Between Us

Chapter 14 : Embers of Desire

Engfa's pov

I entered the hospital room quietly, my heart pounding with worry. Nudee was there, sitting beside my mother, who lay in the hospital bed looking frail and exhausted. The sight of her like that made my chest tighten with concern. Nudee noticed me first, standing up to embrace me tightly. My mother sighed softly, a look of resignation on her face.

"I didn't want Engfa to know," my mother murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nudee lowered her head, guilt evident in her eyes. "I'll leave you two alone," she said, starting to walk away.

I reached out and gently grabbed her arm. "Where's Mia?" I asked, needing to know that my sister was safe.

"She's with Jax," Nudee reassured me. "You don't need to worry."

I gave her a grateful smile and whispered, "Thank you." As Nudee left the room, I turned back to my mother, sitting down beside her bed. I couldn't help but shake my head and sigh, my frustration mixing with my concern.

"I told you not to overexert yourself, Mom," I began, my voice a mixture of scolding and worry. "You shouldn't be lifting heavy things or moving around so much. You're supposed to be resting."

She sighed deeply, closing her eyes for a moment. "I know, Engfa. But I can't just sit around doing nothing. There are things that need to be done."

"Mom," I said, my voice softening as I took her hand. "You need to focus on getting better. You're important to all of us. We need you to take care of yourself."

She opened her eyes and looked at me, her expression filled with both love and concern. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"When is your back surgery scheduled?" I asked, needing to know more about her condition.

"The doctor will come tomorrow to explain everything," she replied. She squeezed my hand gently, seeing the worry etched on my face. "Everything will be alright, Engfa. But you must promise me not to pay for this. I've saved some money aside for emergencies like this."

I shook my head, cutting her off. "No, Mom. Don't use your savings. I'll take care of everything."

She looked at me, her eyes filled with both pride and sorrow. "I don't want to burden you with this responsibility. You already do so much for us."

I placed a hand on her forehead, brushing back a few strands of hair. "You're not a burden. Please, let me handle this. I want to help."

She smiled weakly, her eyes softening. "Alright, but promise me you'll look after yourself too."

I nodded, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I promise. Now rest, and I'll be back tomorrow."

As I stood up to leave, she called out to me. "Go find Mia. She needs you too."

I nodded again, giving her one last reassuring smile before walking out of the room. Nudee was waiting for me, and together we headed back to Jax's place in the car. The drive was silent, my mind filled with thoughts of my mother's illness and the upcoming surgery. The weight of the responsibility felt heavy, but I was determined to carry it for my family.

---

When Nudee and I arrived at Jax's house, he greeted us with a warm smile. "Mia's upstairs, already asleep," he informed me. I didn't waste any time and headed straight up to his room. There, I found Mia nestled in Jax's bed, clutching her beloved stuffed animal.

A tender smile spread across my face as I carefully slipped under the covers beside her, wrapping her in my arms and planting a gentle kiss on her head. Mia's soft, rhythmic snores filled the room, and I couldn't help but smile again. Gently stroking her hair, I felt a pang of guilt for not spending more time with her. She was my entire world, and I would do anything for her.