THE PLAYGROUND

CHAPTER NINE

After they left the station, they went to the hospital to check on their mom and what happened next was like a miracle.

They went to her ward and talked to her like they usually do, and after a while they went home but they had barely gotten home when the doctor called them that their mom had woken up.

Alexa was overjoyed, she was smiling so sweetly, the smile that Chris had missed so much. They wanted to go back to the hospital but the doctor said they should wait till the next day because she needed to rest.

After they had dinner that night, they tried calling Aiden but his number was switched off. That would be the tenth time they'd be trying his number. Dave said not to bother him, that they would call him in the morning.

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"My dear, we don't have much time. I have a favour to ask, I need you to protect your mother and your brothers."

"Dad!, please just hold on, I'll get you out of there okay?" Alexa cried as she held on to her dad's hand.

"It doesn't matter anymore, please take care of them for me, will you?" He smiled at her but his eyes were full of sadness.

"Dad, take my hand please, after I get you out of here, you'll be able to take care of us by yourself." She held out her other hand but he didn't hold on.

"No,I'm afraid I can't do that anymore."

"No, I need you."

"No sweetie, you don't, I can't be of any use to any of you anymore. Just remember that I love you"

"Noo!!" Alexa woke up feeling as terrible as ever. Her hands were trembling, and she couldn't stop the tears that were pouring from her eyes. She could still see him falling, she looked down at her hands and it felt like she was actually holding him. She tried to calm down, but it seemed impossible. She needed to talk to someone so she quickly climbed out of bed and ran downstairs.

When Dave saw her, he quickly ran to her and held her close to him. "Shhh, its okay."

Alexa couldn't even say anything, she was just crying. She didn't calm down till after five minutes. Then when she seemed a little calm, Chris calmly asked her to tell them what happened and after she narrated her dream, he felt sad, no wonder she was crying so much and who wouldn't.

"I tried to hold on to him, but I couldn't... I...it felt so real" she said, her voice shaky.

"Well it's not." Chris tried to convince her but even he was scared.

"Yeah, Chris is right. It was just a dream, there's nothing to be worried about."

He was glad when Dave backed him up but it looked like he was trying to convince himself also.

About an hour later, they went to the hospital but they decided not to mention the dream to their mom. She was really happy to see them and they were happy too. They played with her, talked about many things that they didn't even notice that time had passed by so quickly. The doctor said he had to run a few more tests to make sure she was completely fine before discharging her but that it shouldn't take more than a week.

Two days later, Aiden finally called Alexa. She didn't even want to answer at first because it was a strange number that was calling, but after he called like three more times, she decided to answer it.