Chapter 158
Chapter 158
She knew it was a dream. Everything in it had already been erased by reality. But still, she clung to it greedily, wanting nothing more than to stay here forever–by her father’s side.
Suddenly, a shrill alarm pierced the silence. Jessica dropped her English book and rushed to Maxine’s side, panic flooding her voice. “Maxinet”
Doctors stormed in moments later, speaking rapid medical jargon Jessica couldn’t understand. They immediately began emergency resuscitation.
“The patient’s condition is deteriorating. We need emergency surgery!” the lead physician shouted, urgency thick in his voice. “Call Mr. Joseph Hurley- now!”
Meanwhile, in the quiet confines of a small apartment in her dream, Maxine sat curled up on the sofa, reading,
It felt like she’d been in this dreamworld for days. Somehow, her mind had shortened Micah’s time away from home, letting her live in a version of reality where they were always together.
One evening, they sat across from each other at the dinner table. After handing her a piece of meat, Micah looked at her and asked gently, “Is something bothering you?”
“What?” Maxine froze, caught off guard.
Micah smiled, reaching over to ruffle her hair. “I’m your dad. Of course I can tell when something’s on your mind.”
Her nose tingled. The tears came before she could stop them. She had held in so much pain–yet the sharpest, grief of all was losing him.
But even now, even here, Maxine couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
“Maxine,” Micah said softly, “I have to go.”
She flung her arms around him, sobbing. “No, please don’t! Just stay a few more days–just a few!”
His face was full of sorrow as he gently patted her back. “You’re grown now. And I know you… you’ve always been strong.”
Maxine wept uncontrollably, shaking in his arms. Micah waited patiently, letting her cry until she had nothing left. Finally, he whispered, “I don’t want to leave you either. But someone else is waiting for you–out there.”
Her eyes fluttered open, clouded by tears. The harsh hospital lights stung her eyes. Her throat burned like it had been scraped raw. She swallowed instinctively and winced in pain.
“Maxine!” Jessica shouted.
Maxine struggled to focus. Through the haze, she saw Jessica running out of the room.
Moments later, the bed was surrounded. Urban and Cleo–who should have been back in their home country–were now right by her side.
Cleo looked like she hadn’t stopped crying for days. When she saw Maxine awake, she burst into tears all over again. “You were unconscious for so long! The doctors said more than once that you wouldn’t make it–I was scared out of my mind!”
She’d thought things would stabilize once Maxine was flown abroad for treatment. But just days after arriving, Urban had called in a panic, saying things were worse than expected and asking if Cleo wanted to come.
Thinking it might be their final goodbye, Cleo had cried the entire flight. She and Jessica had camped outside Maxine’s hospital room for two full days.
Now she sobbed and sniffled beside the bed, scolding through her tears, “I used my annual leave for you, you hear me? If you don’t recover fast, you’re not getting off the hook for this!”
Urban let out a long breath. “She’s awake. That’s all that matters.”
1/2
He meant it–if she hadn’t woken up soon, Cleo might’ve skinned him alive on the spot.
He’d been trapped by her guilt–fueled wrath for days, and even Maxine waking up couldn’t quite rouse the strength to put a proper smile on his fic
Cleo exchanged a few words with them, but sleep soon crept up. Her eyelids drooped.
Jessica leaned over and gently poked Maxine’s cheek. “You can’t go back to sleep yet. The doctor said so.”
“Yeah!” Cleo joined in groggily, blinking. “You just came out of general anesthesia. You have to stay awake for a bit until it wears off.”
Maxine frowned. She tried to move her arm instinctively–only to realize it was completely numb, limp and weak, as if it no longer belonged to her.
