Chapter 32

For a moment, we stood in silence, the

of distance between us heavy in the air. Then Vesta's face brightened as she remembered something. "How's your son?" she asked, her voice full of warmth. "The last time I saw him, he was just a baby. He must be, what, a teenager by Her question hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt the air leave my lungs as the ache I had buried deep inside rose to the surface. "He... he's gone, Vesta," I

yea

whispered, my throat tightening. "He died."

Vesta's face fell, and her hand flew to her

mouth. "Oh my God, Doris... I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

I forced a smile, though my heart felt

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

3

32

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heavy. "How could you have known? We

lost touch."

Tears welled up in Vesta's eyes as she reached out to hug me again, this time softer; more carefully. "I'm so, so sorry," she whispered. "I can't even imagine what you've been through." 'I didn't cry. I had cried so many tears over

the years that there were none left.

Instead,

I stood there, letting her hold me, feeling the weight of everything I had carried alone for so long. When she finally let go, Vesta wiped her eyes and looked at

me with renewed determination.

she said softly. "But you're here now, and I'm here too.

a flicker of hope stirring inside me. Maybe I didn't have to go

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But Our

3

32

32

checkup, why don't

suggested,

I want to catch up

7

of me wanting

safety of my isolation. But another part, the part that remembered what it was like to have someone

finally. "I'd like

I'll meet you after your appointment. We've got a lot

feeling a strange mixture of emotions swirling inside me-sadness, relief, maybe even a bit of hope. It

His Knees His Pless

of the medical wing and into a long, bright corridor, memories of us, side by side, taking

flooded my mind. We had been inseparable, like sisters. It was strange how time had pulled us apart, how life had taken

softened, and she reached out to gently touch my arm. "I've missed

while, I felt the stirrings

As we continued

the hallway, I reali

that this could

of something new-a

I had lost and heal

by my side again, maybe I

face whatever came next.

I could say anything

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But Our

37

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