My Sweetheart

The red light on the door of the operating room was on.

Zofia was in tears snuggling up to her brother, groggy.

Being said, she still peered at the operating room.

Three hours later, the red light went out.

A different doctor came out. Zofia scooted over and gripped his hand. "Doctor..., how is my mother?"

The doctor pursed his lips and said nothing.

After a long while, Joseph walked out and said in a deep voice, "I'm sorry."

Zofia's eyes widened. Teetering, she fainted in Bertie's arms.

Bertie looked much calmer than her, but pain crept up on his eyes.

"My mother...."

"You can see her one last time," Joseph said heavily and took off his mask.

The next second, Bertie grasped Joseph's shirt, and the two tall men locked eyes with each other.

The other doctor said calmly, "Sir, please take a grip on yourself."

Bertie squinted and clenched his fists. After a while, he let go of Joseph.

Joseph said in a grave tone, "I'm sorry for your loss."

Bertie asked his assistant to drive Zofia home and went into the ward.

Mrs. Marshall's eyes were closed, and her lips frequently parted. She was having trouble speaking.

Bertie stood at her bedside, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Shuddering, he bent down and said in a tone peppered with sorrow, "Mom...."

Zofia woke up two hours later in another ward with empty eyes.

A nurse came to pull out the needle for her. She asked in panic, "Where's my mother...?"

The nurse did not know the specifics and could not answer.

bed, but the nurse quickly stopped her. "Miss Marshall, you need more

"No, I don't!"

ran to the elevator. When its door opened, Joseph, who was wearing a white

and pleaded, "Joseph, my mother.... Take me to my

devastated, gripping his cuff

mother was going to

bad would happen

frowned and slowly

took her to the morgue

gawped at Joseph, shaking her head hard and muttering, "No..., Joseph, take me to my mother. My mother is not

smoking. He put out the cigarette and came over to hug

told me everything she wanted to

believe you.... You're all lying to me, aren't you?" Zofia's voice

was a 50% chance her mother wouldn't make it,

was so

take me to Mother, please...." She

in his arms, whispering, "Zofia, I promise to look

louder. Bertie hooked his arms around her shoulders and left, throwing a

evening, a Black

parked under the girls' dormitory. Turning

could see the light on the right side of the

at it until it

turned in. Actually, she had seen Joseph's car when she

hadn't contacted each other

meant it when she asked Joseph to go to Zofia. She

how could he take her word

turning, Kathy had trouble sleeping. Browsing WeChat moments, she was taken aback

"Rest in peace."

Mrs.

to the balcony. Joseph's car was

so upset right

friends,

Joseph with her

at the black

the railing and bit her

for Reece in the classroom. They

she made multiple

he patiently instructed her, and she

the classroom at noon. She picked up her phone and saw a bunch of missing calls from Jennifer,