"You're sick. Here, drink some water and take your medicine," Ben said quietly.

Jamie's mind was a foggy blur when she tried to recall what had happened before she fell ill, but she quickly gave up. Taking a small sip of water, she let it soothe her dry throat, and her complexion improved slightly. After swallowing the medicine, she lay back down. She didn't want to stay in bed. She wanted to go to the hospital to see Charlie.

But Ben firmly pressed her back onto the bed. "Rest and recover. I already told you, don't worry about Charlie. He's doing just fine."

Looking at his unyielding expression, Jamie pressed her lips together and reluctantly gave in.

Taking a deep breath, she stared at the ceiling, her mind blank. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that Winnie's presence still lingered by her side.

Her voice wavered. "Do you think... maybe Winnie hasn't really left?"

Ben paused, his gaze softening. "Those who leave don't disappear. They've just gone somewhere else, waiting to reunite with us someday."

Jamie silently repeated his words, tears slipping down her cheeks. Not wanting him to see her vulnerable, she turned her back to him and quietly endured the bitterness of her grief.

Ben didn't push her further. As he had said, he was simply there to quietly stay by her side.

That night, they sat in silence, offering each other unspoken comfort.

*

At the hospital, Charlie sat on his bed sulking as he stared at the door. "Mom didn't come. Why didn't Mom come to see me, Grandma? I miss her."

Mrs. Lucas knew why Jamie hadn't come. Ben had already messaged her, explaining everything.

She gently reassured Charlie, "Your mom just has something important to handle right now. Once she's finished, she'll come to see you."

"More important than me?" Charlie asked innocently, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Children couldn't understand adult priorities, and his simple, honest question tugged at Mrs. Lucas's heart. Not wanting to disappoint him, she decided to change the subject. en Ebookex

"Is that your favorite puzzle over there?" she asked, glancing at the table.

As expected, her distraction worked. Charlie's attention shifted instantly. Grabbing the puzzle, he lit up. "Yes, Grandma! This is my favorite puzzle! "It's a gift from Mom."

"Can you teach me how to play with it?" Mrs. Lucas asked.

Charlie eagerly agreed. Bored from being in the hospital, he was thrilled to have someone to play with and started explaining the puzzle to her with excitement.

The puzzle was a bit complex and not something most people could solve quickly, but Charlie completed

it in just a few moves. He proudly held it up for Mrs. Lucas to see.

"Look, Grandma!"

Mrs. Lucas clapped her hands and praised him generously. "Charlie, you're amazing!"

Charlie beamed with pride, then dismantled the puzzle and patiently showed her how to solve it step by step.

Though she wasn't interested in children's toys, Mrs. Lucas indulged him, wanting to keep him happy. Seeing how much fun he was having brought her genuine joy.

As they played, Charlie suddenly placed the puzzle on the floor and said with a wistful smile, "Before, only Mom would play like this with me."

Mrs. Lucas's heart ached.

She pulled him onto her lap and said softly, "From now on, Grandma will play with you too. How does that sound?"

"Pinky promise!" Charlie said, holding out his little finger.

Smiling, Mrs. Lucas hooked her

finger around his. Charlie's innocent laughter filled the room, unaware that the woman he called Grandma was, in fact, his biological

grandmother.

For a moment, Mrs. Lucas thought about telling him the truth. But after some hesitation, she swallowed the words, deciding to keep them to herself for now.

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