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 her. "Miss

"No, I don't!"

floor this was, so she ran to the elevator. When its

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

devastated, gripping his cuff and looking at

going to be

bad would happen to

and slowly

her to the

turned pale as she gawped at Joseph, shaking her head hard and muttering, "No..., Joseph, take me to my mother. My mother

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

in peace. She told

believe you.... You're all lying to

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

was

me to Mother, please...." She

his arms, whispering, "Zofia,

arms around her shoulders and

evening, a Black Cayenne entered

car was parked under the girls' dormitory. Turning off the

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

stared at it until it

Joseph's car

each other

hadn't meant it when she asked Joseph to go to Zofia. She had just

he take her

turning, Kathy had trouble sleeping. Browsing WeChat moments, she

"Rest in peace."

Mrs. Marshall

to the balcony.

be so

to be close friends, so Kathy was

Joseph with

black

grasped the railing and

for Reece in

she made multiple

patiently instructed her,

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