Julia hears a knock at her door, knowing it could only be Herman she rushes to the door. As Julia thought Herman is the one waiting outside her home, but before she could get a word out to him, he collapses into her arms and they both fell to the ground. “Herman?! are you ok?” Julia says. Herman is unable to answer her back. Julia rushes him to her bed, laying him there to rest. “Hol on Herman imma get help, you say here n rest,” said Julia. Julia runs out of the house and towards Fanny’s home as she is the only one of her neighbors who owns a phone.

Julia knocks on her door rapidly until Fanny finally opens the door. “What is wrong with you Girl?! You trying to break down my door?! “says Fanny. It’s Herman something wrong with em! Please, Fanny, call a doctor for him” said Julia. “You mean that white man you been bringing around here? I told you, white men bring nothing but trouble.” Fanny said annoyed but still concerned. Fanny heads for her phone, while Julia hurries back to Herman. Herman opens his eyes slightly as Julia returns to his side. “Hey sorry, I had to come see you. I got the Flu” says Herman. Julia felt her stomach and heart drop, knowing what that meant for meaning who caught influenza. Fanny runs into Julia’s home. “They can’t get a doctor out here, what do you wanna do?” says Fanny. Julia decides that the only thing she can do is call Herman’s mother for help. Julia thought, “this would be the first time we meet and her son is laying in my home sick with the flu”.

Julia is waiting with Herman when Herman’s mother arrives. She enters the room, and as soon as she sees Herman she runs to him. “Herman it’s your mother, are you ok?” says Herman’s mother. Herman opens his eyes, “Hi momma, this is Julia, I’m going to marry her” says Herman. Julia was taken by surprise by Herman’s comment to his mother. Julia fears looking her in the eyes. Julia brings the strength to bring her eyes to meet Herman’s mother, who is looking at her smiling. “I know son, I’m glad she was here to take care of you”. Julia is taken by surprise once again, she had never the woman out of fear that she would disapprove of her son being with a black woman. Instead, Herman’s mother was happy that her son had someone other than herself to take care of her son. Julia and Herman’s mother go to a room alone to talk for the first time. “I knew my son had a woman, I just never knew why he wouldn’t let me meet”. Julia was happy that Herman’s mother accepted her but couldn’t shake the pain that she knew Herman was about to die. They embraced, knowing both were feeling a similar pain.

Julia and Herman’s mother rejoin Herman together. “I’m fine, I and Julia are going to go north to get married,” says Herman. Julia and Herman’s mother hold one of Herman’s hands each until he slowly passes away, all together in one room.