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.

strong hand turned me around and held me up. Ethan didn't say a word, but

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

this," Ethan said, his voice muffled by the

respond. I knew getting sick wouldn't bring my mom

rain got heavier, Ethan picked me up. My face pressed against his chest,

seatbelt. Ethan drove in silence. I clutched a blanket the whole

go home," I said, my voice hoarse

one hand, took a cigarette from his pocket, sniffed it, and

was pouring even harder. We had left the umbrella at the cemetery, so we stayed in the car for a while. Through the rain-soaked window, I stared into Broadway Alley. The scene

happy. That time was short, but it

more, Ethan unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over, holding