The party had ended, Lydia had left too, but with a promise that she'd help me figure out something before the lunch with senator Jackson. I had been too engrossed in my problems that I'd lost track of time and didn't realize when José left. I felt I was lacking as a friend.

"Princess!" I hear my mom say.

"Hello, mother." I answer, wanting to the conversation to end as quickly as possible. I had seen my father before the party begun, and left him to sleep. I would check on him right after she left.

She touches my hair, "I was so busy I barely had enough time to...