When I arrived, Miguel was still asleep and his family wasn’t there, which I was grateful for. I didn’t think I had the energy to face them.
Lily sat quietly on my lap, staring at Miguel while I softly stroked her hair. Lost in thought, I gazed into space, imagining the worst-case scenario and fearing for what Miguel must be going through.
"Mummy, is Uncle Miguel going to be okay?" Lily asked in a hushed tone, casting a worried gaze up at me. I stole a glance at Miguel, his condition appearing dire. Despite my fear and concern for him, I knew I had to maintain a strong front for Lily's sake. If I crumbled, I dreaded to think what it might do to her.
"Let's hope for the best," I murmured, summoning a reassuring smile for her.
"What happened to you out there, mommy?" Lily asked again. I hesitated, preparing to respond, but we were interrupted by Miguel's soft groans, offering a welcome diversion from having to explain the unsettling events to Lily.
The setting sun cast a beautiful glow in the room as Miguel struggled to open his eyes. I was still reeling from what had transpired – what had happened to him, his sister, and his mother. Kathlyn had no right to question my integrity.
"Miguel?" I called out softly, motioning for Lily to stand up. Moving closer, I took his hands in mine as he slowly opened his eyes, bestowing me with a faint smile that prompted Lily to give him a gentle embrace.
"Hey, little one," Miguel greeted with a grin, eliciting a soft smile from Lily.
"We brought you flowers," Lily beamed, causing us to share a chuckle. Miguel turned to me, and I let out a sigh. I soothingly rubbed his knuckles, trying to ease his distress.
"You came!" Miguel uttered, attempting to sit up but wincing in pain, prompting me to snap into worried alertness.
"Please don't strain yourself, Miguel," I murmured, quickly rising to help adjust his pillow and help him recline more comfortably.
"Mummy says you’ll be fine, is that right?" Lily's voice trembled with concern, her worry palpable even to a blind person.
"Yes," Miguel simply replied, turning to me once again.
"I deeply apologize, June."
"Please, Miguel, let’s not do this now. You’d be going for your surgery any moment and you need to be mentally ready for that," I remarked, fighting back the tears.
Right on cue, a nurse entered the room.
"How are we feeling?" she asked cheerfully, checking his pulse. Miguel smiled in response, and she inserted a thermometer into his mouth. Silence settled in as she waited to read his temperature. The beeping of the machine grew louder, and the chatter of people passing by became more distinct.
"Good to go. In five minutes, you'll be prepped for surgery. And you, Mrs. Lyon…" she turned to me.
"Hmm?" I hummed, trying to ignore Miguel's raised eyebrow.
"Are you feeling better now?" she inquired, and I nodded in affirmation.
"See you in a bit," she said before leaving the ward.
"Mrs. Lyon?" Miguel chuckled with a hint of humor in his voice.
"It's a long story," I murmured gently, a soft giggle escaping me.
Just then, Lolia walked in, and our eyes locked.
"What are you doing here?" She questioned sharply, but I maintained my composure.
"Bryan asked me to come and see him," I replied truthfully as I stood up. Lily came to my side, her gaze shifting between me and Lolia.
"Please, Lolia!" Miguel pleaded, attempting to sit up, causing him to grimace in pain.
"I told you not to stress it, Miguel," I warned, rushing to his side to help him sit up as he firmly grasped my hand across his chest. Our eyes locked, and I could see myriad emotions in his gaze, with remorse being the most prominent.
"Would I see you after the surgery?" He inquired softly, causing my breath to hitch in my throat.
"Miguel!" I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. I wanted to beg him not to bring this up here.
"Please, June, I want to see you here when I get out of surgery," he pleaded, and I closed my eyes, a tear slipping down my cheek. Miguel reached out to wipe it away with his thumb, an act so simple yet profound, drawing me closer to him. However, he was entangled in his family’s turmoil and seemed unaware of my feelings for him.
"What’s going on here?" Kathlyn's sudden entrance startled me. I hurriedly wiped my eyes and tried to withdraw my hand, but Miguel held it firmly.
"Please, June, I want to see you when I wake up," he insisted, but I remained silent, reluctant to be put on the spot.
"How about you focus on getting through the surgery first?" I proposed, attempting to find common ground. I disliked making promises I had no intention of keeping, and Miguel's request felt overwhelming. Unconsciously, I touched his face, stroking it gently.
"Would you please get off my son? Haven’t you caused enough drama already?" Kathlyn's accusatory question caused another tear to escape my eyes.
"Relax, Mother," Lolia interjected, surprising me with a supportive smile and a nod of understanding.
"So, are we ready for…" Bryan's voice filled the room as he entered.
Great!
He took one glance at me, then at me and Miguel’s linked hands, followed by a look at Lily, and then at his mother and sister.
"Uncle Bryan!" Lily exclaimed, rushing to hug him. Bryan scooped her into his arms and hugged her gently.
"Let’s go get some chocolate," he suggested, then left the room with Lily, a bright smile lighting up his face as he glanced at me before they walked out together.
“Let’s go mum” Lolia urged Kathlyn.
“No! She is the reason my son is in this mess.” Kathlyn resisted
“I'll leave,” I murmured not wanting to be involved, and made my way to leave but Miguel's grasp tightened around me.
"Please, June, stay," he pleaded, his eyes filled with desperation as I shut my eyes briefly, feeling the weight of his words. When I opened them, his gaze was pleading, silently begging for my presence.
“You stay away from my son and stop trying to leech off him.” Kathlyn accused and I closed my eyes as her words cut deep.
"Lolia!" Miguel's voice cut through the tension weakly, causing me to try and steady my shallow breathing amidst the growing conflict.
"As a mother, shouldn't your primary concern be your son's well-being rather than focusing on me, who only wishes the best for him?" I challenged politely, sensing her surprise at my audacity.
"We have to go now, sir," the doctor's voice interrupted, signaling the need to leave the room. Two more doctors in scrubs entered, ready to assist.
"Please, June, promise me you'll stay. Please," Miguel's desperation was palpable, his tone laced with urgency.
"Miguel, I..." I hesitated, unsure of how to respond to his heartfelt plea.
"Please, June! We apologize!" Lolia's plea softened the atmosphere, contrasting sharply with Kathlyn's adamant scoff.
"I promise," I whispered faintly, seeing relief wash over Miguel's face. As they administered the injection, his gaze fixed on me until his eyes closed.
I watched as they wheeled him into the operating room, a sense of apprehension gripping me tightly.
"Now you can leave," Kathlyn's voice broke the silence, but I remained resolute, my gaze fixed on the window. I had made a commitment to Miguel, and I intended to honor it.
"I made a promise to Miguel, Kathlyn. A promise I have no intention of breaking," I asserted firmly, meeting her challenging gaze with determination.
"How much will it take for you to walk away from Miguel?" Kathlyn's question hung in the air, but I simply scoffed in disbelief, redirecting my focus to the window.
"Enough of this, Mother! Can we..."
"Enough of this, Mom! Can't you just lay off June? You were pushing Miguel to marry, and now that he's found someone, you're still not satisfied? What more do you want?" Lolia's voice rang out in defense, her words filled with passion.
As I gazed out of the window, the night had settled, casting a serene glow. The moon's light bathed the sky, and the stars twinkled, creating a mesmerizing scene.
In that moment, a realization struck me like a bolt of lightning - I was in love with Miguel Lyon! A single sob escaped me but it went unnoticed amidst Lolia and her mother's heated exchange.
"Excuse me," I murmured softly, slipping away unnoticed. The revelation of my feelings for Miguel left me trembling with fear. The thought that he might not feel the same way weighed heavily on my heart.
Seeking solace, I hurried to find Lily, who was engrossed in play with Bryan and another child.
"Hey," I greeted them, catching Bryan's attention. To my surprise, he embraced me in a hug, whispering an apology for his past behavior at the restaurant.
"It's okay," I reassured him with a smile, grateful for his gesture. We sat together in a peaceful silence, watching Lily and the other child play.
"Whose child is that?" I inquired, pointing towards the other kid.
"That's Lolia's son, Jason," Bryan confirmed, prompting my disbelief.
"Really?" I responded in surprise, as Lily joyfully ran towards me, filling my arms with her warmth.
She left my lap and dashed over to Jason, pulling him towards me. "This is my friend Jason. We go to the same school," she introduced enthusiastically.
"Is that so?" I inquired, and Bryan nonchalantly shrugged. "I didn't know either. I thought Lolia homeschooled him," Bryan added.
"Nice to meet you, Jason," I greeted warmly as I lifted him onto my lap.
"He joined us a few weeks back, Mom. It was when you weren't feeling well and asked me to use the bus until you recovered," Lily explained, and I nodded in comprehension.
"June, please forgive us, especially my mother. She means well, just like you do for Lily," Bryan pleaded unexpectedly.
"Don't compare how I care for Lily to how your mother treats me. I'd never disparage a child, but she did. For what?" I expressed my frustration.
"June, please..."
"Not now, Miguel. I don't want to hear it," I cut him off.
"Miguel?" Bryan called out, and I was taken aback, realizing my slip-up.
"Oh no!"
"I see, he has you wrapped around his finger," Bryan remarked.
"That's none of your concern," I replied firmly, then gently placed Jason on the ground and stormed off in anger.
I was still reeling from my newfound feeling for Miguel and I didn't want Bryan judging me.
"Mummy?" Lily's voice trailed after me, causing me to pause. I took her hands in mine, and we walked into the garage together. I sat her on the trunk and held her close, listening to the soft, rhythmic beat of her heart.
"You can't stay angry at them forever," Lily blurted out, and I lifted my gaze to meet hers.
"You don't know what they did," I replied solemnly and pinched the bridge of my nose. I looked up at the night sky and watched as the stars shimmered, eliciting a heavy sigh from me.
"True, but you can't hold onto anger forever. Eventually, forgiveness becomes necessary," Lily's innocent words lingered in the air, carrying a sense of wisdom beyond her years. The room was filled with a palpable tension, a quiet before the storm.
A warm smile graced my lips at Lily's insightful comment. "You truly brought light into my life, didn't you?" I pondered aloud, the weight of the moment hanging in the air. Her soft giggle added a touch of innocence to the somber atmosphere.
Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by Lolia’s urgent call. "June!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with panic as she rushed towards us. My heart skipped a beat, sensing the impending storm.
Concern etched across my face, I turned to face Lolita, who stood before us, visibly distressed. She struggled to catch her breath before delivering the devastating news, "There has been a complication with Miguel's surgery. Please come now!"
The world seemed to halt for a moment as the gravity of her words sank in.
"What!"