#Chapter 68 – Heartfelt Goodbyes

Olivia's POV The soft beep of the machines filled the room, a rhythmic reminder of how fragile this moment was. I sat at my mother’s bedside, her once vibrant features pale and sunken, but her eyes still held that spark of determination that had always defined her. I reached for her hand, surprised by how frail it felt in mine. “I didn’t think I’d see you so soon,” she whispered, her voice a reedy thread that still carried a trace of her strength. I managed to offer her a small smile, though my heart ached. “I had to be here, Mom. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She gave a faint laugh that ended in a cough, and I reached for the glass of water on the side table, holding it to her lips. Her fingers lightly brushed mine as she drank, and the touch grounded me in the reality of what was coming. I wasn’t ready to lose her. “You’ve always been so stubborn,” she said, her voice clearer now. “It’s your greatest strength and your biggest challenge. Not your empathy.” My ey