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 her. "Miss Marshall,

"No, I don't!"

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

herself at him and pleaded, "Joseph, my mother....

devastated, gripping his cuff and looking at him

going to be

would happen to

frowned and

he took her to the morgue

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

was smoking. He put out the cigarette and came over to hug

told me everything

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

chance her mother

was so

Mother,

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

her shoulders and left, throwing a meaningful

the evening, a Black

dormitory. Turning

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

it went out

Actually, she had seen Joseph's car when she had been

hadn't contacted each other

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

could he take her word for

Kathy had trouble sleeping. Browsing WeChat moments, she

"Rest in peace."

Mrs. Marshall

the balcony. Joseph's car was

be so upset

close friends, so Kathy

Joseph with

black

grasped the railing and

next day, Kathy waited for Reece in the classroom. They planned to

she made

angry. Instead, he patiently instructed

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