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In the evening, Reba was having dinner with Jeffrey when her phone rang urgently. Seeing it was May, she answered immediately. “May?”
Jeffrey had no idea what May was saying to Reba. He just watched as Reba gradually stopped eating, her eyes welling up with intense emotion.
“I–is it really true?” For the first time, Reba felt a surge of powerful feelings stirring deep inside.
“Why would I lie about something like this? May replied gently, not even acknowledging Reba’s unusually formal tone. “Just take your time getting here, okay? And try to stay calm.”
But calm was thest thing on Reba’s mind. She dropped her fork, bolted outside with her phone, then spun around, snatched her car keys, and sprinted toward her car. She started the engine and sped off as if her life depended on it.
Jeffrey blinked, taken aback by her reaction. Just as he was about to run after her, his phone rang. It was Timothy, calling with urgent news. “Mr. Hanson, Amelia just–woke up.”
By the time Jeffrey rushed outside, all he caught was the glow of Reba’s taillights speeding away. Without missing a beat, he told his men to follow her in another car. He honestly never thought she could be this impulsive.
Reba was overflowing with emotion. As she waited at the red light, her mind raced with everything she wanted to tell her mother. Her.palms were sweaty where they gripped the steering wheel, and her heart pounded wildly against her ribs.
As soon as the light turned green, she floored it, racing toward the hospital.
What usually took thirty or forty minutes, she managed in just over twenty. She flung the car door shut and sprinted toward the inpatient wing, not stopping until she reached the ward door. There, she was breathless, her hair messy, and her clothes slightly askew.
Reba’s gaze darted past the doctors and nurses, and atstnded on the person in the hospital bed- Amelia, her eyes open atst. For a second, Reba almost stopped breathing, her chest seized with hope and disbelief.
“Let’s check if she’s conscious first,” one of the doctors said.
“Can you hear me? If you can, blink or nod,” said another.
“Try moving your fingers, or lift your leg. Let’s test your motor response.”
“Tell us if anything feels unusual. How are you feeling right now?”
Their voices faded into background noise. All Reba could see was her mother’s face–tired, but so familiar that it hurt. She didn’t dare blink, clinging to the moment, terrified it might dissolve like a dream.
In the next moment, as if sensing the stir in the air, Amelia nced toward the doorway.
10:45 Wed, <b>Oct </b><b>1</b>.
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Their eyes met, and Rebapletely broke down. Her nose stung, tears spilled over, and her whole body began to shake. This was real. Her mom was really awake.
Noticing the shift in Amelia’s attention, the medical team turned toward the doorway. Timothy walked over to Reba. “We still need to run a few tests–brain scan, EEG, bloodwork. It might take a while, so-”
“I understand,” Reba said, her voice trembling as she wiped her tears. “I’ll stay quiet. I won’t be in the way. I just… need to see her.”
Timothy offered her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. Now that she’s awake, she’s not going back under.”
Reba’s eyes welled up again. “Okay.”
Just then, Jeffrey arrived. He nced at Amelia, surrounded by doctors and nurses, and turned <i>to </i>Timothy. “How’s she doing?”
“So far, nothing unusual hase up in the basic checks. She’ll need some rehab exercises,” Timothy reported honestly. “As for everything else, we’ll have to wait for all the results before we can give <i>a </i>full evaluation.”
“Good,” Jeffrey replied firmly. “All the testing departments are set. Just head straight there.”
And then, Amelia finished all her tests in no time.
Reba didn’t leave Amelia’s side for a second, even though Timothy had promised Amelia wouldn’t go into aa again. Reba just couldn’t shake the worry.
“C’mon, why the tears on such a good day?” May nudged Reba with her elbow, looking totallyposed next to Reba’s nervous mess.
Reba didn’t take her eyes off the exam room door, her heart doing somersaults in her chest. “They’re happy tears, I promise.”
May let out a softugh. “No, they’re not.”
Reba nced over at her, confused.
A knowing smile touched May’s lips. “This isn’t just happiness. This is what it feels like when you get something back that you thought was gone forever.”
Reba’s gaze returned to the door, as if she could see her mother right through it. May was right. This overwhelming feeling was the shock of a miracle, the dizzying relief of a second chance.
After quite a while, Reba nced over at Jeffrey, who hadn’t left her side even for a second. “You should go home for the night. I’m staying here with Mom.”
Jeffrey just shook his head. “No worries. I’ll stay here with you.”
Reba shot him a look, insisting, “No. Seriously, Jeffrey, I’ll be fine.”
Jeffrey didn’t say a word, but the stubborn set of his jaw said he was definitely staying put.
10:45 <b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>
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Reba could tell from his unwavering gaze—he was determined to stay with her, no matter what.
Half an hourter, Amelia was wheeled back into her room afterpleting all the tests.
As soon as the doctors gave the all–clear, everyone gathered around her bed. Amelia’s eyes shone with warmth, fixed solely on Reba. And in that moment, all the emotions Reba had been holding back came rushing to the surface.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Amelia whispered, her voice soft and fragmented, barely audible.
Even though the words were faint, Reba understood everything they carried: “I’m here. Don’t cry.” <fn8a45> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find[?]ovel</fn8a45>
Ovee with emotion, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her mother, burying her face into Amelia’s shoulder. Her voice trembled as she choked out, “Mom.”
Amelia managed to lift her arms and hug her back.
Normally, someone who’d just woken up from years in aa wouldn’t have the strength. But thanks to the hospital staff’s daily care and therapy, her body was just strong enough to return her daughter’s embrace.
Watching them, May grinned and teased, “Honestly, if you’d slept another two years, Reba would’ve missed you so much that she’d need her own hospital bed.”
Amelia softly patted Reba’s back, her eyes shining with unmistakable tenderness and love.
“It’s good to see you,” Jeffrey said softly, his voice thick with emotion.
Amelia looked up, studying him for a moment.
She didn’t say anything at first, but under her gaze, Jeffrey suddenly felt uneasy. ‘Why am I so nervous?‘ he wondered.
“Thank you,” Amelia said, speaking only after she’d really looked at him.
“We’re family. No need to thank me,” Jeffrey replied sincerely. “I’ve already spoken with rehab. Once the test resultse in, they’ll put together a detailed recovery n for you.”
“Okay,” Amelia answered, her words still slow but clear.
Jeffrey nced at Reba, who was still clinging to her mother, and pressed his lips together.
May, who knew Reba better than anyone, caught a quiet moment and turned to Jeffrey. “I’ll stay here with Reba and Amelia. You head home and get some rest.”
Before he could respond, his phone rang. It was Andrea.
He frowned almost imperceptibly and nced at Amelia. Normally, taking a call from Andrea wouldn’t be a big deal. But under Amelia’s watchful eyes, he suddenly felt uneasy.
10:45 <b>Wed</b>, <b>Oct </b>1
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Right then, there was a knock at the door. Everyone turned to see Ryan, looking sharp in a tailored suit. He’d clearly gone out of his way to impress.
He caught Amelia’s gaze from across the room<b>, </bplicated emotions flickering in his eyes. “Amelia, I-”
Amelia shot back coldly, “Get out.”
May just grinned. ‘That’s my girl,‘ she cheered silently. ‘Nothing changes her, not even three years in aa. Jeffrey’s phone vibrated in his hand, Andrea’s name shing on the screen. A strange, unwarranted pang of anxiety shot through him.
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