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.

of bed, but the nurse quickly stopped

"No, I don't!"

floor this was, so she ran to the

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

devastated, gripping his cuff and

mother was going

bad would happen to

and slowly

he took her to

she gawped at Joseph, shaking her head hard and muttering, "No..., Joseph, take me

far away, Bertie was smoking. He put out the cigarette and came over

She told me everything she wanted

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

though she had known there was a 50% chance her mother wouldn't make it, she had trusted Joseph

reality was so

quickly take me to Mother,

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

arms around her shoulders and left,

the evening, a Black Cayenne

car was parked under the girls' dormitory. Turning off the car, he looked

he could see the light on the right

it went out on

seen Joseph's car when she had been hanging clothes

each

she asked Joseph to go to Zofia. She had just

he take her word

trouble sleeping. Browsing WeChat moments, she was taken aback by Bertie's

"Rest in peace."

trembled. Mrs.

ran to the

be so upset

close friends,

Joseph

at the black Cayenne and

and bit her lips

Reece in the classroom. They

she made

wasn't angry. Instead, he patiently

up her phone and saw