UNBOUNDED HEARTBEATS

It was heavily raining outside, and Grace was lying on the hospital bed, watching the beautiful rain through the window of her hospital room.

She was admitted to the hospital last night as she again got a panic attack, and this time a serious one.

She almost stopped breathing, and her mother got really scared. She immediately took her hospital. She was so scared to lose her.

It is been ten months since Mrs. Patterson officially adopted Grace. It was a tough process for Mrs. Patterson to adopt her as she was above eighteen years old and mature enough to take all her legal decisions.

But Mrs. Patterson's determination and hard work made this work perfectly done and she could adopt her. Mrs. Patterson is now in her late thirties but unfortunately, she had no child from her ten years of marriage. She tried to adopt a boy before, but he was not willing to stay with her and left her hopeless.

It is been months but she is still not open to anyone. She used to stay in her room most of the time. Even in college, she does not talk to anyone.

She does not have any friends either. Mrs. Patterson tried a lot to talk to her, but she never shared anything. She used to stay quiet all the time and so many times she cries alone in her room.

She tried to cheer up, but there was no use in it. She wonders what happened to this beautiful poor soul, but she has no clues of her past.

It was two days now since Grace was discharged from the hospital, and now she could continue her first year in college. She prepared her bag and came downstairs.

"Grace, do not go without eating your breakfast my baby", said Mrs. Patterson to Grace who was tying the shoelaces on the stairs. " I am not hungry mom. I mean Mrs. Patterson", said Grace.

It was the first time when Grace called her mom. It was accidentally but she loved it. A few tears escaped from the corner of her eyes, and there was a small smile on her lips. She came closer to Grace and gently kissed her head.

"I would really love it, baby, if you will call me mom forever", said Mrs. Patterson as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Grace felt so bad for her. And she knows Mrs. Patterson is a nice woman and she is taking care of her like her own daughter.

" Please do not cry because of me Mrs. Patterson. I mean mom", said Grace, and the smile Mrs. Patterson's got wider, and more tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks.

She had waited years for this day. Her ears yearned to hear this word and today when Grace called her mom, her eyes got wet. She kissed Crystal's head and pulled her into a deep hug,

"Okay mom, now I have to go to college. See you soon", said Grace and about to walk away.

" No Grace, you have to eat some breakfast. Only then I will let you go", said Crystal's mom and hold her hand. "Okay fine mom, let us go, or else will be late", said Grace and quickly sat at the dining table. And her mom served her. This is the first time when she is literally happy.

Ten months is not a short time period. In these ten months, Grace never smiled, not even once. She did not react at all when Mrs. Patterson adopted her. She thought they are her new customers and now she was used to this life.

But this time her life changed upside down. They started treating her like their own daughter. She could not believe it was happening in real. They were like God to her. Treating her like a princess.

But she now looks like a dead body. She does not smile now. She does not even talk to anyone, she is just a living thing.