GIVE ME LOVE (WINRINA AU)

CHAPTER 48

It's time for Winter to pay for the hospital bills before the mother can go home. Winter did receive a lot of money from Wendy but she can't come to the hospital today.

"that would be twenty four thousand dollars, miss. Those includes the medications and medical check-ups."

"here." Winter gave her debit card to her.

While she takes care of the payment, suddenly nurses are rushing towards one of the rooms. Winter doesn't really pay attention to them. Then, the nurse in front of her receives a call.

"oh, dear. She's here, paying for the bill." She paused, glancing at Winter. "okay." she then hangs up the call. "I'm sorry to tell you but your mother passed away when they take off the gas mask."

As if the world stops at that moment. Winter runs as fast as she can to her mother's room. she noticed that the nurses didn't do anything and just takes all the life support from the mother.

"hey!" Winter shouted at them. "save her!" she grabs her mother's cold hand, holding it tightly.

"we were really sorry, miss. She has requested and filed for a DNR. We respected our patients' decisions." One of the nurses said to her with a file on her hand.

"that's nonsense!" Winter can't help but hugs the mother while crying on her chest. "you promised, mom. Why?"

-

Winter stays at the hospital's parking lot, trying to call Wendy. it's been two hours since her mother passed. she had already called Karina and she said she'll be here.

"love." Karina greeted her then pulls her in for a tight hug where Winter starts to cry again. "I'm really sorry."

"why did she do that? I don't understand." Winter sobs.

"she must have had a reason to do it. maybe it's for the best." Karina caresses her head and back.

"what good does this bring to us?! it doesn't make sense!"

Karina sighs, not knowing how to really handle this situation.

"you guys tried your best keeping her alive." Karina leads her to sit at a nearest bench. "how's Wendy? did you call her?"

"I did." Winter keeps staring at her phone screen.

Wendy: sorry I'm in an emergency. Can you take mom home?

Winter immediately calls her. shortly after, Wendy picks up.

"she's gone, Wendy! are you fucking nuts! Come here right now!" Winter shouted as people starts staring at her.

"what do you mean she's gone?" it sounds like Wendy is in a crowded place. "shut up, Mike!" she said to one of her friend. "hey! Talk to me!"

"she's gone." Winter sobs again and starts crying.

"stop crying goddammit! I'm in a rush! I'll see you when I can."

Winter is hopeless. She thought Wendy cares about them. Turns out, she's just the same, leaving when Winter needs her. Winter hangs up the call.

"can I help you with something?" Karina holds her hand. "she's still in the morgue, right?"

Winter stays silent. As if something slapped her in the face, her sadness died down. instead, she feels like everything she works for is useless. Winter takes out a cigarette and lights it up. Meanwhile, Karina links her arm on Winter's and leans on her shoulder.

"I wanna go home." Winter blows out the smoke, but, still tears are falling down her face. "I need time... to process all of this. at least... I have to think straight."

-

Winter sits on the toilet, just zoning out with a towel on her shoulder. She can't even face Karina right now. looks like being alone is the only way to make her mind clear.

Meanwhile, Karina wants to make herself useful for Winter. she surfs through the internet to see what people need for funeral. Karina understands very well that Winter won't have enough power to think about it at the moment.

After some moments, Winter walks out of the bathroom. She goes straight to the kitchen and sits alone at the dining table. First her father left, then her mother, and now her sister left her alone to deal with this misery.

"Winter..." Karina shows up, sitting across her. "do you want something to eat?"

"thank you... for staying." Winter looks down. "I have no one now."

"have you heard anything from Wendy?"

"I don't care." Winter sighs. "I just need you to stay. I have no one else."

The two then got distracted by someone entering the unit in a hurry. Karina gets up and checks the person. Turns out, it's Wendy.

"shit! I thought you guys are not home." Wendy said as she packs up a few her things that's important.

"where are you going?" Karina asked. "your mom passed and your sister needs you."

"I'm afraid I can't stay here right now." Wendy then runs to the kitchen, finding her sister. She goes straight to Winter and hug her. "sorry I have to leave. If anyone look for me, tell them you know nothing, okay? I'm really sorry." Wendy plants a kiss on Winter's head. "take care, sis. I'll try to keep in touch."

Everything happened so fast, Winter has no time to react properly with her unstable state of mind. She watches Wendy walks out of the room again. Winter sighs, supporting her head with both of her hands on the table.

"hey..." Karina approached. She hugs Winter from behind, kissing her neck a few times lovingly. "she must has a reason to do that. at least you know that she cares about you."

Feeling like her life falls apart, Winter rests her head on the table as she cries again. Karina sits beside her, still not knowing what to do.

"it's okay if you wanna do something else. I wanna have some time."