Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

So, it was all just an illusion. Even my dad's voice was just a figment of my imagination.

They had been gone for ten years.

How could I possibly have heard their voices just now?

I stood there, disoriented. As the last light from the window faded, the room fell into darkness. I started sobbing uncontrollably. The profound sorrow of losing my parents and never seeing them again engulfed

me.

That night, I slept restlessly, even dreaming of my parents.

When I woke up, I felt utterly exhausted, as if I had been through a lot of physical labor.

I tried to get up, but I couldn't.

At that moment, I realized that I was ill. I lifted my hand to feel my forehead-it was warm.

"Mae, are you up?" Brandon's voice resonated from outside the door.

I opened my mouth and tried to respond. However, my voice came out in a whisper, and my throat felt painful like I had swallowed shards of glass.

I had no choice but to text him on my phone. "I'm sick. You can use the key to come in."

He had a key from when I had given it to him before.

Within seconds, I heard the door unlock, followed by Brandon's urgent footsteps.

me want to stay close. However, he withdrew his hand. "Mae, you've caught a

miserable, I grasped his hand and pressed it against my face. The next moment, his lips brushed

We're going

struggled through the pain in my

take

meds first, then we'll go to the hospital," Brandon

and then went searching

helped me up and held me as I swallowed

said, "I'm taking you to the hospital

head, Brandon

a fever.

with Ellie's

cautious about illness. I didn't argue and let him take

jel

taken effect and

now.

for a check-up," I

check-up," I said, though

just afraid

blood draws.

least see the doctor," Brandon

vel.net

get a consultation. Still, the doctor recommended that I get a blood test, which was my biggest

I almost forgot that Brandon was