Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Charles stopped and looked at me with surprise.

I realized I might have overstepped, so I quickly added, "I didn't mean anything bad. I just..."

"It's fine," Charles interrupted. "Before she got sick, she was full of energy and loved making friends. She'd be happy to see you," he said, still not looking at me, seeming almost like he was talking to himself. Seeing him like this made me feel sad.

"Madeline, come with me," he said, then started walking again.

As I followed him, I suddenly felt how heavy his burden had to be, like he was carrying too much.

Charles took me to a rehabilitation ward that looked almost as fancy as the VIP ward. The place was really nice, which meant that it was expensive. It was clear that the woman lying here came from a wealthy family.

Charles hesitated at the door, seeming like he wanted to say something.

Thinking that he might be having second thoughts, I quickly said, "If it's not a good time, we can skip this."

"Madeline, she really does look a lot like you... just thinner now," he finally said.

almost forgotten that there was someone out there who looked just

"Real beauty comes from

smile too. Then,

massaging the woman on the bed. When she

can take a break now. We'll call you

look, probably because of how much I looked like the

it just the caregivers who take care of her when you're not here?" I asked, trying

here all the time," he said, setting the fruit on the table and then sitting next to the

and saw the woman lying there. Her skin was so pale that it was almost see-through, and her hair was spread out over the pillow. Her eyes were gently closed, and her lips were slightly open. She didn't look like she was

beautiful, like Sleeping Beauty from the fairytale. The tear-shaped mole on her cheek made her look even

and spoke quietly, "She's amazing. She skipped grades and got

for that accident, she'd probably be the youngest professor by

asked, "What happened?

long pause,

clear that