The following day I woke up early again did my morning routine then got dressed for work I looked at myself in the mirror and put on some light makeup.

I never really do anything with my hair but I have long brown hair so I curled it and for the first time in a long time I felt beautiful.

I went downstairs and found my mom having breakfast I was enjoying my coffee when:

"I told you, young lady, stop having coffee on an empty stomach" Aunty Drew said

"Okay okay I'm done, " I said raising my hands.

"Leave my baby alone Drew"

They laughed,

"She's mine too"

"When is Laura coming"

"I wish I knew she said tomorrow you know your friend"

Laura Is Miss Drew's daughter we are the same age she's an investigative journalist so she travels a lot.

"Enjoy work okay" she kissed my cheek

"I will thank you, Aunty"

I told Aunty Drew as she disappeared to her room to bathe.

"Momma how are you"

"You worry too much about me"

"You're my everything momma"

"No baby I know you love me I love you too but one day I'll die then what?"

"Then I'll cross that bridge when I get to it"

"What bridge "

"Never mind momma I don't want to talk about it"

"We have to please"my mom begged

"Fine momma"

"Find a man, have sex you probably have cobwebs down there "

"Momma"

"You know she's right"

When did it get to this? Gang up on Lumi day

"I'm okay being single"

"You know we called you our light because we love you right? But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy your life"

"Yes I know momma"

"Live your life or you'll wake up old and alone we will be dead"

"We who Mary I'm going to live forever," said Aunty

"You play too much," my mom said to Aunty Drew.

"Fine you guys win I'll try to let someone in"

"How about I set you up with Chris he's a fine young man..."

"No thank you, aunty"

Chris aka heartbreaker no thank you I'd rather die alone.

"I need to go bye I love you both"

Before they could interrogate me further I ran out the door got in my car and drove to work.

I managed to park in the basement this time.

I parked my car but have no idea how to get to my floor does it has so many entrances and exits.

I looked at the board...

Floor 1 ER
Floor 2 General Services
Floor 3 Gynecology
Floor 4 Paediatric (NICU)
Floor 4(2)) Paediatric (PICU)
Floor 5 Oncology
Floor 6 Surgical

I got in the lift and pressed 4 hopefully I don't get lost again.

I got out and I don't know where I was I went around in circles they didn't need to complicate this hospital it has 2 separate wings.

I probably work at the first wing because there's a big red 2 written outside I used a different exit and still couldn't make sense of this.

I needed to calm down the people kept looking at me like I have 5 heads, in the year 2020 people still don't know about vitiligo.

"She looks like a cow with those patches"

"Do you think she did that on purpose look at her hands"

"What Kelly don't be dumb"

I took a long breath and got ready to educate them about vitiligo.

"Vitiligo is caused by the lack of a pigment called melanin in the skin, melanin is produced by skin cells called melanocytes you do know what Melanin and Melanocytes are right?  Anyway

It gives your skin its color. In vitiligo, there are not enough working melanocytes to produce enough melanin in your skin. This is what caused the patches "I said that slowly

"Huh"

"So I'm not a cow I'm different and yes I stand out all the time" I winked at them and they looked at me...

I left and could feel someone behind me ...

"You know if you didn't give Kelly and Lexie that lesson I would have helped them too"

"Are you everywhere all the time wait....do you perhaps have a twin?"

He laughed ...

"No it's only me and I have to know the ins and outs of this hospital I don't have a choice"

"What does that even mean Curly?"

"Wouldn't  you like to know beautiful"

"You're annoying"

"Thanks, baby" then he blew me a kiss

"This way....(he said showing me where to go) I know you're lost again"

I rolled my eyes and followed him after walking a bit taking a lift and walking some more I was on my floor why didn't I get that.

"Thank me later I got to go"

"Thanks"

He left and I was busy the whole day Mia was feeling much better since they removed the appendix.

I went to see her but she was asleep I got busy with other patients and when she was awake I spoke to her.

It was lunchtime and I walked to the cafeteria thank God it's near...I looked through the glass at what they were offering ...

Nothing brought my appetite back...

I settled for the tuna sandwich then had apple juice.

When I was done I threw the wrappers away ...

Then I looked at the couple that just walked in, maybe my mom was right I never thought of her death but she has a point what would I do or be without her?

It's not that I don't believe in relationships I've just never been interested because I was judged and treated differently because of my skin.

I never felt pretty and I wondered how someone else would think I'm beautiful.

I spent most times alone or with my parents, I didn't know how bad that was until college, I chose a room that I didn't have to share with another girl.

So most of my life I was alone or with my parents and Lauren but she was always busy with work and boys.

A voice woke me up from my thoughts ...

"You still have about 30 minutes left," Maddie said.

"Maddie"

"Can I join you?"

"Please .."

She had fries and chocolate milk.

"So Lumi do you have a boyfriend"

I coughed...

"No, I mean no"

"You're lying you're to pretty "

"Thanks, Maddie but I'm a loner if I'm not here I'm at home taking care of my mom"

"Your mom," she asked...

"Yeah she has dementia"

"I'm sorry to hear that"

"It's okay thank you"

"You're going to meet someone here," she said

"I doubt that...I'm sure they are all taken"

"What about him" she pointed at some tall man with a very hot body...

"Did you miss that gold band on his ring finger Maddie" I laughed

"Fine we will keep looking"

"I haven't kissed anyone yet" I looked down I felt embarrassed.

"It's not a bad thing"

"Really"

"Babe I had my first boyfriend  when I was 21 broke my virginity when I was 23"

"Thank you I feel normal"

"You still deserve to love and be loved you know"

I nodded.

"Thank you"

We chatted for a while and walked to our unit it was quiet so I went through the files and checked if every child registered was in their rooms.

"Booo" Xavier said behind me...

"Do you work?"

"Ouch that hurts I just brought a patient my... never mind"

"I do mind...your what"?

"Little brother"

"He's sick"

He nodded I noticed he is not in his normal mood, he looked worried I felt bad for him I can tell his brother means a lot to him.

"I'll take care of him"

"I know beautiful"

"You know my name curly "

"But this name seems more appropriate"

I blushed for the first time in so many years I smiled not at what my parents or Aunty Drew said but at what a very handsome guy said...

"Can you stop daydreaming about me especially when I'm next to you "

"Keep Lying to yourself curly"

He smiled and walked away what a flirt...

Kate kept me very busy she says of all the new nurses I'm easy to work with maybe she's training me?

We got a lot done that I'didn t even realize it was 11:30 pm and I don't know where I parked my car ....should I start crying now?

I packed my bag and Maddie together with Kate told me goodbye and reminded me of my 11 am shift.

When they left I walked slowly to the lift and went to the first floor...

I stood there trying to see if I should get n Uber because I'm too tired to be playing maze.

I took out my phone requested an Uber when it came my phone notified me and I left, got home safely after midnight.

Walked into a very quiet house then I looked at the counter there was a note...

"Gone out for the weekend Please get lucky while we are still away you need it ...see you Monday my lumière don't forget to shine love you mom and that other lady called Drew.💋💋"

I laughed and a tear fell I'm emotional because she's only doing it to show me how life would be without her.

I guess I need to start putting myself out there... I ate and showered but couldn't sleep so I went on Tinder.

Create a profile...

I have no pictures for this ...nope

Profile deleted.......

Who am I kidding? I got in bed I don't know when I fell asleep.