Chapter 3
"Go home," he said. "Once the challenge is over, I'll go check on Charlie .
"But definitely not right now."
His coldness crushed every bit of my anger and grief in an instant.
I couldn't understand when the gentle, caring husband I once knew had turned into someone so heartless.
Back then, if Charlie got into a little scuffle at kindergarten and barely scraped his skin, he'd storm off to confront the other kid's parents.
Yet now, he could turn a blind eye to Charlie's dying wish.
Like a lost soul, I wandered back to the hospital and collapsed beside Charlie's bed.
When I opened my eyes again, his laughter danced in my ears.
"Mom, you are such a sleepyhead," he said. "The sun's already up and you're still in bed."
Charlie seemed unusually lively, chattering about wanting to go to the amusement park and ride the Ferris wheel.
My heart sank.
It was that bittersweet burst of energy before the end.
I buried my worry deep inside, scooped Charlie up, and smothered him with two big kisses.
"Alright, let's go," I said. "Today's all about you. Whatever you want to do, we'll do it."
Charlie was all smiles the whole day, and not once did he ask about his father.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, he was still smiling at me from the carousel—until, without warning, he fell.
I rushed forward, scooped him up, and ran toward the hospital.
He woke briefly as we neared it.
His unfocused eyes suddenly lit up at something outside the window.
"Mom, it's Dad's car," he said. "Did Dad come back to see me?"
My heart skipped a beat, and a spark of joy lit up my eyes.
"Yes, your dad's back to see you. Maybe he's already waiting for you in your room," I said.
But when we reached the ward, it was empty. Charlie's face fell, the light in his eyes dimming.
Desperate, I tried to comfort him. "Maybe your Dad's looking all over the hospital for you right now.
"Be good, listen to the doctor, and I will go get him, alright?"
The moment I stepped out of the ward, I totally lost it.
I dialed William's number again and again, hoping he would pick up.
But ten minutes passed, and the line stayed silent.
I slammed my fist against the wall. A sharp sting spread through my knuckles.
The pain dragged me back to that day when I begged William to quit the challenge.
Then it hit me—Lucy.
*****
I sprinted to her daughter's ward.
The moment I pushed open the door, I saw William dressed in a hospital gown.
Not wasting a second, I grabbed his arm, gasping for breath as I spoke. "Come with me, quick. Charlie wants to see you."
"No! He can't leave," Lucy shouted.
William stayed firmly seated on the hospital bed while Lucy watched me warily.
"Charlie's not going to make it," I cried. "He just wants to see you one last time. William, he's your son."
My red-rimmed eyes must have shaken him, because he hesitated and took a few uncertain steps toward me.
But Lucy blocked his way.
"Will, didn't you already visit Charlie's room just now?" she said sharply. "Did you forget what the nurse told you?"
William's face darkened. He yanked his hand free from my grip.
"Emily, that's enough," he snapped. "The doctor said Charlie was doing great today. He even spent the whole day at the amusement park with you.
"I seriously can't believe you'd curse your own son, just to stop me from donating a kidney to Sophie."
He shoved me off so hard that I totally lost my footing and went crashing straight to the floor.
The pain barely registered. Lying there, I begged him through tears, my voice breaking.
"Will, I'm not lying to you," I said. "Please, for the sake of everything we've been through, just go see Charlie. Please."