His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

Chapter 27

The sound of the door opening pulled me from my reverie. I glanced up as Issca stepped into the room, a tray in his hands. scent of something savory wafted

The

toward me, and I realized I hadn't eaten all day. Issca had been hovering around me ever since Oliver passed, trying to take care of me as if he could somehow fill the void that was left.

"Doris, you shouldn't be watching this trash," Issca said, his voice gentle but firm

as he placed the tray on the coffee table.

He was always like this-caring,

protective, but I couldn't bring myself to accept his help completely. Not when the pain was still so raw, so consuming. "I'm fine," I replied, forcing a small smile

that didn't reach my eyes. "You don't have

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to worry about me."

Issca sighed, his eyes full of concern. "You need to eat something. You've been in and out of the hospital so much lately... I made

your

favorite soup."

Í nodded, but my mind was far away. I

couldn't shake the memories of those

endless hospital visits with Oliver-the} sterile smell of antiseptics, the beeping

machines, the doctors' grim expressions.

We had fought so hard, clung to every

-shred of hope, but it hadn't been enough.

And now, all I had left were memories.

"I know you're trying to help," I

I said

quietly, picking up the spoon. "But I need to do this on my own. I need to be strong."

beside me, his

my

it alone, Doris. You have people who care

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Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in

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and for a moment, I almost

let someone in. But then the pain would come crashing back, reminding

voice soft but resolute. "But I need to

slumped slightly, but he nodded in

you need anything."

room, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more.

of the soup filling the air, but

the tray aside

to escape the

had discharged me

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Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in

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day, deeming me well enough to go home, but the walls of this place felt like they were closing in.

weeds sprouting up between the flowerbeds where my mother's roses used

hers, left to me

was all I had left

I bent down and

weeds,

I tried to lose myself

the task

the task.

matter how many flowers

I couldn't shake the memories. The hospital

I had spent so many hours

the nights

praying for a miracle.

you're spiraling. My

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Pleas, But Our

HIS

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calm, but I could