I turned my eyes back to Noah. His little hands were busy adjusting his toy on myp, as if the toy, too, wanted to cheer me on. He shifted closer, then looked at me intently, as though making sure I truly was all right. That gaze was so honest it stripped me bare of every pretense.
The afternoon air slipped through the gap in the curtains, carrying a faint scent from the hospital garden, mingling with the fragrance of the purple roses on the table. Together, they created a different atmosphere: no longer cold, no longer frightening. The room was now filled with signs of life, of love. I
could feel it in every corner.
Noah swung his small legs back and forth, waiting for something perhaps for me to open the cake, perhaps for some reaction. I didn’t move right away. I just wanted to savor this moment, to absorb every detail so it wouldn’t vanish too quickly. Because I knew, I couldn’t always hold on to time together. There were days when busyness kept us apart, when distance was something I unknowingly created myself. So today, I didn’t want to rush.
I rested my head for a moment against Noah’s hair, closing my eyes. His heartbeat thudded against my chest, fast and vibrant with the energy of a child. That rhythm seemed to reignite the me within me that had been dimmed. The wounds in my body were still there, but in my heart, something new was
growing: hope.
When I finally opened my eyes, Noah was still there, smiling at me with a grin beyond price. And I knew, without words, that this was the most powerful medicine I could ever have. Not the IV drip, not the pills from doctors, but the simple love of a child and from the man who, quietly, had made sure it all reached
me safely.
Liam stepped forward, setting down a small bag of fruit on the bedside table. “We thought you could use a little sweetness and color in here.”
I nodded, trying to contain the swell of emotions rising in me. Somehow their presence made this usually quiet hospital room feel alive.
“Noah, do you want to sit here?” I asked, patting the side of the bed.
Without hesitation, he climbed up, settling beside me. His hand sped mine tightly, as if to make sure I was truly here. “Noah’s sleeping here tonight, right, Mommy<b>?</b><b>” </b>
I turned toward Liam, a little surprised.
“Yes,” he answered quickly, as though already prepared. “I thought Noah would feel calmer if he could stay with you. I brought a change of clothes.”
My smile widened, tinged with a wave of tenderness. “Then Mommy is really happy. Tonight the three <b>of </b>
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us can spend time together.”
Noah’s eyes lit up, and heunched into stories about everything he had done over the past two days about his new toy, about dinner with Grandma, even about the rain that fellst night. I listened intently, nodding now and then,ughing softly at his excitement.
Meanwhile, Liam sat in the chair near the bed, quietly watching us. I could feel his gaze, but I didn’t dare hold it for long. There was still a distance between us that hadn’t fully disappeared, yet this moment made that distance feel a little smaller.
When Noah finally let out a small yawn, I stroked his cheek. “Sweetheart, are you tired?”
“A little,” he admitted honestly. “But Noah wants to eat cake with Mommy first.”
I chuckled softly. “All right. But just a little, okay? Mommy still isn’t allowed to eat too much.”
Liam helped open the cake box, and the sweet aroma of strawberries immediately filled the air. Noah let out a small cheer, then carefully divided the slices. One for me, one for himself, and one for Liam.
“We eat together, so Mommy gets better faster,” he said, raising his fork proudly.
The three of us ate in afortable silence. The sweetness of the cream mixed with the freshness of the strawberries, as if sealing the day with the perfect ending after all the exhaustion.
Eventually, Noahid his head on myp, his eyes growing heavy. I gently stroked his hair, feeling his breathing settle into a steady rhythm. “He must be tired,” I whispered softly to Liam.
He nodded, his voice low. “But he’s happy. So am I.”
I looked at him, startled by the rare honesty that slipped past his lips. But before I could say anything, he lowered his gaze, as though afraid I might read deeper into it.
I turned back to Noah, pressing a soft kiss on his forehead. “Thank you, Liam, for bringing him here.”
He met my eyes briefly before answering simply, “You’re wee.”
Liam settled into the chair by the window, staring outside as if lost in thought. I had been holding onto
the doctor’s news since earlier, and finally I spoke up.
“The doctor came by today,” I murmured, gently brushing my hand over Noah’s back. Liam turned to me, his brows lifting slightly, showing he was listening. “He said tomorrow I can go home.”
For a split second, his eyes lit up, the calm mask breaking with a trace of relief he couldn’t quite hide.” That’s good news,” he said, standing and walking closer to the side of the bed. “Then tomorrow, I’ll be the
one to take you home.”
His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. I held his gaze briefly before nodding. “All right,” <b>I </b>replied quietly.
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For reasons I couldn’t exin, my heart warmed at his words, even though I tried not to show it. Over the past few days, Liam had been here almost constantly making sure I wasfortable, insisting I eat, keeping mepany when I couldn’t sleep. His attention still felt unfamiliar, but also a little frightening. I was afraid my heart might get used to it.
He gave me a faint smile, as though satisfied I hadn’t refused. “Then rest for today. Tomorrow we’ll go home,” he said while adjusting the pillows behind my back. I lowered my head, hiding an expression that
might be too easy to read.
Carefully, Liam shifted Noah from myp to lie beside me. My legs, already starting to go numb from his
weight, felt immediate relief.
“Thank you,” I said softly, watching him smooth down Noah’s messy hair with a gentle touch.
“Get some rest. I’ll sleep on the sofa,” he replied, moving to sit there.