A Holiday to Remember [18+] Chris & Valentine

CHAPTER-6

* * CONTINUED FLASHBACK * *

"Are you okay, Valentine?" Valentine’s mother asked when she returned to her younger sibling’s room. Her voice carried concern as she observed her daughter’s expression.

"Yes, Ma, I’m fine," Valentine replied cheerfully, masking the weight of her own worries. She didn’t want her mother to sense the burden she was carrying.

"Ma, why don’t you go home and rest? I’ll take care of Heart," Valentine said with concern, noticing the exhaustion etched on her mother’s face. It was clear she hadn’t been getting proper sleep.

She gently held her mother’s hand, trying to convince her. "Please, Ma. You need to rest, too. If you overwork yourself, you might get sick. I can handle things here," she added, hoping to persuade her mother to take a break.

Her mother smiled faintly, a tired but loving smile. "I’m okay, honey. I can still manage. But thank you. You’re such a good daughter," her mother replied, though her voice betrayed her weariness.

Valentine sighed quietly, her heart heavy with thoughts of how she could ease her family’s struggles while keeping her own troubles hidden.

"Alright, Ma, but promise me you’ll go home tomorrow to get some rest," Valentine pleaded once more with her mother.

"Okay, honey. Because tomorrow, I also have some laundry to do for the people who hire me. At least it will help with our expenses," her mother replied, her tone a mix of practicality and determination.

"Ma, I said to rest, not to do laundry," Valentine responded with a hint of frustration, her brows furrowing slightly. She couldn’t help but feel concerned about her mother’s tireless efforts, even when she was clearly exhausted.

"I’m sorry, honey," her mother said softly, offering Valentine a reassuring smile. "This is just my way of helping out. But don’t worry, I’ll find time to rest."

Valentine could only sigh, feeling a mix of admiration and worry for her mother’s unwavering sacrifice. Deep down, she resolved to find a way to lighten their family’s load without putting too much strain on her mother.

"Please, mama, make sure to rest. You might get sick too, and don’t worry about the hospital bills. I’ll find a way, I promise," Valentine said softly, her voice firm yet tender as she gently rubbed her mother’s back, trying to ease the worry that had been etched on her face for days.

Her mother looked at her with teary eyes and a faint smile. "Thank you, Valentine. But you’ve been doing so much for us already. You should rest too. I know you're exhausted from your trip earlier. You need to take care of yourself as well," her mother reminded her, her tone filled with both gratitude and concern.

"I’m fine, mama. Don’t worry about me," Valentine replied, her voice laced with determination. "Besides, I’ll rest later. I want to wait for Heart to wake up so I can eat dinner with her. I want to make sure she eats properly and regains her strength," she added, glancing lovingly at her younger sibling, who lay peacefully on the hospital bed, her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath.

Her mother sighed heavily, her eyes drifting toward the window where the faint glow of Christmas lights from a nearby building flickered. "Why does something like this have to happen just when Christmas is near? We’ve always had challenges, anak, but this time it feels so much harder," she said, her voice cracking with emotion as tears welled up in her tired eyes.

Valentine knelt beside her, holding her mother’s hands firmly in hers. "Don’t worry, mama. The Lord will provide a way. I know things seem impossible right now, but I believe He’ll send help when we least expect it. If you’re worried about not having anything to prepare for Christmas because we’ve spent all our savings here at the hospital, it’s okay. What matters is that we’re together," Valentine said with a hopeful smile, trying to infuse her words with the strength her mother needed.

Her mother looked down at their clasped hands and nodded, a small tear slipping down her cheek. "It doesn’t matter if we don’t have anything to prepare, anak. What’s important to me is that we’re all together for Christmas and to welcome the New Year. Having my family complete is the best gift I could ever ask for," she said, her smile widening even as her voice quivered.

Valentine felt her heart tighten at her mother’s words. She swallowed the lump in her throat and gave her mother’s hands a reassuring squeeze. "Of course, mama. That will definitely happen. We’ll make it through this together, as we always have. There hasn’t been a single Christmas or New Year where we weren’t together, and this year will be no different," she said, her voice filled with conviction and love.

As the room fell silent, save for the steady beeping of the heart monitor, Valentine’s gaze shifted back to Heart. Despite everything, she felt a flicker of hope. No matter how heavy their burdens were, they still had each other—and that was more than enough to keep her fighting.

As evening came, Valentine prepared dinner for the three of them—her, her younger sister Heart, and their mother. At their humble dining table, they tried to make light conversation about Heart’s condition and ways to help her regain her strength. Despite feeling unwell, Heart made an effort to eat, taking small bites to at least give her body some sustenance and energy to fight her illness.

However, only minutes after eating, Heart suddenly vomited, causing both Valentine and their mother to panic. Concern was evident in their eyes as they watched over Heart, who was growing weaker. Despite the medication she had been taking, there seemed to be no signs of recovery, and the lack of progress weighed heavily on Valentine’s heart.

While her mother busied herself with preparing a fresh cloth and water, Valentine secretly wiped away her tears, her chest tightening as she sat beside her ailing sister. She didn’t want her mother to see her breaking down, knowing how much stress they were already under. In her mind, she prayed fervently, wishing for Heart to regain her strength, to laugh, and to run around as she used to.

As she helped Heart take her medicine, Valentine tried her best to appear strong despite the fear gnawing at her. “You’ll get better, Heart,” she whispered softly, rubbing her sister’s back in comfort. “We won’t give up on you, I promise.”

Though the night was heavy with uncertainty, Valentine’s heart clung tightly to hope. She knew the weight of responsibility rested on her shoulders, but she also believed with all her being that they would overcome this trial together as a family.