Transcending To You

Chapter 23:THE FIRST LDR

Win had finally reached America after a long, exhausting flight. He had always loved this country, but this time, his heart was heavy with worry. As he arrived at the house, Shyle opened the door and wrapped him in a warm embrace.

"How are you, my dear?" she asked, her eyes searching his face for any sign of how he was holding up.

"I'm fine. How are you and Mom doing?" Win replied, hugging her back tightly.

"She's doing better. She's inside the room," Shyle said, gently pulling back. "You go and meet her. I'll bring you something to drink."

Win nodded and made his way towards the room, his steps slow and deliberate. The door was shut, and he took a deep breath before opening it.

Inside, his mother lay on the bed, looking frail and tired. Tears welled up in his eyes at the sight of her. She had lost so much weight, her hair had thinned, and her face had aged seemingly overnight. The people attending her moved aside as Win entered the room.

"Mom," he whispered, his voice trembling.

Tisha looked up at him and smiled weakly. She patted the bed beside her, inviting him to sit.

Win's heart ached. He had never imagined seeing his mother like this. He sat down beside her, taking her hand in his.

Shyle entered the room with a glass of juice, handing it to Win. "Thank God you're here," Tisha said, her voice soft but filled with emotion. "All I wanted was to see you."

"Of course he would come. We're all here for you," Shyle said, her voice cheerful. "Now we're just waiting for you to get better so we can travel to all those places and taste so many different types of wines."

Win watched Shyle's enthusiasm, and despite his heavy heart, he managed a small smile. "Yes, Mom. I want to see so many places with you. Get better soon. I've come to America after so long, and I really want to eat my favorite pretzels with you."

Tisha smiled, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Yes, we have so much to do. You'll need to take care of our business for a while. I'm too weak to handle anything right now."

"Don't worry about that. Win will help you," Shyle said, reassuringly. "You just rest without worrying about anything."

"But, I don't know anything about the business," Win said, his voice tinged with anxiety.

"We have many executives to help. I'll be there to guide you," Shyle said, smiling. "We all want your mother to get better and not worry about the future."

Tisha nodded. "We must apply for his citizenship. I have the U.S. citizenship now. We'll just submit his documents and apply for his citizenship," she said to Shyle. "Hire a lawyer and get it all done smoothly soon."

Shyle nodded. "Sure."

Win looked at Shyle and then back at his mom. His heart, already heavy with the stress of being away from Bright, now felt even more burdened. He knew the path ahead was fraught with challenges,  but surrounded by the love and support of his family, he felt a glimmer of hope.

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Once Bright finally woke up from a restless sleep, he groggily reached for his phone and saw numerous missed calls from Win. Concerned, he quickly texted, "Call me."

Just as Bright was about to step into the shower, his phone buzzed. Win was calling.

"You've been sleeping while I've been here, restless," Win's voice came through, frustration evident. His worry palpable even through his voice.