Liam guided June to the hospital bed and Lucy gave her water.
After hearing the devastating news of Sheila’s demise, June had a minor panic attack that almost took her out, safe for Liam’s timely intervention and breath exercises.
“Do I need to call the doctor?” Lucy asked, reeking of worry. “I’m so sorry.” She slapped her mouth, “I didn’t mean to lay it all on you so fast.”
June shook her head and handed over the cup. “What happened?”
“April? She-” Lucy was ready to speak when June interrupted.
“Sheila.” June said, “How did it happen?”
Liam cut in. “You don’t need to know the gory details.” His words carried an air of finality. “Not in this state.”
For the first time, June backed down. Never did she imagine that Sheila would be gone. She hoped that Sharon would be out to see her alive, even if it was the ventilator keeping her alive.
June wanted to keep that option open so Sharon could gain closure. And Sheila too – if she managed to survive the situation. All of her hopes in that regard were dashed. Good as dead.
“Does Sharon know?” Her heart hurt at the thought of how she must be faring in prison.
“No.” Lucy said, “She just got sentenced to prison. I don’t know how she would take to this news.”
“Leave it be,” June said. “I need to see her.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I don’t think you are in any position to do that yet.” Liam cautioned. “The doctor said you are to be on bed rest and free from strenuous activity.”
“Judging from your reaction to hearing of her demise, it’s clear you are nowhere near ready to face Sharon.” He pointed out, then looked at his watch. “Mother Evelyn must be worried sick waiting for our arrival. We should hit the roads.”
June swallowed, unable to speak. Liam was right. She would revisit that matter at a later time. Soon enough, they headed out of the ward. June was happy to leave the place she’d grown tired of.
They made their way out of the hallway only to meet some nurses rushing upstairs. “What’s the rush?” June muttered when one nearly pushed her out of the way.
Liam felt his phone ring in his pockets and stepped aside to answer. His features grew poor with the information he got on the phone. “I need to go somewhere.” He said as soon as he dropped the phone.
“Please wait a moment, I will send another car to pick you up,” Liam said and led them back to June’s ward. “Please excuse me.”
Liam abandoned them in front of the ward and rushed out of the hospital for serious business. June watched him leave through the window while Lucy turned on the television.
Much more than ever, she wanted to get out of this place. The room was suffocating and the next minute, she got up from the bedside chair and walked out of the room.
June wandered out of the hallways and towards the elevator. As soon as she saw the elevator, a surge of fear crept into her heart and she decided to look for the stairs.
On turning towards the stairs, a young boy bumped into her, almost pushing her down by the impact. Thankfully, she held the stair rails just in time to catch herself and the young boy.
“What’s the rush-” June was shocked at the sight of the young one staring back at her with widened eyes. “L-Luis?”
Little Luis was headed to his father’s room when he bumped into June. He blinked at the woman before him, unable to believe it. His auntie was in the same state as his father.
How?
“Luis…” June’s eyes watered as she took in the young boy who looked like he had the entire world on his shoulders. “My baby…”
“Auntie?” Luis asked, still unsure.
Just then, Carson rushed through the stairs, in search of Luis. He left Luis by the lobby while he spoke briefly to someone, and the next moment, he was gone.
“There you are!” Carson said to Luis before noticing June’s presence. “H-Hey….” He scratched his head. “You’re awake!”
Carson made a poor impression of being surprised. He had wanted to meet June since he found she was awake but Lucy and Liam met him and requested he stay away with Luis.
They didn’t want anything that would disrupt her healing process and he had respected it and even kept Luis in the dark. He went as far as changing June’s room so the little one didn’t wander off to find her.
These days, Luis barely spoke and was a dark cloud. The pain and depression in his eyes and arms were impossible to miss and Carson tried to get him help but everything proved abortive.
Luis was shutting down emotionally with every day his father remained on the ventilator. Despite the hurdles, Luis kept his grades up, everything was the same other than the fact he was becoming unrecognisable.
“My baby…” June cried and hugged Luis as her life depended on it. He didn’t respond, still shocked at the sight of June, alive and breathing. June never gave up.
She held him tight until he finally reciprocated her actions. Hugging her lightly. June burst into tears upon feeling his little arms around her. She held him tighter, muttering sweet words into his ears.
“Auntie…” Luis said and a roll of tear dropped from his left eye.
Carson watched in shock as Luis slowly tightened his arm around her and sobbed lightly. “Auntie…. Daddy…” He said between hiccups.
“You are alright, baby.” June cooed, “You are going to be fine.”
Lucy got a call from Liam stating the driver was around, she walked out of the ward in search of June who stepped out a while ago. She bumped into the scene and her eyes widened.
“Carson… You’re here.”
“Take me to him.” June wiped her tears as she carried Luis who rested his head on her shoulders, still sobbing. “Take me to Rafael.”
Lucy hated the idea. “The driver is here, you can’t-”
“I said take me to him!” She yelled, visibly angry. Her voice softened as she sobbed, “Please, Just take me to him…”
The situation couldn’t be helped. June, Luis, Carson and Lucy climbed to the floor where Rafael was situated. As soon as June saw him, her cries intensified.
They let her have her moment with Luis who refused to leave her side. Lucy watched from the glass as she took his palm, kissed it and muttered something before dragging Luis closer to her.
Inside the ward, June spoke to Rafael who lay pale on the ventilator. “You will come back to me, Rafe.” She held Luis tighter. “You will come back to us.”
An hour passed and Luis fell asleep on her lap. Lucy’s phone rang uncontrollably from Evelyn, Liam and the driver. She didn’t answer, knowing they all wanted to know the same thing.
Lucy walked inside the ward. They had spent enough time at the hospital and should be on their way. Before she could state her case, June spoke.
“I will not be going home today.” She stated to her bewilderment, “I will be staying with Luis.”
“But-”
“I have decided,” June said with a note of finality. There was no changing her mind now. “Go home.”