Chapter 153
The next time Madeline opened her eyes, she found herself lying on a hospital bed. The strong antiseptic scent invaded her senses as she tried to recall how she ended up here. As she struggled to prop herself up, she found her arm attached to a scary looking IV drip. What happened to me…? she wondered. She recalled passing out right before dinner, but she could not remember anything beyond that point. Her thoughts were scrambled and her mind a mess, giving her a mild migraine. At this moment, a familiar little head popped up beside her bed. Before she knew it, Thomas had climbed onto her bed and perched over her, his big round eyes filled with joy and relief.
“Mommy, you’re up! Are you okay?” he asked anxiously. “Daddy went to get you something to eat. If you’re hungry, I have some chocolate milk for you.” Thomas quickly got himself off the bed
and ran to his backpack, producing a little carton of warmed chocolate milk
for his mother.
“Don’t worry, Thomas. Mommy’s alright,” Madeline reached an arm out to ruffle
her son’s hair.
“But, Mommy… you fainted, and there was so much blood!” Thomas hugged his mother tightly, as if trying to forget the dreadful memory of his mother fainting.
“Mommy was just over-exhausted from the hike in the morning. I’ll be okay once I get enough rest,” she smiled, patting her son on the back.
“Really, Mommy?” Thomas asked again, not fully convinced.
“Of course, darling. When has Mommy ever lied to you?” Madeline reassured
her son.
kids all the
the patient here now…”
the roles had reversed.
insistent, but his tone was sweet and gentle. She gently stroked his back and even took a sip of his chocolate milk, just to show him she was alright. Thomas fussed over her incessantly, propping up her pillow for her and hanging
walked in, his eyes lighting up as
to reach her
his hand to
some of this congee. I’ll get Andy
out that Madeline’s
noticed his hands trembling visibly as he passed her the flask. Was it cold outside? She wondered. Or was he worried about her? Before her thoughts could
did something happen?” Madeline’s eyes
he said as he helped her detach the
poison me while I’m lying
to look for Uncle Dylan!” Thomas
I followed the
a tee. She
but perhaps the fire was a little
“But I promise it’s not poisonous!” Noah picked up a spoon and scooped a spoonful of congee from the flask, even
say ahhhh!”
ridiculous, yet there was something so warm and kind about the fact that he cooked for her. This was something she had wished for all
at the thought
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!