Mates 164


    FREDA WHITLOCK


    As I slowly approached Kaiden. His back towards me, his broad shoulders stiff with tension. Even


    from a distance, I could sense that something was wrong with him although I couldn’t ce my


    hands on it; I headed towards him.


    As I drew closer, I noticed the way Kaiden’s gaze was fixed on something beyond the ss window


    at the top of the door frame. His heart seemed disturbed; he was murmuring to himself which was


    so unlike him.


    Taking a deep breath, I stepped up beside him, following his gaze. My breath caught in my throat at


    what I saw, it was Harperying on the hospital bed. Tubes and monitors surrounded her, their


    rhythmic beeping a haunting reminder of the fragility of life. Harpe.’s face was pale, her eyes closed,


    and she seemed so still that I could hardly believe this was the same vibrant girl I had known.


    Kaiden’s voice broke through my thoughts, low and heavy with exhaustion. “Freda, what are you


    doing here? Shouldn’t you be in bed?” He asked.


    I looked away from Harper, and turned to look at Kaiden. His usually sharp features were softened


    by the weight of worry. With a soft and weary smile. “I’m tired of lying in bed,” I answered. I needed


    to clear my head.


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    We stood in silence for a long moment, the weight of unspoken


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    words hanging between us. My mind raced and was torn between the desire to ask the questions


    burning in my heart and the fear of overstepping. I could feel Kaiden’s tension, the way he was


    barely holding himself together, and I didn’t want to push too hard on him. But i was in distress and


    couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to know what was happening.


    I was worried couldn’t take the feeling of uncertainty. Before I could gather the courage to voice out


    my thoughts, Kaiden spoke again, his voice rough with emotions. “She has a heart condition, Freda.


    It got really bad yesterday; I didn’t know what was wrong with her until I brought her to the hospital.”


    He said.


    My heart sank at his words, i was speechless and had nothing to say. Kaiden continued, as tears


    rolled down his cheek. “Safiya knew. She knew for the past three years, and she never told


    me.“Kaiden said.