The child is gone before we could know it existed.

WAKE YOUR DREAMS

The child is gone before we could know it existed.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

A few months later,

It was 6 pm in the evening.

Kiyoko was walking through the corridor. She had just completed visiting the patients. All was left for her to collect her handbag from her office before leaving for home.

"Good evening, Dr. Watanabe." A nurse wished as she walked by.

Kiyoko nodded and wished her back.

The rumor had died down. No one dared to voice out regarding the rumors after that day.

At that moment her phone which was kept in her coat pocket vibrated.

Kiyoko took out the phone. On seeing the caller ID, she hesitated to pick the call. But she nevertheless picked up after some inner debate.

"Mom…" It was a word which Kiyoko felt foreign to her all of a sudden.

When was the last time she talked with her mother?

Kiyoko used to call her mother a few years ago but it was only a few handful times when her mother did pick up the phone.

"Why did you not tell me Kazuke have gone to that stupid expedition? It was you who encouraged him, right?"

Kiyoko sighed.

"Why did do that? My son has gone so far away. What will happen if something happens to him? Why are you such a bother still now?" Kiyoko's mother continued.

"I am a bother?" Kiyoko asked. She leaned against the wall.

"Yes, you have destroyed your life and now you are misleading your brother to take the wrong path."

"No, Mom. You are wrong. I am living a lot better life than when I was in Kyoto. You and dad are the bother in Kazuke's life. Not me!"

"Kiyoko…" Kiyoko's mother yelled.

"You two are pressuring him. He is already a grown up. Let him take his own decision. Don't cut his wings; he is not your puppet."

There was no answer from the other side.

"It is his dream to join the expedition team. Do you ever care to listen to what actually he wants? You believe what you tell him to do is the best for him."

Kiyoko laughed aloud before saying," So you two think of me as a bother? Did you two ever think of me as your daughter?"

"Kiyoko, how dare you say like that?" Kiyoko's mother bellowed from the other end of the call.

"But that's the truth. I am not your daughter. I am only a bother. I am a bother to your dear son." Kiyoko broke down into tears and hang up the call.

Kiyoko felt her head spinning.

'A bother…!'

'A useless daughter…!'

She could still feel the tingling sensation on her right cheek on which her father slapped her that day. That day was the last when she saw her parents.

"Ungrateful child…" Kiyoko mumbled. That's what her father called her that day.

"Dr. Watanabe…"

Kiyoko could see a staff running towards her. Her knees weakened and her vision blurred.

Kiyoko felt herself swoon, slipping away into darkness to end in a crumpled heap on the floor.

Her ears buzzed slightly.

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Zehan was at his office when he got the call from the hospital and informed that he should immediately come over to the hospital.

'Dr. Watanabe has fainted.'

Zehan came over to the hospital as fast as he could. He speeded his car and arrived at the hospital premise within twenty minutes. His mother had already arrived by then.

Fanny Natsumi hugged Zehan as she cried as she said what the doctor informed her a couple minutes earlier before entering the emergency theatre.

Zehan felt his heart clenching. He glanced at the closed emergency theatre's door.

"Kiyoko…" He mumbled.

He felt powerless standing outside unable to be at Kiyoko's side. His lips grew thin and firm.

He felt his head pounding with tension.

Zehan made Fanny Natsumi sit down on the seat outside the ward.

Each minute felt like an hour to Zehan. His eyes stuck on the light blinking above the shut doors in front of him.

After some minutes, the doors opened and the doctor strode out.

"Dr. Watanabe is out of danger."

"The patient can have vulnerable emotions. Please treat her with care."

"Thank you, doctor…" Fanny Natsumi said.

The doctor nodded and then strode away.

Fanny Natsumi felt her voice becoming thick and unsteady. She said which patting Zehan," Go and talk with her. She needs you."

The nurse walked towards them and informed them that they can visit the patient then. Kiyoko had been transferred to the patient ward.

"Go…I am coming in a bit." Fanny Natsumi nudged Zehan to enter the emergency room.

..............................….

When Zehan entered the room, his gaze swiveled over to the figure sitting on the bed.

Kiyoko glanced back at him. Their eyes met and locked in a shared understanding.

Zehan rushed towards the bed and hugged Kiyoko.

His body felt heavy when he glanced at the tired eyes looking back at him.

Zehan patted Kiyoko on her head gently.

"The child is gone before we could know it existed." Kiyoko mumbled.

Zehan hugged her tightly.

"Sorry…" Kiyoko whimpered softly.

She was shocked when the doctor informed her about the miscarriage and blankly stared at the white ceiling but it was not long when she realized what actually had happened.

Kiyoko felt a lump of emotions rising deep inside her.

When she felt the very familiar warm touch upon her skin, she could no longer buckle up the tears within her. She put her arms around Zehan's waist, clutching his shirt within her fists.

She broke down into tears. She cried like a baby.

Zehan silently hugged her back, and occasionally patted her head.

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END OF CHAPTER 36