After exchanging contact information, Matthew awkwardly used his left hand to open a food delivery <b>app </b>on his phone.
His entire right hand was gone, wrapped in white gauze at the wrist. Struggling with his left hand, he swiped through the options, trying to pick a <b>meal</b>.
Churlotte nced over. “Let me help you.”
Matthew smiled, a little embarrassed. “Thank you, Miss Biley. Sorry for the trouble.”
Charlotte took the phone and looked at the screen. but the moment she saw the options, she froze.
Every single meal listed was under two dors.
She checked the app’s name. “Meal Saver,”
she had never seen meals this cheap, Charlotte’s brows furrowed. At those prices, the food couldn’t possibly be made with decent ingredients.
Noticing her hesitation, Matthew’s expression tumed a bit confused. is something wrong, Miss Riley? Just pick anything under two dors. I’m not picky.”
Charlotte handed the phone back to him. “Actually, 1just remembered that I <b>saw </b>someone selling fresh, hot boxed meals downstairs. They were two dors each How about 1 grab one for you? 11 be faster, and you can eat sooner.”
“Huh? Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?
“Not at all 11’s just downstairs. I’ll be right back.”
Charlotte stepped out of the hospital and headed to a small, roadside diner.
While she waited for the meals to be packed, she texted Jenny,
“Has Luna eaten anything yet?
Jenny’s reply came quickly.
“I don’t think so. When she came to find me this moming, it was only around nine, Neither of us had time to eat,‘
“Got it.”
Charlotte ordered three meals–light, healthy options suitable for patients.
An idea crossed her mind, and she made another call, arranging for two caregivers toe to the hospital.
When she returned with the tobd, the two caregivers were already waiting One was a man, the other a woman.
Charlotte handed a meal to the male caregiver. “This one is for the patient in Room 503, Bed 4. His name is Matthew Leonard. He’s one of the patients you’ll be looking after.”
The male caregiver nodded, taking the meal. “Got it.”
She gave the other two meals to the female caregiver. “These are for the patient in Room 602, ed.”
After malding sure everything was set, Charlotte went to the hospital’s billing window and paid for both Matthew and <b>Luna’s </b>medical bills,
As Charlotte stepped out of the hospital, her phone buzzed with <b>a </b>notification, Matthew had sent her <b>a </b>payment transfer.
“Miss Riley<b>, </b>you’re such a lind person Thank you for helping my sister and me.
“The nurse <b>just </b>told me that someone paid off the <b>outstanding </b>fees for both of us. Was it you? Thank you so much. I <b>promise </b>I’ll pay you back once I get thepensation from the factory.”
Curlotte’s chest tighted with a <b>heavy </b>ache. She typed <b>a </b>simple reply, “Alright.”
But she <b>didn’t </b>ept the papopat transfer..
A sharp, ity wind swept <b>past</b><b>, </b>tugging at her hair
She stood by the flowerbed at the hospital entrance, her heart chumming with emotions she couldn’t shake.
Dehind her, jenay wiped at her tears, her voice thick with emotion.
“Miss Riley, the hospital just issued another critical condition notice <b>for </b>Luna<b>. </b>The doctor said they still haven’t found a matching bone marrow donor. If they can’t find our soon, then Lama doesn’t have much the left. Why is lite su cuel? She’s such sweet, kitud little girl. She’s only eleven years old, Why would the world be so heartless to her?”
i tears streamed down her face, and she couldn’t stop crying
Curlotte’s eyes glistened <b>too</b>, the <b>cold </b>what tuning the tip of her nose red. <b>Her </b>chest felt tight and heavy
Lima was <b>just </b>cle
eleven, and she didn’t have much time left.
Matthew had quit school early to work and support her, but now he had lost his hand and his ability to work. He was only neen.
The silence stretched, heavy and painful.
Charlotte pulled out her phone and made a call.
“Can you help me get in touch <b>with </b><b>a </b>leukemia specialist? Also, please send a team to Eastside General Hospital on Maplewood Avenue to handle the transfer of a pairof siblings to a better facility.”