Chapter 3: The Truth Behind The Call
827 Words
The rain continued long after Noah disappeared into the night.
Amara remained by the cafe window, staring at the door as though he might suddenly return with that easy smile of his.
“He didn’t even finish his hot chocolate,” the waiter murmured as he cleared Noah’s untouched cup.
Amara looked down at it.
The drink had already begun to cool.
“So much can change in a minute,” she whispered.
Across town, Noah sped through the wet streets, ignoring the red lights that seemed to last forever.
His heart pounded.
Please let her be okay.
Please..
When he finally reached St. Mary’s Hospital, he rushed through the emergency entrance.
“Excuse me,” he said breathlessly to the receptionist. “Margaret Hayes… she was brought in a few minutes ago.”
The nurse checked her computer.
“Family?”
“I’m her son.”
“She’s stable.”
Noah closed his eyes in relief.
“Can I see her?”
The nurse nodded.
“Room 214.”
Margaret Hayes looked surprisingly peaceful despite the oxygen tube resting beneath her nose.
She smiled weakly when Noah entered.
“You drove too fast.”
“You scared me.”
“I’m still here.”
He sat beside her bed and held her hand.
“You need to stop pretending you’re stronger than everyone.”
She chuckled softly.
“I suppose mothers never learn.”
A doctor entered a moment later.
“Mr. Hayes?”
“Yes?”
“We’ve completed your mother’s tests.”
Noah stood.
“Is she going to be okay?”
The doctor’s expression became serious.
“Physically, yes.”
Noah frowned.
“But…”
“She has been hiding something from you.”
Margaret lowered her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Noah.”
The doctor continued.
“Your mother has been diagnosed with early-stage heart disease.”
Noah felt the room spin.
“How long have you known?”
Margaret remained silent.
“Mom…”
“Almost a year.”
“A year?”
Tears filled his eyes.
“You let me believe everything was fine.”
“I didn’t want you to worry.”
“You should have told me.”
“I wanted you to keep living your life.”
“My life includes you.”
For the first time in years, Noah cried.
The next morning…
Amara arrived at work exhausted.
She had barely slept.
Every time her phone lit up, she hoped it was Noah.
It never was.
Sophie noticed immediately.
“You look terrible.”
“Thanks.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
Amara sighed.
“I met someone.”
Sophie’s eyes widened.
“You?”
“Don’t sound so shocked.”
“I’ve been trying to set you up for months.”
“I know.”
“And?”
“I think… I actually like him.”
Sophie’s smile slowly faded.
“So why do you look heartbroken?”
“He disappeared.”
“What?”
“He got a phone call.”
“And?”
“His mother collapsed.”
Sophie’s expression softened.
“Oh…”
“I don’t even know if she’s okay.”
“You have his number.”
“I don’t want to bother him.”
“If he gave you his number, it’s because he wanted you to use it.”
Amara stared at her phone.
Her thumb hovered over his contact.
She typed a message.
Hi Noah. I just wanted to check on your mom. I hope she’s okay. No pressure to reply. Just… take care of yourself. — Amara
She read it five times.
Then she pressed Send.
At the hospital…
Noah’s phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
A smile appeared for the first time since the previous night.
“It’s her,” his mother whispered.
“You smiled.”
He laughed quietly.
“I didn’t realize I was.”
“A beautiful girl?”
“I’ve only known her for four days.”
Margaret smiled knowingly.
“Sometimes four days is enough.”
Noah looked back at Amara’s message.
His fingers quickly typed a reply.
Thank you for checking on us. Mom is stable now. I was wondering if you’d still let me buy you that hot chocolate… once things calm down?
He pressed Send.
Seconds later…
His phone buzzed again.
Only if you promise not to disappear halfway through this time.
He laughed.
“I like her already,” Margaret said.
“You’ve never even met her.”
“I don’t need to.”
Noah smiled at the screen.
For the first time in months…
Hope didn’t seem so far away.
But neither of them knew that someone else had seen their messages.
Standing quietly outside the hospital room, Noah’s ex-fiancée, Vanessa, lowered her phone after taking a picture of the conversation reflected in the room’s glass door.
“If I can’t have you,” she whispered, “then neither can she.”
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