Shey back down on her hospital bed and pulled out her phone to send a quick message.


    Henry, noticing that Timothy was still standing in the hallway, tugged his sleeve and whispered, "Dad, aren''t you going in to see Miss She?"


    She''s hurt. You should at least check on her.


    Jessica was fast asleep in the other room, her IV freshly hooked up. It would be a while before the nurse needed to change her drip.


    Timothy and Henry entered She''s room together.


    She looked up as they came in, her voice soft but warm. "Timothy, Henry."


    With an effort, she tried to sit up.


    Timothy crossed the room in a few strides, grabbed a pillow, and gently tucked it behind her back to help her sit morefortably.


    Watching Timothy''s caring gestures, She felt a fresh wave of bitterness wash over her. He was still so gentle with her-yet she knew his heart was no longer hers alone.


    She couldn''t let things go on like this.


    How could their love possibly make room for anyone else?


    Once the pillow was in ce, Timothy steadied her by the shoulders and eased her back. Henry leaned over the side of the bed, worry etched across his small face. "Miss She, are you feeling any better? Does it still hurt?"


    She reached out and stroked Henry''s hair, her expression tender. "With you worrying about me, it doesn''t hurt at all."


    Henry pouted, unconvinced. "You''re fibbing. You lost so much blood-how could it not hurt? Will it leave a scar? Miss She, you''re so elegant and pretty. You can''t have a scar!"


    Sheughed. "Don''t worry, no scars. Last time I got hurt, your dad brought me some special scar ointment from overseas. By the way, where''s your mom?"


    At the mention of his mother, Henry''s smile faded. "Mom''s got a fever. She''s still sleeping."


    The memory of the paper-cutting contest made him clench his fists. Unless his mom apologized first, he wasn''t about to speak to her.


    She''d barely been aroundtely. If it weren''t for Miss She keeping himpany, he''d have been so lonely, so helpless.


    He was still angry.


    That wasn''t going to fade anytime soon.


    She nced up at Timothy, her tone gentle andposed. "Timothy it''s not easy for Jessy toe home, and now she''s sick again People are at their most vulnerable when they''re ill. You should be with her. Once she wakes up, I''ll go see her."


    Timothy nodded. "Alright."


    After She''s recent spate of injuries, Timothy was relieved to see she was alright.


    She had meant it as a polite gesture. She hadn''t expected Timothy to actually take her at her word and leave so quickly.


    Her heart sank all over again.


    Henry grumbled, "Miss She, you just said people are at their most vulnerable when they''re sick. Aren''t you unwell, too? Dad should''ve stayed a little longer with you before running off."


    He looked up at her, trying to cheer her up with a bright smile. "But don''t worry, Miss She. I''ll stay with you."


    Timothy made his way to Jessica''s room. She was still asleep, eyes closed, breathing softly.


    He sat down at her bedside.


    The room was so quiet, Jessica could hear Timothy''s breathing.


    A few minutes passed, and then she heard his footsteps heading toward the door.


    Barely three minutester, she sensed two people entering the room.


    Timothy''s voice was hushed. "She''s asleep, be gentle."


    Jessica could tell the nurse was


    changing her IV. The nurse movet


    with practiced care, finished


    35 Ron Co


    quickly,


    slipped out of the room.


    Silence settled over the room once more.


    Jessica heard Timothy tapping on his phone, sending a message.


    Pretending to sleep, shey there so long that eventually, she really did drift off.


    At some point, Timothy''s phone rang. He hastily turned the volume down, tiptoed out into the hallway, and answered the call.