Chapter 3

Before I even realized it, I discovered I was sobbing. Noticing that the door to the balcony was slightly ajar, I ran straight to it.

Mom was there, seated on the single sofa, with a photo album spread open on her lap. She must have crawled on the floor to reach there. She loved the view outside the window and enjoyed the fresh evening air.

I had forbidden her to come to the balcony at night, but she did it anyway.

As if she sensed I was there, she raised her head and smiled at me. “Lily, sit here, sweetie.”

I ran to her side and wrapped her tightly in my arms to show her how much I love her.

“I was so afraid… I thought something bad had happened to you!”

My tears gushed forth as I knelt in front of her. She's the only one I've got now after Dad passed away a year ago. I can't afford to lose another loved one.

“Don't cry, sweetie…” She gently took me into her arms and caressed my hair with her thin, rough hands.

“Don't scare me again, Mom.”

“I promise, sweetie, so please stop crying.” Mom lifted her frail hands and wiped the tears from my cheeks, then looked deep into my eyes with love gleaming in her gaze.

Mom loved the unique color of my eyes, and she always gazed into them whenever she had the chance.

I suffered from a rare eye condition called Heterochromia Iridum, which makes the color of my irises different from each other: my left eye is emerald green, while the other is the color of a blue ocean.

“Your eyes are the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen, Lily. They're unique and beautiful; they make you stand out from everyone else.”

She smoothed the frown on my temple with her loving hand. “At your age, you’re supposed to be enjoying your life, but look at you—you have me as a burden. I'm sorry that you didn't finish college so you could take good care of me.”

“You're the best thing that ever happened to me, Mom. I will never tire of loving you and will never consider you a burden.” 

I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly. It was my simple way of showing how much I love her. “It's already late, Mom. You need to sleep now. I'll help you to your bed.”

I took the photo album from her lap and helped her get up from the sofa. Mom was so light that I could carry her into my arms without difficulty.

“I need to tell you something important, Lily,” she said the moment I laid her on the bed.

My gaze drifted to the wall clock and saw the time, so I shook my head. The doctor had forbidden her from staying up late; it was bad for her health.

“Some other time, Mom. Okay? You should sleep now.” I kissed her on the cheek. “Goodnight, Mom.”

She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. Moments later, she was fast asleep.

—

The unnerving silence welcomed my ears the moment I reached my room.

Just like it always felt whenever I was alone, loneliness hit me, and a wave of thoughts flooded my mind.

My gaze landed on the picture frame standing on top of the dresser. It was a picture of my son, Dylan, with an adorable smile on his lips. I stood behind him, with my arms wrapped around his shoulders, wearing the same bright smile that mirrored his own. There was also Grey, standing behind me, arms possessively wrapped around my waist.

I clearly recall that moment; it was the last memory I had of Dylan. Weeks later, a car accident took him away from me forever.

It's been two years since that incident, but I still blame myself for his death. It should have been me who died and not him. If only I could turn back time, I would shield my body to protect him. He deserved to live better than I do.

My chest grew heavy, and I pushed the ugly memories away, looking away from the picture frame.

I removed my heeled shoes, then changed my dress into a comfortable oversized t-shirt. When I was done changing, I sprawled on the bed. I had been lying there for half an hour, tossing and turning, but sleep refused to come. The scene in the restaurant continued to bother my thoughts, even after I tried to clear them from my mind.

I still couldn’t believe my husband asked for a divorce! The nerve! He asked for it on the night of our wedding anniversary.

To think that I assumed he would learn to love me too makes me so ashamed of myself. I realized he could never give his heart to me because he had already given it to another woman.

That woman is Natalia. No matter what I do, I will never replace her in his heart. He had his eyes only on her even after she left him for her career.

I hope Grey won’t regret his decisions one day.

Thankfully I managed to fall asleep after some time.

The next morning, I woke up to the piercing sound of my alarm clock.

A grumpy sigh escaped my lips as I reached for the top of the night table and turned the alarm clock off before burying my head under the pillow. I hadn’t been in that position long when a knock sounded on the door.

Despite my inner protests, I got up from the bed and padded across the carpeted floor on my bare feet.

It must be urgent, I thought to myself, forcing my sleepy eyelids to open. The room next to mine is my mother’s. She’s the only person I know who would knock on my room at this hour. Perhaps she came to me in her wheelchair because she needed to go to the bathroom.

The last remnants of sleepiness escaped my body when I unlocked the door and saw the women waiting outside.

Celine stood in the doorway in her usual white scrub uniform. A beautiful smile lit her face as she held my favorite black forest cake in both hands. Mom was beside her, seated in her wheelchair. A smile stretched across her lips as she looked at me. Mom’s face was thin and pale, but it couldn’t conceal the genuine happiness shining in her eyes.

“Happy twenty-fourth birthday, Lily!” They greeted me in unison just as I was about to ask them about the occasion.

My eyes popped open, and my jaw dropped to the flawless white floor. My birthday? I mumbled under my breath, still dazed.

I turned to check the calendar on the wall. When I saw the date, a soft gasp escaped my lips, and I mentally facepalmed.

Why did I forget the most special day of my life?

It took me a moment to compose myself. I closed my mouth before a fly could enter and dropped to my knees in front of Mom.

Mom caressed my cheek with her frail hands and surveyed my face. “I’m sorry I have no present to give you,” she said regretfully.

“You don’t need to give me one, Mom.” I assured her. “Having you here by my side today is the greatest gift I could ever receive.”

Tears clouded her eyes, and for a moment, I thought she would cry. But she blinked back the tears. A soft smile emerged from her thin, pale lips. “I’m lucky to have a daughter like you,” she mumbled. It made my heart swell with joy.

“I’m luckier to have you as my mother.”

Mom held both of my hands.

“Lily, will you promise me you will always be happy even after I'm gone?” she asked, wiping the smile off my face.