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.

out of bed, but the nurse quickly stopped her. "Miss Marshall, you need more

"No, I don't!"

to the corridor but did not know what floor this was, so she ran

threw herself at him and pleaded, "Joseph,

sounded devastated, gripping his cuff and looking

going

bad would happen to

frowned and slowly

took her to

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

He put out the cigarette and came

told me everything she wanted to

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

chance her mother wouldn't make it, she had trusted Joseph to

reality was

me to Mother, please...."

his thin lips and held her in his arms, whispering, "Zofia, I

arms around her shoulders and left, throwing a meaningful look

a Black

parked under the girls' dormitory.

he could see the

it until it went out

car when she had been hanging clothes on

hadn't contacted each other for

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

take her

WeChat moments, she

"Rest in peace."

Mrs. Marshall passed

the balcony. Joseph's

must be so upset right

close friends,

wasn't Joseph with

at the black Cayenne

railing and

Reece in the classroom. They

she made multiple

patiently instructed her, and

the classroom at noon. She picked up her phone and saw a