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“What’s wrong?” Ella asked

“I’m not sure” She checked whether her mother had left a text, but Mamá never did She preferred conversations “I need to call my mother”

She waited as the phone rang Once Twice Three times

“Carolina!” Mamá wailed “Thank God”

The water in her sto?”

“It’s back,” her mother sobbed “It’s back”

Carolina sed No “What’s back?”

But she knew Her fingers squeezed the phone

“The cancer The maldito cancer”

Ma Carolina’s eyes She bit her lip No No No “What happened?”

Ella’s fingers pressed into Carolina’s shoulder She leaned into her friend’s strength

“Dr Laster says I’ me”

“Breast cancer? Again?”

“In my head,” her mother wailed “The tumors are in my head”

Her mother’s breast cancer had metastasized

Carolina’s joy slid away She whispered, “Mamá”

“I need you,” she whimpered “Come home I don’t have much time left I need my baby with me”

“Of course Yes” Her mind whirled “I’ll… I’ll come home”

She wanted to ask nosis, but couldn’t force words past the luet home as soon as I can”

“Hurry”

Ella handed her a tissue At Carolina’s confused look, Ella blotted Carolina’s wet face

“I’ll… I’ll…leave tomorrow” There was so much to do “Get some sleep, Mamá”