Chapter 6
sepped forward and vanked the covers back.
fioce. The person sleeping next to Dexter wasn’t the woman I expected–it was juna Juno must have worn himself a curled up in bol, buccing a big stuffed dog. From the outside, he looked almost like an adult.
Devet ribbed his eyes still hall–asleep. Honey, you’re back
to reality. I swallowed my emotions. “I… just came back to get something”
out playing.
onchalant as I tugged the stuffed dog out of June’s arms. “It’s getting cold. Don’t let our son sleep y with such a big toy–he might catch
I, I was vareless Dexter quickly apologized.
like this. Whatever I say, he agrees without question. Any suggestion I make, he follows it to the letter?
ty opened the wardro
pretending to pack, and asked without turning around, “By the way, where are the slippers I left by the door?”
uce on them by accident, so I took them to wash”
ver to the balcony, and sure enough, my slippers were hanging on the drying rack. Everything seemed so normal, yet the only thing that of place was me..
I took a deep breath, grabbed the things I’d packed, and started heading to the hospital. But Dexter stopped me. “It’s late. Just stay here and sleep”
Co. Mom’s still
the hospital.”
The caregiver we hired is there, right? She’s on 24–hour duty. Why can’t my wife even get some rest at home?” Dexter’s insistence made me
terseeing that photo. I really didn’t want to be apart from him for too long. Especially not on a night like this, full of unspoken tension. I just wanted to stay by his side. Without thinking it over too much. 1 agreed
The three of us–Dester, Juno, and I–ended up sleeping together. Juno was in the middle, with Dexter on one side and me on the other. Surrounded by love, Juno was so happy. But at that moment, I had no idea this might be the calm before the storm
The next morning, I was jolted awake by my phone ringing frantically.
“Sylvia, where are you? Mom’s condition suddenly took a turn for the worse, and they’ve rushed her into the ER. You need to come now!” Clara’s voice was shaking, her panic almost uncontrollable.
My mind went blank. I quickly sat up. Tm on my way. You sign whatever needs to be signed, I’ll be there soon.”
I threw on some clothes, washed up quickly, and rushed out the door.
Dexter followed me, still trying to give me advice. As I got into the car, he shoved the bread into my hands. “Don’t worry, leave the medical stuff to the professionals. Trust the doctors.”
But I couldn’t focus on what he was saying. My mind was entirely on Manha. Regret flooded over me. “Why have I stayed home to rest last night?” Martha had worked so hard her whole life. I thought, After Dad passed, she is the only close family I have left. How can I leave her when she needs me the most
When I reached the hospital, Martha was still in the ER
Clara grabbed my hand as soon as she saw me and broke down in t
tears, “Sylvial”
I held her tight, my own heart a tangled mess. But I couldn’t fall apart. If I did, Clara wouldn’t be able to keep it together either.
“Don’t worry. I’m here. Mom will be fine Hept repeating the words, sounding myself
We waited outside the ER for over two he
g like I was comforting Clara, but deep down. I was trying to reassure
hours before Martha was finally brought ble,
“Dr. Norman, how did this happen to Martha?” After w
we got her back to her room. I couldn’t wait to ask.
1/2
