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.

nurse quickly stopped

"No, I don't!"

know what floor this was, so she ran

him and pleaded, "Joseph, my

sounded devastated, gripping his cuff and

mother was going

would happen to

and slowly

took her to the morgue

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

was smoking. He put out the

peace. She told me everything she

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

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

was

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

thin lips and held her in his

her shoulders and left, throwing a meaningful look

a Black

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

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

it went out on twelve

seen Joseph's car when

hadn't contacted each other for two

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

how could he take her word for

sleeping. Browsing WeChat moments, she was taken aback by

"Rest in peace."

trembled. Mrs.

the

so

friends, so

wasn't Joseph with her

at the black Cayenne and

grasped the railing and bit her

in the classroom. They planned to

she made multiple

angry. Instead, he patiently

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