I had posted my paintings on Instagram and it had gone famous. When I posted the picture I didn't think it would get much views since my account only has 800 followers and I'm a very unpopular girl from a small town in Poland where paintings aren't that important to people. A very famous brand that has over 100 museums in the whole world but mainly the U.S. reached out to me and asked me to start working for them. At first, I was nervous that maybe it would be a scam, but I talked to my mom about it since she was the only person I knew who could help me and cared about what I did. She thought it was a good idea since my art wasn't selling well In Poland and it was an amazing way to get noticed by people. When I texted the company back, they offered to pay for a flight and the first 3 months of an apartment, it seemed good enough for me and I could always come back to my parents if everything went bad.

It had been about three weeks since the text with the company and tonight was the night I flew to America. I was excited but nervous to come. I don't know anyone in America. It will be just me, not my friends, not my amazing parents, not even my cat Tobey. Just me in this big city, I had spent the last three weeks packing, and stocking up on art supplies and just saying bye to my whole family. My phone alarm went off and it was time to leave. I cried a ton and so did my mom. She was the one who would push me so much every time I had doubts about my art. She comforted me and reassured me that one day I would become a famous painter. She was the whole reason I kept pushing. I knew it would be hard to leave her but I promised to fly her out as soon as I had enough money. I hugged my mama and dad goodbye and left for the airport.

It was a couple of hours later and I was at the airport. In New York, The company sent a translator to meet me at the airport since my English wasn't amazing and help me find my apartment and get comfortable. We got in the Taxi together he introduced himself to me.

“Hi, I'm Alexander. I'll be your Personal assistant and your next-door neighbor.”

“What personal assistant? I thought you were just my translator just for the airport and to take me to my apartment?”

“Well I was, but our boss thought it would be helpful for you to have an assistant and he sees a lot of potential in you, so it was no biggie.”’

I couldn't believe this, I was so grateful for this opportunity and how much people believed in me here. Before I only had my mother now I have all these people believing in me. On the ride home we didn't talk. I just looked out the window and admired the view of New York City, and thought about my mom and how lucky I was to have her.

 After an hour's drive, we arrived at this beautiful apartment that looked like it had 50 floors. I didn't have any furniture so Alexander just grabbed my bags for me and handed me the keys. I walked into my apartment and it was already a little furnished, just a bed and a couch and TV nothing special.

“I'm gonna go now if that's okay, you can knock on my door if you need anything.”

“Okay bye, thank you.”

Alexander closed the door and my room felt so cold and quiet, I've never had a house to myself. I always lived with my parents so I never knew what it was like to live all alone. I walked around my apartment opening every cabinet and just really taking in how this would be my life now.

It was the next day and I heard a couple knocks on my door and a familiar voice said it was Alexander. I grabbed my glasses, got out of bed, and went to the front door.

“Hello Maja, I grabbed you coffee and a bagel for breakfast since we have to go to work in about an hour just so the boss can meet you in person.”

“Oh okay, thank you, you can come in if you want while I shower and get ready.”

Alexander walked in put the food in the kitchen and just sat down on the couch went on his phone and drank his coffee. I walked into my bedroom closed the door, and opened my suitcase for a nice outfit. Gosh, I barely have any clothes I thought to myself. I finally found a somewhat ok outfit. I guess me and Alexander will have to go shopping later for new clothes. I took a quick shower, got out did my makeup, and then blow-dried my hair. Then Alexander started knocking on my bathroom door.

“Majaaa I don't mean to be rude but we're gonna be late if you don't hurry up.”

“Okay sorry, I'm almost done!” I yell through the door since the blow dryer is so loud. After 10 minutes I was finally done, I really wanted to look good because when my boss saw me I didn't wanna embarrass myself. 

“Alexander, I'm done, let's go!”

“Finally,” He says as he laughs a little after so I know he's joking and not mad.

“So did you already call a taxi?” I ask.

“Taxi? No, I have a car for us” He pulls out his keys and it's to a BMW

We walk to the parking garage and he opens the door for me. Wow, I think in my head this car is fancy.

I just got done meeting my boss, he seemed nice but already I had a painting that needed to be done in a week so when I got home that was the first thing I started on. The whole week I would call my mother as I worked on my project, we would talk about anything and she kept asking what my first project was but I wanted it to be a surprise. It was a portrait of her since this whole opportunity was because of her.

I facetimed my mom.

“Hey mama, I'm done with my first project, wanna see what it is?”

“Finally Maja you show me”

I flipped my camera and instantly she got tears in her eyes and ran to show my dad.

“Albin, Albin! Look what Maja made, it's a portrait of me, it's so cute.”

“Ah, nice, good job Maja.” My dad says.

“I love it, Maja, it's so pretty thank you so much.”

It was safe to say my mother loved it.

“Mama, why are you always wearing a hat when we call it's not that cold in Poland?”

“Oh.. No reason Maja, I just like it. Now goodbye, it's late.”

She quickly ended the call. She acted very weird about it but I just ignored it. Alexander had given me his number so I called him and asked him to come over to look at my project before I brought it to my boss, he said he would be right over. Since I had met Alexander he had probably become my closest friend even though he was my assistant. We had spent so much time together we had learned that we had a lot in common. He has even taken me to some popular places in New York so I wasn't just stuck in my apartment the whole time, he also helped me with my English. It was nice having a friend here it made me feel less lonely.

“Hey, Maja,” Alexander said as he walked in my door.

He looked at my panting and was just in shock.

“What, you don't like it?”

“Nooo Maja, it's amazing our boss is gonna love this. Who is it?”

“Oh, it's my mother.”

“She's beautiful, now let's go show our boss.”

My boss loved it and said it would go in the next show he was going to have.

It has been about 2 weeks, and my mom hasn't called me. I tried to call her a couple of times to tell her how my show went but she didn't pick up. My art was sold for $800, my boss said if I was famous it probably would have been sold for more especially because of how big the painting was. I had even made another piece that would be going to a show tomorrow already and my Instagram had been getting even more popular after my last show. I decided to call my dad today since my mom wouldn't pick up any of my calls.

“Hello, Maja?”

“Dad, why isn't mom picking up my calls.”

“Oh.. Uhh… She broke her phone, getting a new one soon Maja.”

“Okay let me talk to her on yours then.”

“How about later Maja?”

“Dad, what's going on?”

“Maja I don't know how to say this but your mother has been sick for a while, before you even left, and it's been getting worse. She's been in the hospital for three weeks now, that's why she's ignoring your calls.”

“What! Why didn't you tell me this dad, I wouldn't have left and gone to America if I knew this!”

“That's why she didn't tell you, she knew you wouldn't pursue your dreams if you knew so it was better for her to keep it a secret. I'll visit her tomorrow and you can call her then if she's in the mood for it, by Maja''

“Bye, Dad.”

I can't believe they wouldn't tell me that I was so upset, what if I lose my mom? But I was also so angry. This is something big I should know about this. I was so sad I just went to sleep crying. I didn't even take off my makeup. I wasn't in the mood.

I woke up the next morning at 3:00 in the afternoon. I had gotten about 20 calls and texts from Alexander asking if I was home and If I was coming to the show, and that he knocked on my door a couple of times but no answer. I debated answering him. I was so upset with life and how I just found out my mother was sick but I knew I couldn't give up now, not after all she pushed me and she was still alive for now so I would make her proud for her to see since she was still here. 

“Hey Alexander, sorry I overslept. I found out my mom has been sick for a couple of months now and it's only gotten worse, but I have accepted it and gotten up. Come bye later?” I texted him. I was kinda bummed I missed my show since this was my second one but I would just have my boss tell me how it went.

It had been 3 months now living in America. I had become a semi-famous artist. When I would go to a coffee shop or just walk around I would have people come up and ask for an autograph. Things with my mother were only getting worse, I could only talk to her once a week and it was only for an hour. I hadn't been able to fly down to her since I had been so busy with work. Even though she was in so much pain she would still put on her biggest smile when we called and always complimented my work. I made her two paintings and sent them to the hospital she had been staying in so she could look at them every day. My dad had told me she wouldn't be living for much longer, and she had about a month left. When he told me that it felt like half of my heart had broken off and left. It had only been three days since then and since that, I pushed myself even harder. I wanted her to be the proudest of me she ever could be before she left this earth. I told Alexander about it since he had become my best friend. It was nice to have someone to talk about my feelings to. He was a good listener and always said the right things. The one thing that stuck was no matter what she will always be proud of you and so will I.

“Hi Maja”

“Hi Mama, how are you?”

“Good, but enough about myself hows America.”

"Good Mama, I'm starting to get recognized in the streets. This was a very good decision for me to make.”

“I'm glad Maja you deserve it. I'm gonna go now. I'm starting to get tired. Goodnight hun.”

“Goodnight mama.’

Our talking times just kept getting shorter, she would get tired so fast that I could only say a couple words before she would leave. I wouldn't even be able to tell her how my shows would go. It made me a little upset but I knew this would happen.

My phone rings.

“She's gone Maja, I'm sorry to tell you like these words just can't come out of my mouth. When you get in a place where you have calmed down we should call to discuss when you can come down and help me plan her funeral.” -Dad

I read the first three words a million times with tears coming down from my face making it harder to read the text. I knew this was coming and her death wasn't something I could run away from but God I wish it was. I felt like I failed her. I promised I would fly her to America and have her visit but I never did. I got caught up with work and Alexander I didn't make time for her. I felt like the worst daughter ever. Especially since the last call from her, I missed because I was out with Alexander on a walk and I thought “Oh she can just call me tmr.” But she never did. I texted Alexander.

“Can you come over now? I know it's late but I need a friend right now.”

Two seconds later my door opened. Alexander sees me on the floor crying and rushes to me hugging me and asking what happened.

“The day finally came Alex... She's...Gone.”

The saddest look came on his face. At first, he was just my assistant but now he is my best friend. It was like he felt my pain. We just sat there cuddling and fell asleep

It had been two weeks now. All I've been doing is sleeping or binge-watching Netflix. I hadn't gotten any work done and I hadn't even texted my dad back. I just wanted to never talk about her funeral. I loved her but now I hate hearing her name all I think about was the text my dad sent me. I had shut everyone out of my life, my friends, my work, and even Alexander. He would try and check up on me but I would just ignore him. His calls, his texts, his knocking on my door. I know he didn't deserve this but I didn't know how to act anymore. My passion, the reason I was in this career, the reason I was in the U.S. was gone. It felt wrong to stay in America. I wanted to move back to Poland but then I would think about her more, I just wanted to disappear.

“Maja open up, you can't live like this forever. I respected your privacy but it's too much now you won't heal staying like this I'm coming in!”

I guess I could only ignore everyone for a while. I wiped my eyes and stood up and just opened the door for him. He had roses and my favorite Polish food in his hand which was tartare. He hugged me and handed me the stuff.

“Now come on, get ready and I'll put your stuff in the fridge.”

“No Alexander, I don't feel like it, let's just watch a movie.”

“Nope. She wouldn't want this, so I'm not gonna give up on you, okay?”

When he said that it really hit. He was right even though I didn't want him to be. I knew she wouldn't be proud of me right now. I realized I needed to text my dad back. He didn't deserve to have to figure it out on his own and I needed to text my boss back and pray I still had a job. I took a shower, brushed my teeth, and did a little makeup. Alexander said I looked pretty and took me to a fair. We had a lot of fun, he was right it was good to go out he even got me a toy from one of the carnival games. He took me home and walked me to the door and we said goodnight. I texted my dad back

“I'm sorry I took so long to respond, it was a lot on me, but I know I should have texted you back. I can come next week and we can have her funeral then. I hope you're doing okay Dad.” 

I also texted my boss back and explained to him what happened and I went to sleep.

It had been a week since my boss forgave me and said it was okay. I was going through a lot. I would just need to work really hard on my next pieces. Alexander had been helping me a lot and we had been hanging out every day he even had a sleepover. I think I started to have a crush on Alexander but I was too scared to tell him and now wasn't the right time, I was leaving for a flight tonight so definitely not now. 

I texted him

“Hey Alex, the flights tonight could you drive me to the airport?”

“Aw, Maja you're leaving me already, lemme me come over now so we can hang out before you leave.”

“Okay hurry.”

Maybe my feelings were getting the best of me but his texts recently had been sounding like he was flirting a bit, I'm just gonna ignore my feelings now it's probably for the better, right? Alexander walks in the door right when I'm done Pretending there is something we aren't.

“Maja I can't believe you're leaving already, take me with you?” He says with a little pouty face

“Haha you're funny, and you know about this for a while now. You'll be okay without me for a while.

“No, I wonttt, I'm YOUR assistant what am I supposed to do.”

“Hmm, maybe become someone else's?” I giggle

“What noo that's like cheating on you.”

We talk for a couple hours and laugh a little but then the time comes when I have to leave. He drives me to the airport and parks and walks with me in.

“Well, I guess this is goodbye for now Alex,” I say to him with a frown.

He looks down at me, “Promise you won't forget me and you won't find a new Poland assistant?”

“Alexx I'm only gone for three weeks. I promise I won't forget you.”

He reaches down and kisses me goodbye.