<strong>Chapter 6</strong>


    Since I was already in possession of the money, I quickly went back to the


    hospital in order to settle my mother’s bill. While I was waiting for the receipt, I


    looked about in an effort to find Dr. Henry so that I might express my


    gratitude to him; but, he was not yet present.


    “Thank you…” I gave the woman at the register a friendly smile, and even


    though she couldn’t see my face in its entirety due to the mask I was


    wearing, she still managed to give me one in return.


    I made my way down the hallway in the direction of the elevator while


    scrunching up my nose at the pungent odor of disinfection and other


    substances that I was hesitant to identify. I’ve never been a fan of hospitals,


    and if my mother weren’t so sick, I would never, ever set foot in this institution.


    I took a deep, fortifying breath as the elevator doors slid open, revealing the


    ward where my momy still hoping to her recuperate.


    When I was in the taxi earlier, I’d fallen asleep with memories of the night.


    spent in my sister’s boyfriend’s arms swimming about my mind and guing


    my dreams. Frankly, I was even surprised I’d gotten any sleep at all. I was


    thankful to the taxi driver who roused me up when we arrived at the bank


    where I had to secure half of the money that I got from my dad and deposit it


    in my ount since I only needed thousand dors for my mom’s treatment.


    Cautiously, I made my way to my mother’s room half hoping she wouldn’t


    ask about dad and Brylee. Though I knew I would have to answer all of her


    questions soon, my nerves were just too high–strung from the encounter with


    Sebastianst night.


    I yanked the door open and walked inside as I became aware of the sound of


    muffled voices emanating from within the room. Because the IV bag had no


    more fluids in it, a nurse was swapping it out for a new one.


    “Celine…” my mom looked up and slowly sat up as I entered. “You’re back…”


    As I made my way further into the room, I stered a smile on my face that I


    hoped would be a happy one. “Mom…” I leaned down to ce a kiss on her


    forehead. Her skin was cold against my lips “How are you? Are you hungry?


    Do you want something to eat?”


    “The members of the hospital staff delivered meals to patients earlier. I’m


    already full…” she said with a smile and grabbed my hand, tucking it inside


    her quilt. “Didn’t your father ask you to stay the night in his house? It was


    snowing outside. Aren’t you cold?”


    My heart immediately warmed up at her gesture. I shook my head and said,


    “I’m not cold mom… Don’t worry about me.”


    I noticed that mom’s eyes were red. Had she been crying while I was away?


    As she tugged at my hand, motioning me to take a seat beside her, she


    suddenly caught glimpse of my locks under my hood. “Your hair… What


    happened to your hair?”


    I was stunned for a moment by the realization that I was unable to take off


    the wig that I was currently donning.


    “Oh…” I brushed off the hood of my coat and ran my fingers through the


    blonde synthetic hair I was wearing. “It was… Brylee’s idea. I ran into her when I


    went to borrow money from dad and she happened to be styling her hair.


    She asked me to join the fun, so, I… tried this color. Is it ugly?”


    “No… no.” she shook her head. “It looks good on you. I can see Brylee now on


    you… I’m happy to know that the two of you got along.”


    “Of course! We’re sisters…” if only you knew mom…


    “Did she… did she say anything for me?” I could see hope in her eyes and I


    don’t have the heart to hurt her.


    “Oh… yes,” I’ll have to lie about it. “She… she informed me that she woulde


    to visit you once her schedule is cleared up.” My eyes were a little evasive. I


    didn’t want her to find in my eyes that I was lying or she will get hurt.


    The brightness in Mom’s eyes immediately diminished, but she said nothing


    in response. She could sense that my sister won’t be visiting her, so… herContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    expression changed to one of disappointment and loneliness. In point of fact,


    both of us were aware that Brylee was hesitant to recognize either one of us;


    mom was only holding out hope.


    “By the way, dad reminded me to tell you to take care of yourself and to


    make sure that you won’t forget to take your medications…” I swiftly shifted


    the conversation’s focus away from my sister by changing the subject.


    Her eyes got their mischievous glint back, and she shed a stern smile in


    my direction. I could sense that she still loves my father. “Celine… listen to me.


    Please promise me that you won’t bother your father for financial support in


    the future. It’s unclear what his wife would think if she saw your


    father


    handing you money. My condition is not treatable in any way. Therefore,


    there is no point in-


    ”


    “Mom…” I had to cut her off. “Don’t say something like that. I will do anything


    for your treatment and trust me, mom… you will be healed.”


    She gave me a little shake of the head and then gently pulled me so that I


    could rest my head on her shoulder.


    “You don’t have to worry about dad and his family, mom… He told me that I


    can go and visit him anytime I want. I’m also his daughter and he said if I


    need money, just tell him and he’ll give it to me. He won’t have the heart to


    see me losing my mother.”