8.

KAYLA

“Mama?” I called softly and watched her as she opened her eyes slowly with a tired smile. “How are you feeling? Do you want me to get the doctor?” I asked worriedly.

Even though we knew everything was fake, we still had to pretend, even away from the club, because we never know who might be listening. And it had stopped being a pretend game for me because she gave me the motherly love I never had.

Leila worried about me like I was her own daughter. She knew about what life was with my father and told me to see her as my mom. This was why I was helping to pay her medical bills. She wasn’t making enough anymore to cover all the treatments she needed.

Leila told me there was little hope for her to continue living, but I was going to hang on to that little hope.

The treatment has been making her weaker than usual, so she was always asleep when I visited. I didn’t want to wake her up, so I just sat and watched her the entire time.

“Kayla?” She asked groggily. “How long have you