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.

but the nurse quickly stopped

"No, I don't!"

ran

"Joseph, my mother.... Take

gripping his cuff and looking at him

going

would happen

and slowly

he took her to

at Joseph, shaking her head hard and muttering, "No..., Joseph, take me to my mother.

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

She told me everything

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

was

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

her in his arms,

sobbed louder. Bertie hooked his arms around her shoulders and

evening, a Black Cayenne

under the girls' dormitory.

could see

until it went out

Joseph's car when she had

each other for two

their fight was still fresh. She hadn't meant it when she asked Joseph to go

could he take

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

"Rest in peace."

Mrs. Marshall passed

sat up and ran to the balcony. Joseph's car was

must be so upset right

be close friends, so Kathy was worried

wasn't Joseph

the black Cayenne

railing and bit her

for Reece in the classroom. They planned to do homework

she made

wasn't angry. Instead, he patiently instructed her, and she

up her phone and saw a bunch of missing calls from Jennifer,