Page 53 of Ruthless Lullaby

"This is where she is," I say when we get to Room 501.

"I'll wait outside." He nods.

I return the gesture with a smile and push open the door.

As soon as I step into the small, sterile room and see my mother lying there, the reality of her illness hits me hard. She looks so tiny and fragile, like she could break at any moment. It kills me to see her like this and be constantly reminded of the fleeting nature of life.

I creep towards her bed, careful not to make any noise that might disturb her rest. Once I reach her side, I gently smooth her blanket, tucking it snugly around her frail form. I press a soft kiss to her temple, my throat tightening with emotion. "Sleep well, Mom," I whisper.

To my surprise, her eyes flutter open, and a smile spreads across her face as she sees me. "Mindy, sweetheart," she murmurs, her voice weak.

"Shh, Mom," I whisper, placing a finger to my lips. "I just came in for a short visit. I missed you."

Her smile widens, and she reaches out to take my hand in hers. "I miss you every day, my sweet," she says, her skin cool and papery against mine.

I swallow hard and gently tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. "How are you feeling, Mom?" I whisper.

"Better," she says, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "A lot better, my sweet. The new treatment seems to be helping."

Relief washes over me like a warm wave, and I feel a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "Good," I say, squeezing her hand gently. "I'll speak to dr. Walker tomorrow and get an update on your progress."

She nods, then asks, "Have you seen Alexis? How is she?"

The question catches me off guard and I hesitate. I don’t want to worry my mom with the harsh reality of my sister's drug and financial problems, or the constant arguments between us. "She's doing well, Mom," I fib, plastering on a fake smile.

A flicker of sadness crosses my mother's face. "She hasn't been here yet," she says.

I furrow my brow. Anger boils up within me as I think about my unreliable sister, and I really wish I could shake some sense into her. So, she hasn’t come after all. She even had the nerve to borrow my car, claiming she was coming to visit our mother, but it looks like she was doing something else instead.

Dammit, Alexis!

"She will, Mom," I say firmly. "I'll make sure of it."

My mother smiles, her eyes drifting closed once more. "Thank you, Mindy," she murmurs, her voice fading. "I love both my daughters, even if they're silly sometimes." She gives me a weak smile. "You're always taking such good care of me."

I place another gentle kiss on her forehead, my heart aching with love and worry. "Of course, Mom," I say softly. "You just relax now, okay? Everything will be taken care of, I promise."

She nods, slipping back into a peaceful slumber. My beautiful, kindhearted mother. I sit with her for a few more minutes, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest. Finally, with a heavy sigh, I stand up and make my way towards the door, pausing one last time to look back at my mother's fragile form.

"I love you, Mom," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "More than anything in this world." Then, with a final glance, I slip out of the room and back into the corridor, where Maron is waiting for me.

His eyes lock onto mine as I appear, his gaze intense and searching. "How is she?" he asks.

"Better," I sigh.

A flicker of understanding passes over Maron's face, softening his usually hard features. "Good," he says, his eyes never leaving mine. "I know this is hard for you, Mindy."

His words catch me off guard. I’m not used to this side of him. It’s so unlike the bosshole I saw every day at the office. "You do?" I ask, unable to mask my surprise.

Maron's jaw tightens, a shadow passing over his face. "I also have... some challenges with my mother," he admits.

"I'm sorry," I murmur, resisting a sudden urge to reach out and touch him. There's still an invisible barrier between us, one I'm not sure I should cross.

Maron shrugs, his expression becoming inscrutable once more. But I catch a hint of bitterness in his eyes, a flicker of pain that makes my heart ache.

Silent and lost in our own minds, we walk back to the car. The receptionist at the front desk doesn't even bother to glance up as we pass by. When we get to the sleek black vehicle, he opens the door and gestures for me to get in.

I pause, reflecting on the series of events that led me to this moment. However, as I lock eyes with Maron and feel the intensity of his gaze pierce through me, I can't shake off an eerie feeling: it's almost as if I was meant to be here, in this exact moment, with this dark and enigmatic man by my side.

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