Chapter 5
Mom pulled me and Adrian inside.
With a loud bang, she slammed the door shut.
I watched through the floor-to-ceiling window as he stood alone in the dim front yard.
Richard just stood there, unmoving, for what felt like ages.
After wrestling with himself for a while, he finally spun around and rushed off to chase after Fiona.
Honestly, over these past seven years, I'd sometimes find myself missing him.
He left so suddenly back then.
Before that, he was pretty good to me.
But seeing him again now, I finally realized something.
I didn't feel anything for him anymore, not even a trace of family. All I felt was disgust.
I turned my head and saw Mom cleaning the spot on her wrist where Richard had grabbed her, using a wet wipe.
I knew her feelings for him were gone.
After seven years, all we felt for him now was pure hatred.
That night, Mom and I were lying in bed together.
Mom still kept a bank card in the drawer of the nightstand.
It was the card Daniel had left with her seven years ago.
By then, his health had already gotten much better.
He told Mom that once he was fully recovered, he wanted to go down south and start a small business.
He said he didn't want to be trapped in the past anymore.
He just wanted to feel human again, to live a normal life for once.
That was one of the happiest times I could remember Mom ever having.
She'd pulled someone who was dying and hopeless right back from the brink.
But in the end, something happened.
Mom probably thought I was asleep.
She held me close, her voice trembling as she whispered softly.
"I almost went after her overseas.
"I was ready to go down with Fiona Scott, just to get revenge for him.
"My patients are like children I raised myself.
She reached out, her fingertips gently brushing the hair from my forehead.
"But Emily, you're still so young. I just can't bear to leave you.
"I just want to be here and watch you grow up, healthy and happy.
"I'm so selfish."
I snuggled closer into Mom's arms, feeling her warmth, and whispered, "It's not your fault, Mom."
Mom suddenly froze, then looked down at me, surprised to realize I'd been awake the whole time.
I looked up at her. Her eyes were full of pain and guilt.
I reached up with my fingers and gently wiped away the tears from her eyes.
"I just want you to keep living your life, Mom," I whispered, my voice soft and sincere.
"I'm sure Daniel would want that for you too."
Daniel had known it wasn't Mom's fault, and he never blamed her.
That was why the only letter he left behind before he died was written to her.
He left her a will.
He left all his few belongings to Mom.
He wrote: [I'm sorry, Dr. Halls. I couldn't live up to your kindness and skill.]
Mom hugged me tightly.
I could hear her trying so hard to hold back her quiet sobs.
In the dim light, with the silent shadows of the trees dancing across the window, I found myself lost in old memories and the stories Mom used to tell me.
I started thinking about all the stuff Mom used to talk about, and the way I remembered things back then.