Massive Demolition Fees and a Family Emergency

My name was Julia Streep, and I had been trapped in my dream for what felt like an eternity. I couldn't remember if it had been a day, two days, a month, or even longer.

In this dream, I could neither see nor touch anything. Each day blended into the next, leaving me in a state of constant confusion and near despair.

What drove me mad was the constant murmuring I heard in my ears.

Eventually, one day, I began to hear the sounds of the outside world.

"Poor thing, lying here for six years. I wonder if she'll ever wake up?"

"I haven't seen her boyfriend around lately, have you?"

"I heard Mr. Aniston is getting engaged today. He probably won't be around anymore."

"It's been six years. He's been taking care of her. That's more than enough."

The noise was overwhelming. I wondered who they were talking about. Struggling to open my eyes amidst the din, I finally managed to crack them open.

One of the nurses chatting turned her head and saw me, the comatose patient who had been lying still for six years, suddenly awake. She nearly had a heart attack.

"Quick, call the doctor!"

"And get Mr. Aniston on the phone, too."

As I waited for my family to arrive, I pieced together from the doctors' and nurses' conversations that I had been hit by a car six years ago while trying to save a pregnant woman. I had been in a vegetative state ever since.

They said that waking up and being able to talk was a medical miracle.

Whether it was a miracle or not, I wasn't sure. What I knew for certain was that I was desperate to see two people: my father and Nathan.

My father was, of course, my only close family in this world.

As for Nathan Aniston, he was my boyfriend. If it hadn't been for the accident six years ago, we might have been married by now.

After six years apart, I wondered how much he had changed.

When Nathan finally walked into the room, dressed in a sharp suit and looking as handsome as ever, I couldn't hold back my tears.

I tried to reach out to him, but my arms were weak, and I struggled to lift them.

Nathan stood at the door, staring at me in shock, unable to move.

Through my tearful voice, like a child who had been wronged, I said, "Nathan, I missed you."

Nathan seemed to snap out of his daze and rushed to my bedside, holding my hand.

His eyes were fixed on mine; his voice choked with emotion. "Julia, is this real? Are you really awake?"

I sniffled, saying, "Yeah, I'm awake. I guess heaven saw that I did good deeds and couldn't bear to take me, so now I'm here to trouble you."

Nathan pressed my hand to his face, his voice trembling. "Thank God you're awake."

I couldn't help but blush at the moment.

"Hey, tone it down a bit. There are other people in the room," I said.

Nathan's eyes were moist, and he was almost incoherent. "I can't help it. I'm just so happy you're awake. Julia, thank you for coming back..."

Suddenly, I remembered something and looked around. "Where's my dad? He'd be so happy to know I'm awake. Where is he?"

Nathan's grip on my hand tightened slightly. "He's abroad for a trip. We haven't been able to reach him. I'll contact him as soon as you're stable."

I couldn't help but comment, "That old man, always on trip, and he's forgotten about his daughter, huh?"

Just then, a woman's voice came from behind Nathan. "Julia, it's wonderful to see you awake."

I turned to look, and there stood a woman in a formal dress, her makeup flawless and radiant.

She looked oddly familiar, but I couldn't place her. After a moment, I asked, "Are you... Emma?"

Emma Fox had been my childhood friend, always with thick glasses and a quiet demeanor. The woman before me looked nothing like that.

With tears in her eyes, Emma smiled, "Yes, it's me, Emma."

I stared at her, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity. "You've changed so much; I almost didn't recognize you."

Emma fixed her gaze on me, saying meaningfully, "Six years is a long time. People change."

Confused, I looked at her quizzically.

Nathan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. Addressing Emma, he said, "Why don't you head out for now? Julia and I need to talk."

Emma turned to me. "Julia, get some rest. I'll come by when I have the chance."

Unsure of what to say, I simply smiled, "Okay."

As Emma headed towards the door, she glanced back at Nathan. "Should I wait for you?"

Nathan responded, "No need."

Once Emma was gone, I turned to Nathan. "What's going on with you two? Why did she need to wait for you?"

Nathan gently stroked my head, his gaze tender and affectionate. "She's now my assistant. Julia, you've just woken up. Let's not worry about other people right now, okay?"

I was puzzled and felt a bit slow on the uptake, but I nodded. "Alright."