Ericka Middleton's life is a cycle of work, sacrifice and waiting - waiting for a break, waiting for a moment to breathe, and always waiting for Maurice, her unreliable boyfriend who never shows up when it matters. Between raising her nine-year-old daughter alone and barely making ends meet, she's lost sight of the things that once brought her joy. When he ditches her on her birthday - again - a last-minute beach trip without him offers a glimpse of the life she's been missing. But the real awakening comes after the trip, forcing her to decide: will she cling to the familiar or risk everything for a new start? When Ericka Woke Up is a moving story about self-discovery. second chances, and the power of walking away.