Chapter 46

As soon as we arrived at the city hospital, Mom was rushed to the emergency ward. Zane and I waited outside impatiently. "What happened all of a sudden?" I finally had the chance to ask the question that had been nagging me the entire way. Zane slumped into the chair, shaking his head. "I don't know. I woke up this morning to the sound of her coughing. When I rushed to her, I was shocked—she coughed up blood. I was so terrified." His voice trembled, his eyes wide with horror. I sat down in the chair next to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder in an attempt to calm him. He turned his teary eyes to me. "Will she be okay?" I nodded, though my throat tightened. "Yes," I managed. "She'll be fine." I hugged him, comforting him. "I am so scared," Zane mumbled. "I just want her to live a long life with us. I want to see her healthy. It's unbearable to see her in pain." I couldn't speak. All I did was pat his head to soothe him. "I feel so helpless," he continued. "I am so useless. I can