"Got the icedttes, let''s head in," Ernest announced, his arms full of groceries as he acknowledged my presence.


    He didn''t ask any questions, yet I had the feeling he had seen everything. But with my heart racing and my mind elsewhere, I wasn''t in the mood for exnations. So, I followed him into the hospital room.


    Susie greeted me with excitement, "Licia, thettes are here! I''ve been waiting just for you."


    Ernest had already made his way to the kitchen with the groceries. I nced his way before approaching Susie.


    "Licia, I''ve got everything ready, just waiting for you to divvy up thettes," Susie said, arranging several cups on a small table.


    I really wasn''t in the mood forttes right now. "Don''t worry about it, you drink them."


    "Really?" Susie''s eyes sparkled before sheughed, "I don''t have that much room."


    Still, Susie divided thettes, mumbling, "Licia, what took you so long? My brother was worried about you. He dropped off the groceries and went looking for you."


    "Ran into a friend on the way," I offered as an exnation.


    "Licia, you have so many friends. I hope to make lots of friends too," Susie pushed a dividedtte towards me.


    "With your personality, you''re bound to make plenty," I said, taking a sip of thette.


    Susie didn''t hesitate to taste hertte either. "Licia, this vor is so good. There are so many types ofttes, I want to try them all, Licia..." "Licia?" Susie waved her hand in front of my face. "You seem out of it, are you feeling alright?"


    Before I could deny it, Susie called out to the kitchen, "Bro,e check on Licia."


    At her words, Ernest emerged, hands full of washed cherries and peeled lychees.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked, concern evident in his voice as he ced the fruit down to check my forehead with a cool,forting hand.


    "I''m fine," I said, taking Ernest''s hand and pulling him to sit beside me.


    Ignoring Susie''s presence, I leaned against Ernest''s shoulder, "I went to see Judie, you know, Mack''s mentor."


    I didn''t need to exin much for Ernest to understand.


    "Did you see something upsetting?" Ernest asked softly.


    He wasn''t upset, just concerned. I leaned closer into his shoulder, "Judie''s family is giving up on her. Mack is devastated, and I... it''s hardto bear."


    No life deserves to be given up on, but in Judie''s state, not giving up seemed pointless too. Ernest didn''t respond, simplyforting me by nuzzling the top of my head with his cheek. "Ernest, we need to cherish every moment," I tightened my grip on his arm, turning to Susie.


    She sat quietly, watching us, hertte forgotten.


    I reached out my other hand to her, and Susie took it. "Licia, what happened to Judie?"


    "She''s sick, been asleep without waking up," Ernest answered gently, sparing Susie''s feelings.


    He was careful not to upset her, remembering she was also facing a major surgery with uncertain oues.


    "Coma?" Susie understood immediately.


    Ernest softly confirmed, and Susie moved closer, grasping both our hands."Bro, Licia, there''s somethings I wantto talk to you about today."Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Her usual cheerful demeanor was reced by seriousness, prompting Ernest and me to exchange a look. I lifted my head from Ernest''s shoulder to give her our full attention.