount with me right now.

Margarita (Mom) - You're going out to eat in half an hour, aren't you? You have time to get it from the bank, so I'll be back in 2 hours for the payment or you know who will pay (leaves the office)

I can't help but cry, I drop my head on the desk and cry in anger, helplessness, until I feel an arm go around my shoulders and just by smelling her perfume I know it's Lucas, I don't want him to see how weak I am, I'm afraid to see his eyes and realize his disappointment, I keep crying until he speaks.

Lucas - Come on, beautiful, don't cry, it breaks my heart to see you like this, we're here for you, that witch wants money, right? (I just nod) friend, you can't go on like this, I know you do it for your Nana, but Andy, what happens when the debt is so huge that you can't cover it? Honey, you have to think about how to end this.

Andrea - It hurts that my mom only looks for me to pay off Carlos's debts, but I can't leave my Nana to her fate, you understand Lucas, I love her and I have to find a way to get her out of there.

Lucas - I understand, friend, let's think about how to get her out of the witch's lair, but you can't keep paying debts that aren't yours.

Andrea - I have to give her 3 thousand dollars in 2 hours, so I'm going to take my lunch break when I get back I have to go to the bank first, I'm sorry Dani.

Lucas - 3 thousand? Oh, friend, let's go pick up Daniela and go to the bank, if we leave you alone, maybe you won't take your lunch so let's go.

I get up, hang my lab coat on the rack, go to the bathroom to wash my face and go out to look for Dani, who, when she found out that my mother had come to ask me for money, hit the roof, I love my friends, they are always there for me.

After 2 hours, my mom arrives back at the hospital, but I wait for her at the entrance to avoid interruption.

Margarita (Mom) - Do you have it? I can't waste my time.

Andrea - Here it is, Mom (I hand her the envelope with the money) please let this be the last time I have to cover debts.

Margarita (Mom) - That's what you work for, to help your mother, Andrea. You can't be so selfish. (She turns on her heels and leaves.)

I stand there, watching my mom with pain; I wish I had a loving mother who would give me advice, hugs, words of encouragement, but instead, she only harbors resentment towards me because my dad left her to raise me alone. I don't have any pleasant memories with her, and her behavior hurts my soul. I have tried to find my father, but every time I asked her about his name, it ended with a beating. She would only say I had to forget about him. That's why I became a hacker; without a name to track, it's difficult. I returned to my work shift; today, I have to cover some hours in the emergency room, so my mind stays occupied.

The week passed like this; this weekend, I had to cover emergencies, so there would be no outing with my friends. We would only gather for lunch in the morning, just like every day.

At Andrea's mom's house

Carlos arrives shouting: Woman, where are you?

Margarita (Mom) - What’s wrong, Carlos? Why are you so agitated?

Carlos - Woman, luck is on our side!

Margarita (Mom) - What are you talking about, Carlos? Explain yourself.

Carlos - This weekend there will be a mega betting game, and I've got intel that the race is a sure win. We can bet, woman, and double our finances!

Margarita (Mom) - You promised to stop betting, Carlos! Remember that useless Andrea gets stingy about giving up money.

Carlos - Come on, my love, this is a game that's already won (moving closer to her and wrapping his arms around her waist). We could go on a trip with the money we win, live like rich people. Wouldn’t you like that? (kissing her neck and moving down towards her decolletage) Tell me, my love, support me in this (leaning into her), she lets out a moan.

Margarita (Mom) - I will always support you, darling (kissing him and heading to her room).

At the hospital

Good evening, Doctor Smith. How was your shift? (The hospital director greets her.)

Andrea - So far, without any setbacks, Dr. Wells.

Dr. Wells - Well, may your shift continue without any major disturbances. Have a good evening. (He bids her farewell.)

Nurse - Dr. Smith, they’re bringing in a boy approximately 7 years old with an injury on his left side; he has lost consciousness and will be arriving in about 5 minutes.

Andrea - Okay, let’s get ready to receive him.

Paramedic - A doctor!!!

Andrea - What’s his condition?

Paramedic - An 8-year-old boy; he was playing in the yard, climbed a tree to get his cat, and fell from about 2 meters; upon examination, we confirmed a cut on the left side.

Andrea - Take him to cubicle 2D.

Thus, part of the shift went by, filled with accidents, cuts, fainting, and births; I was exhausted. My best ally was a good cup of coffee, but when I was about to serve it, a scream echoed from the door, "Help!!!" When I approached, my colleague was already attending to a very handsome man with a wound on his chest, but I was even more struck by the person carrying him—a tall man with broad shoulders, chestnut hair, honey-colored eyes, full lips, and a body like a Greek god; he was an Adonis. I was about to approach him, but a nurse arrived to have me sign some papers, so I turned around, leaned against the reception desk, and prepared to serve my coffee.