83
+25 BONUS
Hazel’s POV
I took a deep breath. It felt pointless to try to talk to him while he was like this. Finally, I decided to take action. I stood up, carrying Charlie, who was still sniffling, and walked toward the receptionist.
“Excuse me,” I said to the woman behind the desk. The middle–aged woman looked at me with a small smile, though it was clear she noticed Charlie’s tear–stained face
I could feel the attention of those around us, but I tried not to care. The most important thing right now was Charlie. I wanted to ensure he felt safe and comfortable, even in the midst of his emotional turmoil.
“Is there anything I can help you with, ina’am?” she asked in a friendly tone.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice calm. “I want to loquire about a patient. Her name is Sabrina.”
The receptionist nodded, her eyes studying my face before she responded. I could sense the terision in the air, and Charlie was still gripping my shirt tightly.
“One moment, please. Let me look up her information,” she said while pressing a few buttons on her computer.
The seconds felt long as anxiety began to envelop my thoughts, but I tried to focus on Charlie. I saw his little tears starting to dry, although he still looked confused and restless.
Finally, the receptionist looked back at me with a more serious expression. “One moment, ma’am. The patient named Sabrina is currently in the ICU. Her condition is quite critical.”
My heart sank at the word “critical.” But I tried to stay calm “What happened to her? I mean, what illness does she have?” I asked, curious.
The receptionist seemed hesitant for a moment, then looked at me with a sympathetic gaze. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Medical information can only be given to close family members.”
I frowned, feeling a bit frustrated. But I wasn’t going to give up that easily. I gently set Charlie down in the nearest chair. He was still sniffling, but at least he was calmer now. I approached the receptionist’s desk again and lowered my voice.
“I know Sabrina very well,” I said, trying to sound convincing. “She is like family to us. My son is very close to her. Please, I just want to know what happened.”
The receptionist stared at me for a few seconds, as if weighing whether to tell me or not. Finally, she sighed and spoke softly, “Sabrina is suffering from cancer. It’s been quite some time, but her condition has worsened recently. She just underwent chemotherapy, and her body is weak, so she is currently unconscious.”
Those words hit me like a thunderclap. My heart shattered upon hearing the diagnosis. I swallowed hard, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. Charlie, still sitting in the chair, looked at me with hopeful eyes, unaware of how deep the news I had just received was.
I felt confused and lost. How could I explain all this to Charlie? How could I tell him that the person he missed was fighting in a very difficult situation? With my mind racing, knew I had to find a way to support my child while preparing myself for whatever might happen.
I fell silent. Those words struck me like a hammer. Cancer? Sabrina had cancer? My head suddenly felt dizzy. I didn’t know how to feel. A small part of me felt relieved, even happy, to hear that she wasn’t doing well. If Sabrina was no longer in our lives, I wouldn’t have to worry about her place in Charlie’s heart.”
But on the other hand, guilt enveloped my heart. How could I feel happy about someone else’s suffering? That
feeling disturbed my conscience, making me feel like a traitor. I knew how difficult the struggle against this illness was, and empathy began to replace the relief that l initially surfaced.
1 looked at Charlie, who still seemed confused and auxious Je didn’t deserve any of this. He just wanted to feel the love and presence of the person he cared about. With these mixed feelings, I knew I had to protect him from the painful reality, at least until I could gather the strength to explain everything
“Right now she is in the ICU, and her condition is quite serious,” the receptionist continued, breaking my train of thought. “The doctors are monitoring her condition. But I suggest if you want to see her, make sure to get permission from the family.
I nodded slowly, though my thoughts were still swirling Thank you,” I said, then returned to where Charlie was sitting.
As I approached, I saw his face full of hope. He looked curious, even as he remained trapped in confusion. I tried to smile, even though my heart felt heavy.
Charlie looked at me with expectant eyes. “Where is Mommy Sabrina, Ma?” he asked, his voice hoarse from crying too long.
I wiped his cheek, trying to smile despite the turmoil in my heart. “Mommy Sabrina is resting, dear. She is sick and needs time to recover.”
Charlie looked confused and then hung his head sadly. “I want to tell Mommy Sabrina that I miss her.”
Those words pierced me, making my heart even heavier. I felt the depth of the love he had for Sabrina, and how difficult this situation was for a little child like him. The pain and loss he would face became increasingly real.
The feeling of guilt continued to haunt me. What should I do now? Part of me wanted to take Charlie far away from here, forget about Sabrina, and focus on building a new life together. However, seeing Charlie’s sad face made my heart feel like it was being squeezed.
I knew that running away wasn’t the solution. Charlie had not only lost an important figure in his life, but also a friend. Ignoring his feelings wouldn’t solve the problem; it would only add to the pain that already existed.
I tried to calm my mind. Maybe the best thing was to stay here, support Charlie, and respect their relationship. Sabrina might be struggling, and our presence could provide a little comfort.
Hearing Charlie complain about his longing, I realized that communication and honesty were key. Perhaps it was time to explain what was really happening in a way he could understand.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Honey, Mommy knows you miss Mommy Sabrina. But right now, we have to be patient, okay? Let’s just pray that Mommy Sabrina gets better soon.”
“I don’t want to!”
