The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Ella

“You don’t have to fuss over me like this,” I protested as Lilith tucked another pillow behind my back. “I’m not dying.”

Not yet, anyway. Technically. Sort of. Maybe that wasn’t the best way to put it.

Lilith had arrived bright and early with a suitcase full of my things–clothes, books, my favorite blanket from home, even my vanilla–scented hand lotion. She’d been buzzing around my hospital room all morning, adjusting the blinds, organizing the nightstand, and making sure I would be comfortable for my stay.

“Nonsense,” she said, smoothing down the blanket. “You need someone looking after you properly.”

“The nurses are doing just fine.”

Lilith scoffed. “Those nurses have twenty other patients. You need someone whose sole focus is you.”

Before I could argue further, she pulled out a container from the bag she’d brought. “I made your favorite,” she said, popping off the lid to reveal homemade chicken soup. The scent immediately made my mouth water. “It’s still warm.”

My stomach growled in response. The hospital breakfast had been bland and unappetizing, and Lilith always made the best chicken noodle soup when I wasn’t feeling well.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I muttered.

“Lwanted to.” Lilith poured some into a bowl and pulled up a chair beside my bed. Then, to my surprise, she dipped a spoon into the soup and held it out to me. “Open up.”

! blinked. “I can feed myself, you know.”

“Humor an old woman, won’t you?”

Feeling ridiculous but too touched to refuse, I opened my mouth and let Lilith feed me the soup. It was delicious, as always–rich and hearty, with just the right amount of herbs and spices.

“Good?” Lilith asked, already dipping the spoon for another bite.

I nodded, swallowing. “Yes. But why are you doing all this? You’re treating me like I’m… Your daughter.”

Lilith’s shoulders tensed, and for a moment, she was silent. She had never mentioned having children of her own, but whenever! asked, she would always change the subject. After a while, I had learned not to bring it up, thinking that she’d perhaps had a bad experience in her past.

I thought I had hurt her by bringing it up now, but just as I was opening my mouth to apologize, she said, “You are like a daughter to me, Ella. And I worry about you. I saw how your parents treated you at that party. I’ve seen how you were raised. You never had a mother who doted on you or made sure you had what you needed. Your parents haven’t even come to check on you since you got

here”

winced. When she put it like

just want to give you the

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Chapter 50

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to me before. No one had ever put my needs first, had ever made me

tears. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. It’s just…

up the spoon again.

I realized that this was what having a mother was supposed to feel like. Someone who took care of you. Someone who put your

least I wouldn’t die without knowing what it

die happy if you were by my side.” The words slipped out of

hand froze. “You’re not going to die, Ella,” she said firmly, “I

“But the doctor said-”

what the doctor said. But there are options,

Liam walked in with a

asked. His smile faded as he took in

girl talk,” I said quickly, forcing a

on the table next to Alexander’s cherry blossoms. “Thought your room could use some color. Who brought

said before I could answer. Liam looked just as surprised as I was, and I

now–empty soup bowl. “I’ll go wash

her vacated chair. “You look better today. How are you

pounding, my limbs ached, and there was a hollow feeling in my body

they letting you

shrugged. “Dr. Evelyn wants to run a few more tests.

his jacket. Then, finally: “Listen, Ella, about what happened

fault,” I assured

responsible. If she hadn’t kissed you, maybe

I cut him off, not wanting to rehash the details of that night. “Water under the

to the alley. To Alexander’s lips on mine, his hands on my body, the way he’d groaned

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Chapter 50

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