Helen’s POV

Hospitals have a smell.

It’s not something you notice immediately, but once you do, it settles into your lungs and refuses to leave.

A mixture of antiseptic, fear, and something unspoken… something heavy.

I sat in the waiting area, my fingers tightly intertwined, my leg bouncing uncontrollably.

The ticking clock on the wall sounded louder than it should have, each second dragging like it was being forced forward.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

My heart followed the rhythm, restless and uneven.

“She’ll be fine,” I whispered to myself, though the words felt fragile. “She has to be.”

A nurse approached me gently. “Miss Helen?”

I looked up quickly. “Yes?”

“You can see your mother now. The doctors are preparing her for surgery.”

My breath caught.

Now.

It was time.

I stood up too fast, my knees almost giving way beneath me. I steadied myself and nodded. “Okay… thank you.”

Each step down the hallway felt heavier than the last. The bright white walls seemed to close in around me, the silence pressing against my chest.

When I reached her room, I hesitated at the door.

Just for a second.

Then I pushed it open.

She was there.

Lying on the bed, smaller than I remembered.

Weaker.

But still my mother.

“Mom…”

My voice broke before I could stop it.

Her eyes slowly opened at the sound of my voice, and when she saw me, a faint smile touched her lips.

“Helen…” she whispered.

That was it.

I rushed to her side, grabbing her hand carefully, afraid she might break if I held too tight.

“I’m here,” I said quickly, my voice trembling.

“I’m right here.”

Her fingers curled weakly around mine.

“You look tired,” she murmured, studying my face.

I shook my head immediately. “No, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

She smiled sadly.

“You’ve always said that,” she said softly. “Even when you were a child… you’d pretend to be strong so I wouldn’t worry.”

Tears burned at the back of my eyes.

“Mom, please…” I whispered. “Don’t talk like that.”

She exhaled slowly, her gaze softening.

“I’m sorry, Helen.”

The words hit me like a sudden storm.

“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head.

“Don’t apologize. You don’t have to apologize for anything.”

“Yes, I do,” she insisted weakly. “I made your life difficult. Your youthful days… you spent them worrying about me, taking care of me. You didn’t get to live like other girls your age.”

My grip on her hand tightened.

“That’s not true,” I said, my voice firm despite the tears forming in my eyes.

“You are not a burden. You never were.”

She looked at me quietly, like she was trying to memorize my face.

“I am,” she whispered.

“And I hate that I am."

“You’re not!” My voice cracked. “You’re my mother. You’re everything to me. How can you be a burden?”

Her eyes glistened with tears.

“You deserve more, Helen,” she said softly. “A life where you don’t have to struggle… where you don’t have to sacrifice everything for me.”

“I’m not sacrificing anything!” I protested. “I chose this. I chose you.”

She smiled faintly, but there was sadness in it.

“That’s exactly why I’m sorry.”

My chest tightened painfully.

“Mom… please,” I whispered. “Don’t do this. Not now.”

She suddenly pulled me closer, her weak arms wrapping around me in a fragile embrace.

My breath hitched.

“I need you to listen to me,” she murmured against my shoulder.

I shook my head immediately. “No… no, I don’t want to hear anything like that. You’re going to be fine. The surgery will go well, and you’ll come back, and we’ll go home together. Okay?”

She didn’t respond immediately.

And that silence terrified me.

“Helen…” she called softly.

My heart pounded.

“If something happens—”

“Nothing is going to happen!” I cut in sharply, pulling back to look at her. “You’re going to survive this. You have to.”

Her fingers brushed my cheek gently, wiping away a tear I didn’t realize had fallen.

“You’re strong,” she said. “Stronger than you think.”

“I don’t want to be strong without you,” I whispered.

Her eyes filled with tears.

“ I love you."

she said suddenly, her voice trembling. “Take care of yourself. Live your life. Don’t carry this burden anymore.”

My heart dropped.

“Stop it,” I begged. “You’re not a burden.I want you to be strong mama.”

She smiled through her tears.

“I don’t have much time, Helen.”

“No,” I said immediately, shaking my head violently.

“Don’t say that. Don’t say that!”

“I love you so much,” she whispered.

The words broke something inside me.

“I love you too,” I said quickly. “So you have to fight. You have to come back to me. You have to survive this surgery. Do you hear me?”

She nodded slowly, though her tears kept falling.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered again.

“Don’t be sorry,” I said, my voice shaking. “Just… come back.”

Before I could say anything else, the door opened.

Doctors and nurses entered, their expressions calm but serious.

“It’s time,” one of them said gently.

My heart stopped.

“No…” I whispered.

They carefully began to wheel her bed toward the door.

She reached for me, her fingers trembling.

I grabbed her hand immediately, walking alongside her as far as I could.

“Mom… please…” I begged softly. “Fight.

You have to fight.”

Tears slid down her face silently.

“I love you,” she mouthed again.

“I love you more,” I replied, forcing a smile through my tears. “Now go… and come back to me.”

The doors to the operating theatre opened.

And then...

They took her away.

Just like that.

I stood there, staring at the closed doors, my hands still lifted as if I could reach her.

But she was gone.

Time lost meaning after that.

Minutes felt like hours.

Hours felt like days.

I sat in the waiting area, my eyes fixed on nothing, my mind replaying her words over and over again.

I don’t have much time…

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “She’ll be fine. She has to be fine.”

At some point, exhaustion took over.

My body slumped against the chair, my eyes closing despite my resistance.

And for a moment..

I drifted.

“Miss Helen.”

A voice pulled me back.

I blinked slowly, disoriented.

“Miss Helen,” the voice repeated, more gently this time.

I looked up.

A doctor stood in front of me.

My heart skipped.

“Doctor…” I said, standing up quickly. “How is she? The surgery...did it go well? Can I see her?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

And that silence...

It said everything.

My chest tightened.

“Doctor?” My voice trembled. “Say something.”

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

The world stopped.

“We did everything we could,” he continued. “But the complications were too severe.

"She… didn’t make it.”

No.

No, no, no.

“That’s not possible,” I whispered, shaking my head. “You said the surgery..”

“I’m sorry,” he repeated.

The words echoed in my ears, louder and louder until everything else disappeared.

My legs gave out.

I collapsed to the floor.

“No…” I whispered, my voice hollow. “No… she can’t… she promised…”

My vision blurred, my chest tightening like I couldn’t breathe.

Her voice echoed in my mind.

I love you…

“I’m sorry…”

“I don’t have much time…”

“Stop…” I whispered weakly, pressing my hands to my ears. “Stop… stop…”

But it wouldn’t stop.

Everything went quiet.

Too quiet.

Like the world had been muted.

I didn’t know how long I stayed there.

Minutes.

Hours.

Maybe longer.

At some point, I stood up.

Or maybe I was helped up.

I couldn’t remember.

I just knew one thing...

I couldn’t stay there.

Not anymore.

The ride back felt empty.

I stared out the window, but I didn’t see anything.

Not the roads.

Not the people.

Nothing.

My mind was blank.

My chest felt hollow.

Like something had been ripped out of me, leaving nothing behind.

When the car stopped in front of the mansion, I didn’t react immediately.

The driver opened the door.

“Miss…” he called softly.

I stepped out slowly.

My legs moved on their own, carrying me inside.

I didn’t greet anyone.

I didn’t speak.

I just walked.

Straight to his room.

I didn’t even think about it.

I just knew...

I needed… something.

Someone.

Maybe comfort.

Maybe words.

Maybe just… presence.

I reached his door.

And without knocking...

I opened it.

And froze.

Everything inside me shattered.

Troy was there.

Not alone.

A woman....naked was with him, pressed close against him.

His hands, chocking her neck, as she was moaning.

Sex!.

He kept humping her.... Moving her body roughly....

The lady didn't even notice me.... The pleasure made it impossible.

The air felt thick.

Heavy.

Wrong.

My breath caught in my throat.

For a second, I thought I had walked into the wrong room.

But no.

It was him.

Troy.

His gaze lifted.

And met mine.

There was no shock.

No panic.

No guilt.

Just..nothing.....cold.....unreadable.

Still.

He kept humping the lady.... staring deeply into my soul.

Didn’t stop.

Didn’t say a word.

My fingers tightened around the door handle.

My mind went completely blank.

I couldn’t think.

Couldn’t feel.

Couldn’t breathe.

Just moments ago, I had lost my mother.

And now....

This.

I stood there, frozen in place, staring at him like I didn’t recognize the man in front of me.

And he simply stared back.

Like I didn't matter.