Chapter 2: The Hospital
Chapter 2: The Hospital
Four hours later, my private jet landed in Seattle.
The twins sat beside me the entire flight.
Neither let go of my hand.
The address in the letter led to a small hospital overlooking the water.
Nothing fancy.
Nothing expensive.
Just quiet.
Too quiet.
A nurse met us at the entrance.
The moment she saw the boys, sadness filled her eyes.
My heart sank.
"Room 312," she whispered.
The walk felt endless.
Then I opened the door.
Olivia lay in bed.
Fragile.
Pale.
Nothing like the vibrant woman I remembered.
Yet somehow still beautiful.
For a second neither of us spoke.
Then her eyes filled with tears.
"Hi, Alex."
My entire world shattered.
I crossed the room in seconds.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I whispered.
She cried openly now.
"I was afraid."
"Of me?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"Of losing you again."
The boys climbed onto the bed.
One on each side.
The four of us stayed there for hours.
Talking.
Laughing.
Crying.
Recovering seven stolen years.
But late that night, after the boys fell asleep, Olivia finally told me the truth.
The cancer had spread.
There were no more treatments.
No more options.
May you like
Only time.
And not much of it.
