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.

quickly stopped her. "Miss Marshall, you need more

"No, I don't!"

this was, so she ran to the

herself at him and pleaded, "Joseph, my mother.... Take me

devastated, gripping his cuff and looking at him

going

bad would happen to

and slowly

her to the morgue

and

Bertie was smoking. He put out the cigarette and came

told me everything she wanted

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

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

was

quickly take me to Mother, please...." She tugged her brother

lips and held her in his arms,

sobbed louder. Bertie hooked his arms around her shoulders

the evening, a Black Cayenne entered

car was parked under the girls' dormitory.

was on the fifth floor, and he could see the light on the right side of the

until it went

Joseph's car when she

contacted each other for two

hadn't meant it when she asked Joseph

take her word

turning, Kathy had trouble sleeping. Browsing WeChat moments, she was taken aback by Bertie's latest

"Rest in peace."

trembled. Mrs.

ran to the balcony. Joseph's car was still

so

to be close friends, so

wasn't Joseph with her

the black Cayenne and saw

and bit

day, Kathy waited for Reece in the classroom. They planned to do homework

made

he patiently instructed her, and she

noon. She picked up her phone and saw a bunch of missing calls from Jennifer, so she