Chapter 15: A Day in the Life of Gloria

January 11, 2074, 2:45

Gloria Martinez had just finished her night shift and was driving home.

Nights in Night City were always dangerous; she silently prayed not to be unlucky enough to run into trouble.

She didn't believe in religion; it was just for psychological comfort. Their small family couldn't withstand any accidents.

As a single mother living in Night City, she had to budget carefully to pay for rent, food, daily expenses, education, and so on.

For housing, the apartment in a super skyscraper was acceptable; anything worse meant living in the slums. She didn't mind, but David was so young; he had to live in a normal environment. Rent couldn't be cut.

For food, breakfast and dinner could be handled at the food stalls downstairs, and lunch could be skipped; every bit saved counted. Fortunately, David was a hardworking child; he had been admitted to Arasaka Academy this year, and the tuition included meals.

For daily expenses, utilities and internet fees couldn't be cut as they affected living conditions. David said he could take the subway to and from school; students got discounts on the subway. That was good too; she could start work earlier, wouldn't need to take time off in the evening to pick him up, could work longer, and maybe even get a "Full-Time Work" award or something...

For education...

Gloria thought, a soft smile appearing on her tired face.

"That kid David is unexpectedly smart; perhaps he inherited it from his father," she muttered while waiting at a red light, pulling her hand out to rub her aching brow.

"Fortunately, he didn't inherit his stupid mother's traits in that regard; being me, just surviving is already hard..." She gave a bitter smile to her reflection in the rearview mirror, her face full of fatigue, eyes red and swollen.

Arasaka Academy's tuition was no small sum; adding up previous expenses, all in all, it required her to work at least 18 hours a day just to barely afford it.

Other aspects could be cut, but education absolutely could not.

David had brains and ability; as his mother, she would do whatever it took to send him to the best school, hoping he could work at the Company later, at least not live a hard life like his mother, struggling every single day.

January 11, 2074, 2:59

Gloria Martinez parked the car and walked out of the garage.

"It's really cold out there," she complained, exhaling a puff of mist and tightening her yellow jacket—the standard-issue coat for medical personnel, good material, waterproof and moisture-proof, saving at least the cost of buying clothes.

She looked around; she had just heard a somewhat familiar voice, probably the little girl upstairs.

Thinking this, she carried the plastic bag and walked toward the elevator.

Leaning tiredly against the wall by the elevator, her eyelids fighting to stay open, that dead fat guy was really heavy; lifting him onto the stretcher had hurt her back...

Forcing her to buy some discounted painkillers, otherwise she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

"Tap tap tap..."

Footsteps behind woke the drowsy Gloria; she turned sharply, and only after seeing the person's face did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Hitata Castedei, the little girl upstairs. Having lived in Night City for only a few short months, she was already living properly, beautiful and kind-hearted, a cute girl like a little angel.

"Hey! Gloria!" Hitata waved with a smile, hopping over.

Gloria always felt her smile had a magic that made people unconsciously smile too, warming her whole body, feeling as if her heart was melting.

"Ah... Little Hitata! So late, you worked hard..." she replied, her tone gentle and loving.

Damn Night City, even such a cute little angel had to work until now!

"Let me carry..."

"Hmm..." She wiped the sweat from her forehead, letting Hitata release her kindness.

Gloria had once refused, thinking she couldn't let a little girl so much younger than herself take care of her; as an adult, she had to be a role model.

Unfortunately, she couldn't resist the little angel's persistent pleading.

"What's inside? It's so heavy..." Hitata held the plastic bag, chattering.

"New clothes for David, and some painkillers."

She understood Hitata's good intentions and cooperated by chatting about daily life.

"Painkillers? Securicine?"

Seeing Hitata's shocked expression, Gloria was a bit puzzled; was she surprised that Gloria bought painkillers?

So she explained, saying it was just a back injury, telling Hitata not to worry too much.

Unexpectedly, Hitata looked worried, taking out two expensive Persevere Treatment Type II to exchange with her.

What a silly girl...

Gloria hugged the little girl who was acting spoiled in her arms tightly; she was just like her own daughter.

"... My boyfriend is coming in a few days; just cook a dish for us, you know I can't cook..."

Gloria was a bit surprised; how did the little angel suddenly have a boyfriend?

She sighed and rubbed Hitata's small head; the little girl was growing up too.

She had to help her check him out properly.

She didn't want Hitata to know the bitterness of a single mother's life in Night City.

After one last hug with the slender, weak, kind-hearted good girl, they said goodnight and parted.

January 11, 2074, 3:05

Gloria Martinez, carrying a much lighter plastic bag, quietly opened her front door.

She glanced inside; David was already asleep.

She put down the plastic bag and took out the new clothes for David, placing them in the wardrobe.

"This kid..." Turning to look at her son's sprawled sleeping posture, Gloria muttered a low scolding, pulling the blanket he had kicked aside back over him.

It was very cold tonight, and the heating wasn't on at home; he absolutely couldn't catch a cold.

She gently rubbed her son's cheek, then turned and walked toward the Sofa in the living room.

She wouldn't take a shower today; her son rarely slept, and waking him now would ruin his energy for class tomorrow; besides, it would save some water fees, killing two birds with one stone.

She smiled softly, taking a bottle of Persevere Treatment Type II from the plastic bag on the floor and injecting it into her back.

Thank you, little angel...

She took an old blanket from the living room wardrobe, lay down on the Sofa, set the alarm, covered herself with the blanket, and fell asleep with her clothes on.

January 11, 2074, 8:30

"Beep beep beep beep beep beep..." The shrill alarm clock sound woke Gloria from her sleep.

She turned off the alarm and stared at the ceiling in a daze for a while.

Time to get up.

She struggled to sit up from the Sofa; fortunately, thanks to that bottle of Full-Strength Healing Type II, her waist didn't hurt at all.

David seemed to have already left for school; he must have seen she was sleeping so deeply and didn't wake her.

Gloria shook her somewhat groggy head and walked to the bathroom to wash up.

The woman in the mirror brushed her teeth and washed her face with sleepy eyes; it seemed due to the daily toil of recent days, a few faint wrinkles had appeared on her face.

I'm really getting old...

Gloria sighed, not even thinking about using makeup to cover blemishes or anything.

Her old cosmetics were long ago sold for money; now, as a single mother, where would she find the luxury to put on makeup?

She packed her things, preparing to go out.

January 11, 2074, 12:00

Today, Night City was holding a grand celebration, decorated with lights and banners, incredibly lively; various giant 3D projections floated in the sky, dreamlike and illusory.

Gloria wiped the sweat from her face and sighed heavily.

It was lively, all right, but various criminal incidents had also increased; people were dying everywhere.

The team Gloria belonged to had almost run all over Night City in just half a day.

"I hope nothing major happens..." she murmured, a sense of ominous foreboding rising within her.

January 11, 2074, 22:15

A huge explosion sound in the distance woke Gloria, who had been dozing off while leaning against her seat.

"What's happening?" She looked at the armed forces blocking out the sky in the distance and hurriedly asked her colleague.

"I don't know..."

"Team D13, stand down immediately, proceed to City Center to await orders..."

She didn't have time to think it through and rushed to the scene with her colleagues.

January 11, 2074, 23:00

Gloria walked to her front door, her body feeling as if it were falling apart.

She had participated in nearly a hundred rescue operations in just one day; it was simply too exhausting.

She sighed, wondering why the superiors suddenly ordered them to clock off and go home, even though the pay was given for the full day.

Feeling sorry for their hard work? A sudden act of kindness?

How could that be...

She smiled self-mockingly, opened the door, and unexpectedly found her son waiting for her at home, sitting on the Sofa, staring blankly at the live TV broadcast.

"What's wrong, David?"

"Mom, is this the painkiller you mentioned before?" He pointed to the drug report constantly displayed on the TV.

"Side effects: neural degeneration..." She looked at the TV and read the scarlet text on it word by word.

No wonder the little angel looked so worried yesterday.

Gloria rubbed her face, her mood complex.

"Mom," David suddenly shouted, pulling her toward the window.

"What's wrong, David?" She was somewhat puzzled; she hadn't seen such a lively and excited David in quite some time.

Every day she was busy just trying to make a living; now that she thought about it, her communication with her son had actually decreased.

Don't sacrifice the essential for the trivial; I'm such a stupid mom.

While muttering to herself, she followed David's finger and looked out the window.

Gloria opened her mouth in surprise; she saw nine meteors streak across the sky, leaving nine distinct trails.

"Make a wish quickly! Mom! Together!"

Seeing David's rare childish expression, her nose felt a bit sour.

"Okay."

So she and David closed their eyes together and pressed their palms together.

May Heaven bless, bless David to grow up healthy and successful...

Facing those nine meteors, she made her most sincere wish.

January 11, 2074, 23:30

"Goodnight, Mom..."

"Goodnight, David..."

She smiled and closed her eyes.

Life was bitter and tiring, but at least there was hope.