“You missed me?” I asked, a teasing smile tugging at my lips.
“Maybe,” she replied, a playful tone in her voice.
“I don’t accept maybes; yes or no?”
“Yes, Ronan,” she said softly, “I missed you.”
My heart skipped a beat at her words. “W—”
A sudden knock on the door jerked me back to reality. I looked up to see Nurse Jenkins, her face pale and eyes wide with urgency. “Doc, Ms. Leann is having complications,” she said, her voice trembling.
“Nina, I hate to cut this short, but I have to go.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure yet,” I said before hanging up.
I didn’t waste a second. I bolted from my chair and raced down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. The distance to her room felt both endless and too short. As I burst through the door, I saw her on the bed, her face contorted in pain.
My stomach dropped.
I rushed to her side, my hands moving instinctively to check her stats.
It was worse than I feared.
Her vitals plummeted, and there was nothing more I could do.
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.
My knees buckled slightly, but I steadied myself.
I had to be strong for her.
I took her hand in mine, feeling the coolness of her skin against my palm.
She opened her eyes, and they met mine with a mixture of sorrow and resignation. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“Why?” I managed to ask, my throat tight with emotion.
“Because I failed you,” she murmured, her eyes glistening with tears. “You tried so hard to help me, and I failed you.”
A tear slipped down my cheek as I shook my head. “No, Ms. Leann. You never failed me. You gave me joy, you made me feel whole. You reminded me of my mom, and for that, I will always be grateful.”
She smiled weakly, a glimmer of warmth in her eyes. “I’m glad,” she said softly. “You made me know what it’s like to have a son. I’m so happy to have met you.”
Her words pierced me, a bittersweet ache. “I want you to be there for Azzaria,” she continued, her grip on my hand tightening. “I know you’re close to her. I didn’t get to tell her I was sick because I was scared of it, and now my time has run out. Ensure she keeps Dillon close, too.Promise me.”
“I promise,” I whispered, my voice breaking.
She nodded, her breathing becoming more labored.
I wanted to say more, to tell her how much she meant to me, but before I could find the words, her hand went limp in mine.
The room fell silent, the monitors displaying the finality of her passing.
I stood there, my heart shattering into a thousand pieces.
The loss was profound, a deep chasm that swallowed me whole.
