Sleep Talking

Edith arrived at the hospital as soon as the call ended.

During the phone call, Edith had learned a bit about Hazel's fever and had suggested President Neil Mo bring the little girl to see a doctor.

Although Neil had told her that he was going to take his niece to the hospital, Edith just could not stop worrying.

After she guessed at which hospital that the man was going to take his niece, Edith took a bus and head over.

Fortunately, she had made the right guess and the nurse at the pediatrician station had confirmed that there was a child named Hazel Mo in the hospital.

Once she got the room number from the nurse, Edith walked through the corridor and stopped upon finding the room. She raised her hand and knocked on the door before she pushed the door open.

As soon as Edith stepped in, her gaze met with Neil's. The frown on his face eased the moment he saw her and soon was replaced by surprise.

"Teacher Qian. Why are you here?"

"I was worried about Hazel and came to see her," Edith said. She shifted her gaze and looked at the small figure on the bed. At this time, Hazel's body was covered with a blanket and an IV drip beside her bed. "How is Hazel?"

"The doctor has given her medicine. Her temperature had dropped. She should be alright after getting enough rest." Neil said. "Teacher Qian, please, come in."

Edith walked over to the bed to take a good look at the sleeping girl. Her hand stretched out to test her temperature and frowned upon finding that it was hotter than she had thought.

"The doctor said her temperature will go down after a while," Neil explained. "But, how did you know that Hazel was not feeling well?"

"I noticed that Hazel did not look very good when she was at school." She raised her head and their gazes met for a few seconds before Edith lowered her head to look at Hazel again. "But when I asked, Hazel smiled and told me that she's alright."

There was a flash of surprise in his eyes and Neil's gaze softened as he looked at his niece.

This little girl was feeling unwell but had chosen to bear with the pain and had not said a word to the adults.

"I almost missed the sign. But then, I was suddenly reminded of my younger self," Edith continued. "At that time, I chose not to say a word to my grandpa because I did not want to worry him. The expression that Hazel had just now was almost the same as mine and I thought that perhaps she was thinking the same."

Sometimes, kids like Hazel would choose not to say anything when they got hurt as they fear that they would only be a nuisance. They would choose to bear with their pain until they could no longer hold on. Therefore, as an adult, it was their job to be attentive towards how the child behaved.

Because she had been in the same position as Hazel in the past, Edith was able to guess at the little girl's thought.

Neil's gaze turned complicated as he looked at Hazel. A pang of guilt attacked him at the thought that she had not said a word to him because she did not want him to worry.

Previously, he had made Hazel join him in the interview. He had thought that Hazel was in a bad mood, but had not inquired further upon thinking that she was only tired after coming back from school.

Hazel had listened to his words and joined him in that interview without complaining. Suddenly, Neil felt as if he was very incompetent and negligent as Hazel's guardian.

"If it was not for your phone call, perhaps I won't notice her condition until much later." Neil took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "The doctor said that Hazel might be too tired. Nanny Ann was unwell and had to stay home to recuperate. These days, Hazel had to go straight to my office and stay until I had finished my job."

Edith's gaze softened upon seeing that Neil was blaming himself.

However, this was not his fault.

President Neil Mo was always busy with his work. He had never had any experience in looking after Hazel and has not been close with her from her birth. But Edith could see that he cared and had wanted to look after his niece by himself.

To raise a child alone, and being a single parent was not an easy task. But Neil Mo had done his best to look over his niece.

The two adults continued to chat about Hazel.

At this time, Hazel suddenly stirred in her sleep and a low mewl escaped her.

The two grownups turned simultaneously to look at her and relaxed as she continued to sleep. Seeing the beads of sweat on Hazel's forehead, Edith swiftly took some tissue on the bedside table and dabbed to dry the sweat.

"Mama."

Edith's hand that was dabbing the little girl's forehead froze.

The little girl's voice was hoarse and there was a hint of grievance.

Edith continued to stare at Hazel in a daze. Suddenly, Hazel's face contorted, her lips pouted slightly and tears streamed down on her face.

The two adults looked at each other, surprised upon hearing Hazel's call and how she had reacted.

Edith retracted her hand and froze again when she heard her next words.

"Mama, please, don't go."

The room turned silent for a long time. Both Edith and Neil looked at Hazel, realizing that she was probably talking in her sleep because of her high fever. Suddenly, they did not know what they should do.

"Mama," Her voice was pleading and the tears on her face did not stop.

Edith instinctively moved forward and sat beside her bed. She dabbed at the little girl's tears and caressed her hair, coaxing Hazel to sleep.

Perhaps it was due to her soothing words and gentle tone, soon, Hazel's tears stopped and she continued to sleep.

Edith breathed a sigh in relief. She continued to watch the little girl for a while until Hazel's breathing stabilized. Just as she was about to retract her hand, Hazel tightened her grip around Edith's arms, as if refusing to let her go.

Not wanting to disturb Hazel in her sleep, Edith could only resign to her fate and let Hazel sleep while holding her hand.

"Let me help you," Neil said as he stepped forward to entangle Hazel's hand away.

"It's fine." Edith turned to the man and smiled. "Let her sleep like this."

Neil hesitated for a while, then nodded. He glanced at her wristwatch and frown upon noticing the time. "I will get Old Tang to send you home later."

"Don't worry. I can stay at a friend's place for the night," Edith said, as she made a mental note to text her friend, Lily, later. "Her place is rather close to the kindergarten. President Mo, don't worry about me."

"Then, I will have to trouble you."