Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 26 Bad News

After that day, Arthur called me nonstop. I got so fed up, I just turned off my phone.

A week later, a colleague from the hospital showed up at my door with devastating news: my mom had died.

I bolted out of the house, running toward the hospital. I hadn't gone far when a car screeched to a stop in front of me. It was Ethan. He drove me to the hospital.

The doctor said my mom passed away at 6 AM. Her condition had worsened the night before, but they couldn't reach me. In the morning, my colleagues tracked down Arthur and got my address.

In the morgue, I could barely stand, staring at the white sheet on the gurney. My world felt drained of color, just black and white.

Doctors and nurses who knew me stood at the door, not daring to come in.

me up. Ethan didn't say

the day of my mom's burial, I sat in front of the tombstone for hours. It was pouring rain, and Ethan stood behind

can't take this," Ethan said, his voice

respond. I knew getting sick wouldn't

darker and the rain got heavier, Ethan picked me up. My face pressed against his

my seatbelt. Ethan drove

home," I said, my voice hoarse from

the wheel with one hand, took a cigarette from his pocket, sniffed it,

left the umbrella at the cemetery, so we stayed

life wasn't rich, but it was happy. That time was short, but it left me with

was shivering more, Ethan unbuckled his