Maybe This Time

027

A few months had passed since Lingling had met with Orm's family, and life had started to feel more settled. Lingling and Orm's relationship was flourishing, and they had developed a comfortable rhythm, grounded in a newfound sense of stability.

Despite the usual day to day stresses, they were both more committed than ever, knowing that every challenge they faced had only brought them closer together, but has a way of throwing unexpected hurdles.

One chilly evening.. Lingling noticed a strange tightness in her chest, a feeling she'd brushed off before as stress.

She had a big project due, and the thought of taking time off felt impossible. But as the hours passed, the sensation became more persistent. She decided to lie down, hoping it would pass.

However, when Orm returned home and found her still clutching her chest, her face pale and breathing labored, her worry turned to alarm.

Orm rushed to Lingling's side, her voice laced with fear as she asked, "Ling, are you okay? What's going on?"

Lingling tried to brush it off, but seeing the panic in Orm's eyes forced her to admit the truth. "I... I don't know. I just feel this weird tightness. It's probably nothing," she managed to say, though her voice betrayed her uncertainty.

But Orm wouldn't take any chances. "We're going to the hospital," she said firmly, reaching for her keys. Lingling opened her mouth to protest but realized the gravity of the situation when she saw the determination in Orm's gaze. Reluctantly, she agreed, allowing herself to be led to the car.

The drive to the hospital felt longer than it actually was. Orm kept glancing over at Lingling, her knuckles white as she gripped the steering wheel. In that quiet tension, neither of them spoke, but both were aware of the fear pressing down on them.

Mortality wasn't something they had ever really discussed, and facing it head on made every heartbeat feel fragile.
At the hospital, doctors ran several tests, leaving Lingling and Orm waiting in a sterile, quiet room.

The beeping of machines and the low murmur of voices outside only heightened their anxiety. Orm's hand never left Lingling's, and she squeezed it tightly, as though reassuring herself that Lingling was still there, breathing, alive.

After what felt like an eternity, a doctor finally entered, giving them a small, reassuring smile. "The good news is, this doesn't appear to be a heart attack," he said, and both women visibly relaxed. "It seems to be a combination of stress and anxiety that's causing these symptoms. But it's a warning sign you need to take care of yourself, Ms. Kwong. Reduce your stress as much as possible."

Lingling exhaled, relief flooding through her. But when she looked over at Orm, she saw tears glistening in her eyes. Orm let out a shaky laugh, brushing them away quickly. "You scared me.." She admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

The gravity of the situation hit Lingling then, and she reached for Orm's hand, pulling her close. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just... I keep pushing myself.. thinking I can handle everything on my own. But I don't want to keep doing that, Orm. I don't want to keep taking these risks."

Orm held her gaze, a softness in her eyes. "Ling, life is unpredictable. We can't control everything, but we can choose how we spend our time and I don't want to waste another second taking each other for granted."

Her voice wavered.. but her words were resolute. "This is us, it's too important to keep putting off."

Lingling nodded, feeling a clarity she hadn't felt before. "I don't want to waste any more time either. We keep putting things off waiting for the right moment, the perfect conditions. But what if this was a real emergency? I don't want to look back and realize I spent more time worrying about work than being with you."

After a long embrace, they left the hospital, feeling like they'd come out the other side of something profound. On the drive back to Lingling's home, they talked about their future in a way they hadn't before.

They spoke about their dreams, the things they wanted to do together, the places they wanted to visit, and the home they wanted to build. They spoke openly, letting go of the fears that had once kept them from imagining a life fully shared.

As the days went by, Lingling took the doctor's advice to heart, setting boundaries with her work and focusing more on her health. Orm, too, became more attuned to Lingling's well-being, finding ways to support her and remind her that they were in this together.

They planned more date nights, started cooking meals together, and carved out time just to talk things that had once seemed like luxuries but now felt essential.

The health scare had shaken them, but in its wake, they found a new commitment to each other, a promise that whatever time they had together, they would make it count.

They had both faced a glimpse of what it could mean to lose one another, and neither wanted to waste a single moment from here on.

One evening, as they lay in bed, Orm turned to Lingling, her eyes warm and filled with love. "Ling, no matter what happens, I want you to know that l'm here. We're in this together, no matter how uncertain things might get."

Lingling smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude. "I know, Orm. And I'm here for you too. I want to make every day count with you, for us."

The close call had given them a precious gift a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of treasuring each other in the present moment.

Together, they faced forward, hand in hand, ready to live fully and love without reservation.