Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 8

"Ms. Reyna. Your daughter's test results are in. But they are not what we had hoped for." Dr. Morrison spoke my name with practiced caution. He set a thin folder on the table but did not open it. My heart lurched into my throat. "What do you mean?" "Kirana has Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. A tumor growing in the brainstem." He spoke slowly, but each word landed like a hammer against my chest. "The tumor is highly aggressive, and its location makes surgery impossible. Medically speaking, this is a terminal condition." I said nothing. Too shocked to hear the information the doctor had given me. "Kirana is only four years old," I whispered. My own voice sounded foreign to me, flat and hollow, as though it belonged to someone else. "She is only four years old, Doctor. This cannot be happening." "I understand how devastating this must be..." "No." I shook my head. "You don't understand, Doctor. Kirana is four years old. Last week she asked me to buy her red shoes. Yesterday sh

Arvan looked at me with an expression I could not read. I turned to leave. "Reyna." He called my name just as I was nearly at the door. His voice carried something quieter than before. But before I could turn around, the door swung open from the outside. "Arvan." Lara stood in the doorway in a cream dress that fell perfectly across her shoulders, hair arranged with effortless elegance, her smile like sunlight breaking through on a clear morning. Beside her, a small boy of about five held her hand. "Oh." Her eyes met mine for a single second. "I'm sorry, I didn't know your wife was here." Arvan moved past me. He immediately approached Lara. "You have nothing to apologize for. She was just leaving." He said that lightly. Without considering my feelings. His hand even touched Lara's back without hesitation. "I will keep my word. You may go." Arvan glanced at me briefly, the familiar cold look. I nodded once. And left. As the door closed behind me, I heard Lara

After the incident on the hill, Arvan became cold toward me again.He still came for Kirana, but every time his eyes met mine, there was an impenetrable ice wall.As if he was counting down the days until our agreement ended.I tried not to care. Tried to focus on Kirana and my work.But the days became lonelier. Colder.Two weeks later, Arvan's company held its annual party.I didn't want to go. Didn't want to be in the same room with people who looked at me like I was trash.But Kirana begged with sparkling eyes."Mom, let's go. I want to see Dad in a suit. My friends say office parties are cool."I couldn't refuse her smile.Arvan also agreed when Kirana called him. He even sent two dresses for us. For Kirana, a white dress with a pink ribbon. For me, a simple elegant black dress.I stared at the dress for a long time. This wasn't a luxurious gown like those usually worn by other executives' wives.But I didn't care. I never cared about things like that.The party night arrived.Th

The ICU waiting room was silent.I sat in the waiting chair with my body frozen. My dress was still dirty with street dust. My hair was disheveled. But I didn't care.I only cared about one thing.Kirana.My eyes stared intently at the tightly closed ICU door. Behind that door, Kirana was fighting. But I knew. Her chances were very slim. Dr. Morrison had warned me from the beginning. The tumor in her brainstem was too aggressive. One month. That was the time limit given.And now, after tonight's incident, after Kirana fainted from hearing cruel words from her own father, that time limit might be even shorter.My tears flowed.I cried silently, covering my face with both hands."I'm sorry, Kirana," I whispered softly. "Forgive Mommy for not being able to protect you. Forgive Mommy for letting you hear all those bad words."My chest tightened remembering Arvan's cruel words.I shouldn't have brought Kirana to that party. Shouldn't have let her meet Arvan tonight. I should have known tha