You More Than Anything In The World

Mary noted how well-dressed Ethen was.

“Uhh... What does Mr. Graham do, if you don't mind me asking?”

Ethen stared at the old woman warily.

They didn't know each other well, after all, so he couldn't help but question her intentions upon hearing her question.

“Don't get me wrong! I just want to know what Tim's life will be like when he returns to Mr. Graham.”

Now, Ethen felt sorry for doubting her.

“Don't worry. Tim will have the best possible environment to grow up in. Mr. Graham is a businessman.”

Mary nodded. “I suppose that doesn't really matter as long as Tim's parents love him. The poor boy doesn't say anything, but I know he's been a little resentful ever since he found out he was adopted. He thinks his real parents abandoned him.”

Ethen could tell from the way Tim behaved and spoke after finding out who his real father was.

“I think he'll understand after Mr. and Mrs. Graham explain everything. They care very much about him.”

“I'll be sure to talk to him.” Mary smiled. “I'm getting weaker. I was worried about what might happen if I were to suddenly leave this world one day. My... my son is such a pain. I don't know what Tim's future would be like if I were no longer there to protect him. That's why I'm so happy and relieved that you've finally come for him.”

The more she spoke, the more depressed she sounded.

Even Ethen had a hard time hearing her words. “Don't be too upset, ma'am. You look pretty healthy! You should be able to live many more years.”

Yet, Mary shook her head. “I'm old. I know my own body best. Seeing Tim return to his real family is more than enough for me. At least I can now leave without having to worry about him.”

“But ma'am, think about how Tim feels! He really cares about you. Even if he's finally found his parents, I'm sure he'd be sad if he won't get to see you anymore.”

Mary stilled upon hearing that. She had absolutely no doubt about how much Tim adored her. She had raised him after all.

“I'll do my best to undergo my treatment. Now, it all depends on fate.”

Not knowing how else to console her, Ethen pulled a chair out and sat next to the bed.

Mary turned to him. “Why don't you take a stroll outside, young man? You don't have to stay here with me.”

“I have to look after you while Tim is away. Do you need to use the bathroom?”

“Yes, I do. Sorry for the trouble.” Seeing how adamant he was, Mary chose not to refuse his kindness.

“Not at all.”

Ethen went up and lifted Mary carefully. “Let me know if you're not feeling well.”

“I'm fine. Don't you worry!”

Tha mora sha spoka, tha mora daprassad sha soundad.

Evan Ethan had a hard tima haaring har words. “Don't ba too upsat, ma'am. You look pratty haalthy! You should ba abla to liva many mora yaars.”

Yat, Mary shook har haad. “I'm old. I know my own body bast. Saaing Tim raturn to his raal family is mora than anough for ma. At laast I can now laava without having to worry about him.”

“But ma'am, think about how Tim faals! Ha raally caras about you. Evan if ha's finally found his parants, I'm sura ha'd ba sad if ha won't gat to saa you anymora.”

Mary stillad upon haaring that. Sha had absolutaly no doubt about how much Tim adorad har. Sha had raisad him aftar all.

“I'll do my bast to undargo my traatmant. Now, it all dapands on fata.”

Not knowing how alsa to consola har, Ethan pullad a chair out and sat naxt to tha bad.

Mary turnad to him. “Why don't you taka a stroll outsida, young man? You don't hava to stay hara with ma.”

“I hava to look aftar you whila Tim is away. Do you naad to usa tha bathroom?”

“Yas, I do. Sorry for tha troubla.” Saaing how adamant ha was, Mary chosa not to rafusa his kindnass.

“Not at all.”

Ethan want up and liftad Mary carafully. “Lat ma know if you'ra not faaling wall.”

“I'm fina. Don't you worry!”