Watching her tears fall to the ground, I turned to look at her and continued, “Maybe I was wrong to go to Newton Town in the first place. I shouldn’t have gone to Newton Town. That way, I wouldn’t have met Dennis, I wouldn’t have met Olivia, and I wouldn’t have met you.”
“Clara…” She said, her voice breaking. Probably in pain, she held on to the cupboard, sobbing slightly.
I sighed, smiled faintly, then simply looked at her nonchalantly and continued, “If I had not met you, my life might not have been so hard. Falling in love with Dennis. I don’t know if it’s right or wrong. Because I loved him, I implied to myself that I loved him and that I could forgive everything.”
“Knowing that you are my parents, I just think fate is ridiculous. I can’t hate you honestly, I can’t hate you in my heart, I dare not hate you, because you are my real parents. It’s like I love Dennis, because of love, I can tolerate everything. But, can I really do that? I don’t think I can.”
Looking at her, I smiled with pain. “You just said I hate you, but, four years ago when I knew everything, I chose to leave everyone. All reason told me that I could not hate you, because you are my mother, my blood kindred.”
At this point she fell silent. Perhaps my words were too heavy, and she was pale and half squatting on the ground. Her tears hit the tile floor, very quietly, but very loud.
I turned and walked out of the kitchen, still in pain, but tolerable.
It had been a long journey. We went down our own path and licked our wounds when it hurt. When we were healed, we started over.
In the yard, Dennis and Samuel Lewis returned from a stroll.
Seeing that I didn’t look well, Dennis came up to me and pulled me and asked me gently, “What’s the matter? You don’t look good.”
I shook my head, then looked up at him and smiled, with tears in my eyes. What was the big deal? Even if we lost the baby, we could have another one, right?
Seeing the tears in my eyes, he turned pale and pulled me into his arms, then said quietly, “What happened?”
I shook my head, suffering from pain, unwilling to speak.
Samuel Lewis hadn’t seen Luna yet. He stood by, worried but without saying anything, and went into the living room to look for Luna.
Ten minutes later, he helped Luna out. Luna was pale, her forehead stained with sweat.
Yara said suddenly, “What’s the matter? Why is your face so pale? You’re sweating like that. I think you should go to the hospital.”
Luna shook her head and waved her hand, “No, it’s okay. I just have a stomachache. It’ll go away.”
Samuel Lewis was worried about her. He looked at her and then said, “Let’s go to the hospital first.”
“No!” Luna held him down, her voice pained, “I’ll be oaky in a minute. We’re celebrating New Year’s Eve tonight.”
Samuel Lewis frowned. He looked worried.
I looked at Luna, was silent for a moment, and then said, “You should go to the hospital. If it’s appendicitis, it’s a problem.
Samuel Lewis looked at me, and without thinking, he picked Luna up and walked out of the villa.
Yara followed.
Looking at their anxious backs, I unconsciously clenched my hands, and then a pair of big hands surrounded me.
I looked up and saw Dennis looking at me. He said softly, “Don’t worry, it’s not far from the hospital.”
I nodded, but I still felt uneasy.
So I followed them after all.
In the hospital.
Luna was diagnosed with appendicitis and needed surgery. So Yara went back to the villa to take care of Clariana, while the others stayed behind at the hospital.
In the hospital corridor, the draught blew through, making people feel cold to the heart.
If you looked at one place for a long time, your eyes would hurt. I gasped and looked away. The words “emergency room” were too harsh.
“Don’t worry, it’s all right!” Dennis’s voice was quiet, even composed.
I nodded, leaning against his chest. My body was stiff with cold, and he tried to pass it on to me.
“Bang!”
The door to the emergency room was opened. The surgeon came out and took off his gloves.
Samuel Lewis hurried forward and said, “Doctor, how is my wife?”
“The operation was a success. She will be all right after a few days rest in hospital. Don’t worry about it.” With that, the doctor left.
I breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed my nerves.
Before long, several nurses wheeled Luna out and took her straight to the ward.
Samuel Lewis followed, and I stood there for a long time before I said, “Let’s go.”
As I head for the elevator, Dennis said, “Aren’t you going to see her?”
I shook my head, “No. Clarie’s still at home.”
With that, Dennis shut up.
We got into the car and it was quiet. Looking at the twinkling lights outside the window, I could not help sighing, it was already dark.
We were supposed to bring Karina dinner, but she had probably already eaten by now.
I reached for my phone and called her. As soon as she got through, she said, “Clara, how’s it going Luna? Is she okay?”
I was stunned, “How… how did you know that?”
She said, “I called you back as soon as you finished calling me, but your phone was turned off all the time. I was worried that something might happen to you, so I called your home landline. It was Clariana, and she said an old lady was sick, so I figured it was Luna, so I knew.”
I nodded and said apologetically, “I was supposed to deliver something to you, but I got busy and forgot. Have you eaten yet?”
She replied, “After everything that’s happened, you’re still thinking about that? I’m at home with a babysitter. Don’t worry. I’m glad to know Luna’s fine.”
I nodded and thought of Leo, so I asked, “Is Leo there?”
Perhaps the question was too sensitive, she said after a pause, “He should be busy!”
Looked like Leo hadn’t been to see them lately. I suppressed my emotion and said, “You take care of yourself.”
After the greeting, I hung up.
My hand was held by Dennis. He soothed me with a low voice, “Don’t worry about it. Let’s go home and get some rest.”
I nodded, looked at him sideways, and said suddenly, “The book says that if a man loves a woman he will crawl to her side even if he is dying, but why don’t I see it like this?”
Leo had feelings for Karina. After years of companionship, he had become accustomed to Karina’s presence. But why did he give her the cold shoulder when she was at her weakest?
The wound of the heart was far more painful than the wound of the body.
Dennis put one hand on the steering wheel and looked at me sideways. His eyes were warm and he said, “There are ghosts and gods in the book, but are there any in reality?”