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I watched Charlie, who was now tightly clinging to Hazel’s side, holding her hand as if he didn’t want to let go. I was at a loss for words. Seeing them like that made my heart feel heavy.
There was no point in pushing this argument in front of our child. Whatever happened, it was already confusing and hurting him. I recalled the happy moments when we were all together and how difficult it was to see this rift.
“Charlie, sweetheart, everything will be alright,” I sald gently, trying to ease the atmosphere.
Hazel looked at me with hopeful eyes, as if asking us to resolve this without adding to Charlie’s burden. I knew we had to find a way to talk and resolve our issues without involving our child.
Hazel hugged Charlie and said softly, “Come on, sweetheart, let’s go home. Mama will make your favorite food at home.”
Charlie nodded slightly and then turned to me. “Papa, I want to go home with Mama Hazel,” he said quietly but firmly.
I felt a mix of emotions upon hearing his words. Of course, wanted the best for Charlie, but at that moment, my heart felt heavy, Seeing the two of them, I realized how important it was to maintain our child’s emotional stability amid this complicated situation.
“Alright, sweetheart. Go with Mama Hazel,” I replied, trying to sound calm.
I couldn’t say anything else. Feelings of disappointment and frustration overwhelmed me.
Before leaving, Hazel looked at me with a thin smile that was hard to interpret. “We’ll be heading home now. If you want to talk again, we can do that later,” she said, turning away and taking Charlie with her.
I stood there, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. Watching them leave, I hoped everything could be resolved well. Hazel’s smile held a lot of meaning, and I knew there was hope within it.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before offering to give Hazel and Charlie a ride. “I’ll drive you home,” “I said, looking at Hazel and Charlie who were still standing in the hospital lobby.
Charlie looked tired, tightly holding Hazel’s hand. Even though I was still suspicious of Hazel, I didn’t want to let them go without ensuring they were safe getting home.
Hazel furrowed her brow, looking hesitant. “Are you sure? Aren’t you still supposed to-”
“I’m sure,” I cut in. “Besides, we’re already here. My car is in the parking lot.”
I pointed toward the exit. After a few seconds, Hazel finally nodded, and I took Charlie’s hand to guide him toward the parking area.
As we walked, I tried to keep the atmosphere light. Charlie seemed a little calmer, and I felt relieved to be with them. During the walk to the car, their presence gave me a greater sense of responsibility to ensure their safety.
However, once we reached the parking lot and Hazel saw my car, she immediately fell silent. Her eyes widened, and her mouth slightly opened.
“Nicholas, what happened to your car?” she asked, her voice filled with shock.
nd my
I followed her gaze. Indeed, my car looked pitiful. Seeing her reaction, I realized just how damaged my car was after the last incident. The peeling paint and a few dents made it look far from perfect.
I sighed softly, awkwardly rubbing the back of my neck. “There was a little incident on the road earlier,” I replied, not wanting to worry her.
But Hazel was not satisfied with that answer. Her eyes quickly moved back to me, and now she looked even more shocked. “Nicholas, your forehead… It’s bleeding!” she exclaimed, pointing to my brow.
I reflexively touched the spot that had been stinging a little Apparently, the blood that had flowed earlier had dried, but the wound was still quite visible. “Oh, this?” I tried to smile nonchalantly. “Just a little scratch. No need to worry.”
However, Hazel did not look reassured by my words. On the contrary, she seemed angry.
“You call this just a little scratch? Nicholas, you’re not being careful at all! How could you drive in this condition?”
Her voice rose, and Charlie, holding her hand, looked confused.
Guilt began to gnaw at me, making me uncomfortable. Realizing that Hazel’s reaction was not just about the cut on my forehead but also about deeper concerns, I tried to stay calm and listen.
The tension in the air made me aware that open and honest communication was crucial, especially as we all faced. this tension.
I raised my hands, trying to quell her anger.
“Hazel, I’m fine. No need to overreact. I just want to make sure you get home safely.”
Even though my intentions were good, I could feel my words didn’t fully succeed in calming her anger. Hazel still looked tense, and I knew this situation was more than just about my injury.
She might feel powerless, watching someone she cared about in this state. As we drove, I continued to focus on the road, but my thoughts drifted to how to reassure them that I could handle this situation.
Charlie looked increasingly confused, and I hoped we could reach our destination soon to calm everyone’s feelings. A strong sense of responsibility drove me to ensure they felt safe and comfortable.
However, before I could continue, my vision suddenly became blurry. A wave of dizziness hit my head, and my body began to lose balance.
I heard Hazel calling my name in a panic, and Charlie started to cry. My steps wavered, and I almost fell if Hazel hadn’t quickly caught my arm.
My heart raced, and I tried to stay focused. In an instant, all the tension in the car turned into real concern. Hazel’s face looked anxious, and I knew I had to address this situation quickly.
With the remaining strength I had, I tried to catch my breath and tell them that I was fine, even though I felt otherwise. At that moment, I realized I couldn’t ignore my injury any longer; Lneeded help.
“Nurse! Nurse!” Hazel shouted, calling anyone nearby for help. A nurse passing by quickly ran over with a wheelchair.
In a matter of seconds, I found myself sitting in the wheelchair while Hazel continued to scold me for not checking my condition earlier,
A mix of emotions washed over me; I felt guilty for making her worry, but at the same time, I knew I needed medical attention. The atmosphere around us became increasingly crowded, and I could see curious and anxio…. faces looking on.
