Chapter 7

I listened to Mary’s voice, and the dream slowly began to steady. The chaos faded away.

All I had ever wanted was her love. But she never seemed to love me.

Mr. Wilson glanced at the monitor and said quickly, “Mr. Zeller, Miss Lily’s memories are still continuing. Would you like to keep watching?”

My parents and Steve exchanged a look, then hurried to sit down again and put their helmets back on.

This time, I dreamed of Mary.

She had a high fever.

She lay in bed, half-conscious, groaning every now and then. Ben was out of town, and Steve was at the office. Other than the housekeeper, only Emily and I were home.

Using what I had learned back in my small town, I brought in a basin of hot water, soaked a towel, and gently wiped Mary’s forehead, arms, and back again and again.

She drifted in and out of sleep after taking her medicine.

Emily glanced at me and scoffed. “Mom already took her medicine. The doctor said she’ll be fine. Why are you acting like it’s such a big deal?”

“I’m just trying to cool her down,” I said quietly. “Back home, a woman once had a fever like this and never recovered. She ended up simple-minded afterward.”

Emily burst out laughing. “Are you kidding me? This is a major city, not that little town you came from.”

I ignored her and kept caring for Mary.

Worry gnawed at me. I couldn’t eat or sleep, terrified she would get worse. I stayed by her side all night, wiping away sweat each time her fever returned.

By dawn, the fever finally broke. She fell into a deep sleep, breathing evenly.

Exhausted but relieved, I cleaned up the basin and towel, then lay down on my bed.

It was barely morning when Steve stormed into my room and yanked me up.

He dragged me to the foot of the bed and slapped me hard across the face.

“How dare you sleep like nothing happened? Mom was burning up all night! Where were you?”

Rage filled his voice. “And you told everyone she didn’t need looking after because she took her medicine? What do you think she is, made of steel?”

My face throbbed. I was too stunned to speak. “I… Mom…”

“Shut up, you worthless thing. You only show concern when money’s involved.”

Steve turned to leave. “Emily stayed up all night taking care of her and almost fainted this morning. And look at you, sleeping like a baby.”

That was the first time he ever hit me. He had disliked me for a long time, but that day, his hatred finally broke loose.

Tears streamed down my face, and the pain burned deep inside me.

I ran out, desperate to explain, but stopped when I saw Emily holding Mom’s arm, laughing softly as they walked down the hall together.

I looked at Mary. She met my eyes for a moment, and for the first time, I saw nothing but coldness there.

The motherly love I had longed for all my life shattered completely.

Then a voice cut through the dream.

“Wait… it was Lily who took care of me that night?”

I slowly opened my eyes.

My parents and Steve had removed their helmets and were staring at me in shock.

My thoughts were hazy. I couldn’t tell if I was still dreaming or awake.

Mary’s eyes were red as she hesitantly reached out to touch my face. “Lily, why didn’t you say something earlier? I misunderstood you.”

I said nothing.

Those memories were too painful. They numbed me more than anything.

Ben let out a long sigh after a heavy silence. “Lily really is hopeless. She never speaks up about anything. By keeping quiet, she only encouraged Emily’s behavior.”