Chapter 153


    The next time Madeline opened her eyes, she found herself lying on a hospital bed. The strong


    antiseptic scent invaded her senses as she tried to recall how she ended up here. As she struggled to


    prop herself up, she found her arm attached to a scary looking IV drip. What happened to me…? she


    wondered. She recalled passing out right before dinner, but she could not remember anything beyond


    that point. Her thoughts were scrambled and her mind a mess, giving her a mild migraine. At this


    moment, a familiar little head popped up beside her bed. Before she knew it, Thomas had climbed onto


    her bed and perched over her, his big round eyes filled with joy and relief.


    “Mommy, you’re up! Are you okay?” he asked anxiously. “Daddy went to get you something to eat. If


    you’re hungry, I have some chocte milk for you.” Thomas quickly got himself off the bed and ran to


    his backpack, producing a little carton of warmed chocte milk for his mother.


    “Don’t worry, Thomas. Mommy’s alright,” Madeline reached an arm out to ruffle her son’s hair.


    “But, Mommy… you fainted, and there was so much blood!” Thomas hugged his mother tightly, as if


    trying to forget the dreadful memory of his mother fainting.


    “Mommy was just over-exhausted from the hike in the morning. I’ll be okay once I get enough rest,” she


    smiled, patting her son on the back.


    “Really, Mommy?” Thomas asked again, not fully convinced.


    “Of course, darling. When has Mommy ever lied to you?” Madeline reassured her son.


    “Pfft, adults lie to kids all the time!” Thomas retorted.


    “Uhh… Thomas, Mommy’s the patient here now…” Madeline wondered when the roles had reversed.


    “Fine, fine. Until you get better, I’ll be staying here with you!” Thomas was insistent, but his tone was


    sweet and gentle. She gently stroked his back and even took a sip of his chocte milk, just to show


    him she was alright. Thomas fussed over her incessantly, propping up her pillow for her and hanging


    on to her arm.


    Just then, the door to her ward opened and Noah walked in, his eyes lighting up as he saw Madeline


    conscious and awake. It only took him a few purposeful strides to reach her bedside, where he then


    extended his hand to touch her forehead.


    “You must be hungry, have some of this congee. I’ll get Andy and Dn toe over,” Noah’s voice


    was filled with relief once he found out that Madeline’s fever had subsided.


    Noah opened the thermos sk for her, revealing piping hot congee filled with her favorite side dishes -


    an omelet and preserved vegetables. Madeline noticed his hands trembling visibly as he passed her


    the sk. Was it cold outside? She wondered. Or was he worried about her? Before her thoughts could


    spiral any further, she extended her hand to grab hold of Noah’s big, shivering one.


    “Noah, did something happen?” Madeline’s eyes were curious and intense.


    Noah stiffened for a second, but quickly rxed a momentter. “I’ve never made congee in my life, so


    give it a try,” he said as he helped her detach the thermos. A strong burnt smell permeated the room as


    he opened up the secondyer of the sk.


    Madeline immediately held her breath, feeling suffocated. “Noah Quincy, are you trying to poison me


    while I’m lying in the hospital?” she said as she pinched her nose.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    “Daddy, I can’t help you this time! I’m going to look for Uncle Dn!” Thomas sauntered out of the


    room, leaving Noah alone with Madeline.


    “Hmm… I followed the cook’s instructions to a tee. She told me exactly when to put the omelet and


    vegetables in, but perhaps the fire was a little strong…” Noah confessed sheepishly. “But I promise it’s


    not poisonous!” Noah picked up a spoon and scooped a spoonful of congee from the sk, even


    blowing on it just to cool it down before he brought the spoon toward Madeline.


    “Here, say ahhhh!” Noah coaxed Madeline.


    She thought he looked absolutely ridiculous, yet there was something so warm and kind about the fact


    that he cooked for her. This was something she had wished for all the time back then. However, there


    was another pressing matter right now, and that was the fact that Noah was trying to spoon feed her


    this inedible congee. She had goosebumps at the thought of ingesting his cooking.


    “No, please, no!” Madeline rejected him perhaps a little too strongly. Noticing his wounded expression,


    she quickly tried to salvage the situation. “I could have some of the omelet. You make amazing


    omelets!” she stered on a fake smile, hoping to cheer Noah up.


    Noah finally put down the spoon reluctantly and ced the omelet onto a small tray. He even prepared


    a fork and knife for her, with a side of ketchup. Madeline felt a little guilty receiving such treatment from


    him, especially considering how she had been treating him. Taking a nce at the omelet, she decided


    it was safe enough to consume. As she took a big bite, she realized… it was delicious! Her stomach


    growled for more as she began to eat.


    “Madeline…” Noah began.


    “Hmm?” Madeline was too upied with her dinner to respond to Noah with more than one syble.


    “These few years, has it been hard on you?” Noah asked thoughtfully.


    Madeline stopped chewing on her food as she considered his question for a brief moment. “It was


    alright, I suppose. If you’vee close to death before, you’ll realize that every remaining day alive is a


    blessing. How hard can life be when you think about it that way?” Madeline smiled at Noah as she


    replied him, before going back to her food.


    “I…” A blistering feeling of heartbreak took over Noah as he realized how casually Madeline told her


    story, as if she was talking about someone else. He opened his mouth to apologize, but the words


    would note out. What could he possibly say to her when everything she went through all these


    years was his fault?


    Suddenly, the doors burst opened once again and Elise Lambert rushed in. “Oh my God, Maddie!


    You’re awake! You scared the heck out of me!” she eximed as she ran over to give Maddie a


    suffocating hug.


    “I’m alright, Elise, but my omelet won’t be if you don’t let go of me soon!” Madeline said as she tried to


    bnce her tray while Elise was still holding onto her.


    “Fine, fine. You don’t need anyone else’s concern except Noah’s, am I right?” Elise said sarcastically.


    “And now, I can’t evenpare with an omelet. Please don’t tell me Noah made it, my heart wouldn’t


    be able to take it!” she mocked.


    “Umm, Noah did make it…” Madeline said sheepishly. “It’s not bad. Do you want to try some?” she


    offered.