Why Is He Back??

love or hatred

Olivia awoke in her bed, her face damp with tears and her pillow soaked from a restless night. Her daughter, Zivia, lay beside her, still asleep, clutching her stuffed bear. Despite the comforting warmth of her daughter, Olivia's dreams were filled with turbulent images of Zack and what could have been. She woke with a start, heart pounding, as she remembered the urgency of the situation.

Carefully extricating herself from the bed so as not to wake Zivia, Olivia moved with a determined, albeit trembling, resolve. She needed to see Zack, no matter what. She dressed quickly, her hands shaking as she pulled on clothes with a sense of purpose. As she was about to leave, her phone rang, causing her to jump.

"Hello?" she answered, voice trembling.

"Ms. Goldsmith, this is Nurse Jenkins from the hospital. I'm calling to inform you that Mr. Goldsmith has woken up. He's still weak but he's asking for you."

Olivia's breath caught. "He's awake? He's asking for me?"

"Yes, ma'am. He was asking for you as soon as he woke up. You can come by anytime. We'll make sure you're allowed in."

"Thank you," Olivia said, her voice choked with emotion. "I'll be there soon."

Olivia made her way to the kitchen, where Zivia was already awake, her little face peeking out from beneath the covers. She shuffled in, her stuffed bear in hand, with Elsa, the beagle, and Harry, the Shih Tzu, trailing behind.

"Good morning, mummy!" Zivia's voice was cheerful but edged with the sleepiness of early morning.

"Good morning, my baby," Olivia replied, scooping Zivia into her high chair and setting a plate of scrambled eggs, mango slices, bacon, and a cup of orange juice in front of her.

"Mommy, I don't want this. Can't you make pancakes?" Zivia wrinkled her nose in frustration.

Olivia sighed, gently stirring the scrambled eggs. "Sweetheart, you need to eat this to get strong and healthy. Pancakes are nice, but these eggs will give you the energy you need for the day."

"I don't like eggs," Zivia pouted.

"I know, but it's important to eat a balanced meal. You can have pancakes another day, okay?" Olivia said as she cut up the mango slices and placed them on Zivia's plate.

Zivia grumbled but started eating slowly. "Mommy, I don't want to eat all this. Can't I just have some cereal?"

"No, honey. You need protein to grow strong and vitamins to stay healthy. If you eat well now, you'll feel better and have more energy to play," Olivia explained as she fed her daughter with a gentle, encouraging smile.

Zivia sighed but accepted a bite of scrambled eggs. "Okay, mommy."

Eloise entered the kitchen, her face set with determination. "Olivia, I'm heading to Liverpool to visit Aunt Khushi. She's quite ill."

Olivia looked up, concern etched on her face. "Do you think I should come with you? How serious is it?"

"It's not that serious, Olivia," Eloise said firmly. "She's in the hospital but stable. I've got it covered. You need to stay here."

"I see. And you've arranged for Zivia's playdate?" Olivia asked.

"Yes, Carter's going to drop her off at your sister's house today. I know you need to visit Zack," Eloise said. "He's been asking for you."

Zivia looked up with a curious expression. "Mommy, is Dada okay?"

Olivia smiled gently at her daughter. "He's just a little unwell, like Aunt Khushi. I need to go visit him to make sure he's alright."