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.

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

"No, I don't!"

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

herself at him and pleaded, "Joseph,

devastated, gripping his cuff

was going

bad would happen to

and

took her to the

head hard and muttering, "No..., Joseph, take me to my mother. My mother

far away, Bertie was smoking. He put out the

told me everything

I don't believe you.... You're all lying to me,

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

was

quickly take me to Mother,

lips and held her in his arms,

hooked his arms around her shoulders and left, throwing a meaningful look

the evening, a Black

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

and he could see the light on the right side of

stared at it until it went out

turned in. Actually, she had seen Joseph's car

hadn't contacted each other for

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

he take her word for

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

"Rest in peace."

Mrs.

to the balcony. Joseph's

so upset right

close friends,

Joseph with her

at the black Cayenne and saw

grasped the railing and bit

Reece in the classroom. They planned

made multiple

he patiently instructed her, and she

left the classroom at noon. She picked up her phone and saw a bunch of missing