Hazel’s POV
I took a deep breath again, trying to remain patient amidst Charlie’s endless whining. It felt difficult to face his emotional outbursts while my own heart struggled with a mix of guilt and worry.
“Charlie, Mommy understands. This is hard,” I said gently, pulling him closer. “But we have to trust the doctors and hope for the best for Mommy Sabrina.”
He looked at me with tear–filled eyes, and I could feel the depth of his loss. In my heart, I prayed for a way to help Charlie through all of this, even when everything felt so heavy.
Gently, I stroked his hair, trying to provide the comfort he needed. We would go through this together, even if the road was rocky and full of obstacles.
“I want Mommy Sabrina, Mom! I want to see Mommy Sabrina!” he cried, tugging at my hand.
I looked around, hoping not too many people were watching us. However, his cries were enough to attract the attention of several people waiting in the waiting room. In an instant, embarrassment and anxiety overwhelmed me, but the most important thing was Charlie.
I tried to persuade him again, this time with a softer voice. Charlie, Mommy understands you miss her. We all Iniss Mommy Sabrina. But right now, she needs rest and care. We have to give her time.”
He shook his head, his face full of dissatisfaction and sadness. Seeing him like that broke my heart. I knew how difficult it was for a child to understand this situation.
“Sweetheart, Mommy already told you, Mommy Sabrina is sick. We can’t go in there. Once she’s better, we can see her, okay?” I said, squatting in front of him, looking at his small face, red from crying
But Charlie shook his head vigorously. “No! I want to see her now! I want to tell Mommy Sabrina that I miss her..
My heart ached hearing those words. How could he be so obsessed with Sabrina? I was the one here with him every day, taking care of him, carrying him when he fell, yet it was still Sabrina on his mind.
Feelings of jealousy and heartache surged, but I knew this wasn’t the time to feel that way. Charlie was a loving child, and his relationship with Sabrina was something I couldn’t take away from him. He needed space to feel that loss, and I had to learn to support him.
I tried to hold back my tears, striving to stay strong in front of him. “Charlie, Mommy knows how much you love Mommy Sabrina. That’s completely natural. We all love her” I said softly, trying to soothe him. “But Mommy is here, and Mommy will always be there for you.”
Maybe it was time to talk more deeply about his feelings and encourage Charlie to share his beautiful memories of Sabrina. This way, I could show how important their relationship was while also building closeness between us.
Charlie kept whining, and my heart felt heavier hearing it.
Finally, I gave in. “Alright, let’s go to the ICU entrance. But only to the outside, okay? You can’t go in,” I said, trying to concede.
With that decision, there was a sense of relief mixed with anxiety. I wanted Charlie to feel connected to Sabrina, even if it was only from a distance. We walked slowly toward the ICU door, hoping that our presence there could provide him with a little comfort.
Charlie was full of enthusiasm, as if he had just won a big battle. I held his hand and led him to the ICU door. There, a young nurse stopped us.
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+25 BONUS
“Sorry, ma’am. Children can’t go inside. This area is only for the patient’s family and requires a doctor’s permission,” she said politely but firmly.
I nodded, realizing that this was indeed the hospital’s rule. We won’t go in. My child just wants to see from the outside,” I replied.
But Charlie was not satisfied. He tried to push past the nurse, forcing his way inside. “I want Mommy Sabrina! I want to see Mommy Sabrina!” he shouted, struggling.
The nurse gently but firmly stopped Charlie. “Little one, Mommy Sabrina is being treated. You can’t go in there right now, okay? Mommy Sabrina needs to rest so she can get better.”
Charlie stopped struggling, but tears streamed down his face. He stood in front of the ICU door, staring at it as if hoping Sabrina would come out at any moment. With a small, wounded voice, he said, “Why doesn’t Mommy Sabrina want to see me? Doesn’t Mommy Sabrina love me anymore?
I was taken aback by his words. For a few seconds, I could only stand there, watching my crying child with a broken heart. But then, a small smile appeared on my face. A smile I found hard to suppress. Deep down, I felt this was a fortunate moment for me. Sabrina, in her own way, had helped me smooth my plans.
“Sweetheart…” I squatted in front of him, trying to show a sympathetic face. “Mommy Sabrina doesn’t not love you. She’s just sick, and she can’t get up to see you right now.”
Charlie shook his head vigorously, rejecting my explanation. “But why didn’t she answer when I called earlier? Why didn’t she hear me?”
I wiped his tear–streaked cheek, trying to soothe his hurt heart. But inside, I felt a bit relieved. Charlie was starting to feel that Sabrina wasn’t always there for him. That there were moments when he felt neglected by her.
“Sweetheart, maybe Mommy Sabrina is too weak to respond. Let’s pray that she gets better soon, okay?” I said, still in a gentle tone.
Charlie continued to cry, unwilling to stop. I held him tightly, letting him cry in my embrace. Meanwhile, my mind kept working. This situation provided me with the perfect opportunity to turn things around. If Charlie continued to feel neglected by Sabrina, he would start to turn away from her. He would realize who was truly there for him, who had always been by his side.
“Thank you, Sabrina,” I whispered in my heart. I felt grateful that Sabrina’s deteriorating condition was actually helping me bond more closely with Charlie. He didn’t need to know about the illness, didn’t need to know how bad Sabrina’s condition was. What mattered was that I could make him feel that I was the only one who was always there for him.
After a while, I carried Charlie, who was starting to tire from crying. “Let’s go home. You need to rest, and later Mommy will make your favorite food,” I said, trying to shift his attention.
Charlie didn’t respond, but he rested his head on my shoulder. I felt his breath slowly calming down. This was the moment I needed. Sabrina might be lying helpless in the ICU, but I was standing here, strong, with Charlie. And that made me feel victorious.
However, deep inside my heart, a feeling of guilt began to arise. I tried to ignore it, convincing myself that I was only doing what was best for my child. But the image of Sabrina’s pale face on the hospital bed continued to ha my thoughts.
Am I really doing the right thing? Or is this just another way to cover up my own fears and insecurities? Confusion and uncertainty flooded my mind, making me feel trapped in a difficult moral dilemma.
I wanted to protect Charlie from pain, but on the other hand, I knew that honesty was an essential part of love.
Maybe he needed to know, even in a way he could handle.
#25 BONUS
With every heartbeat, the feeling of guilt deepened. I felt a heavy burden in my chest, reminding me that there was no truly easy path in this situation. While looking at Charlie, I was determined to find the best way to explain the situation gently, without sacrificing honesty.
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