SOME THINGS ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 95

There were male, female, and even children’s clothes.They were probably not theirs.

Toomas did not ask anything. He walked over to the small bed and put Raya down in his arms. Toomas loosened his arms, and Raya hugged the doll tightly in her arms without waking up.

Julianna also followed and took her daughter’s small shoes off and then pulled the blanket and laid it over her body.

“What’re those clothes for?” Toomas stood by the side. He sometimes felt that in this small house, even people had to search for a place to stand.

“I’m washing it later. These are the neighbor’s clothes.” Julianna adjusted the blanket on Raya, making sure her hands and feet were all covered.

Toomas pressed his lips together again. He actually had no need to guess or think further anymore. Everything here showed him the life they were living. If she hadn’t sold blood, she couldn’t have afforded the doll.

Toomas put his hand into his pocket and took out a name card. He walked towards Julianna and stared at the emaciated woman from above.

Exactly what kind of burden she had had to shoulder? It was crushing her till she could not even stand straight.

“This is my name card. Should you need any help in the future, call me. Don’t resort to selling your blood. You have a daughter. You shouldn’t harm yourself like that.”

He lowered his head and put the name card in Julianna’s hand. He was not one who liked to meddle in another’s business, but he had felt the pain for this pair of mother and daughter.

If it was possible at all, he would like to provide them with more assistance.

Julianna held the name card tightly in her hands and watched as Toomas vanished from her sight. No one had spoken to her like this in a very long time. She had only herself to depend on, no matter how tough things were. She had always been on her own. Until now...

She turned the card and smiled bitterly. His words might not be true, and he might not even honor his promise. Yet, she was still grateful to him.

She stood up and carefully put the namecard away. Then, she went and retrieved some water. There was still a lot of laundry to be washed. She squatted, rolled her sleeves up, and dipped her hands into the icy cold water.

From time to time, she would turn her head around to check on Raya, who was deep asleep. This was enough to justify all the hardships she would have to go through.

The sky outside was getting darker. It was another tough night, but after that, she would be able to get a good rest.

She had thought that they would be able to live a quiet life; she was wrong. All she had wanted was peace. Why did it have to be so difficult?

...

Raya sat alone on a tiny stool with Dolly in her arms. Her eyes were droopy, and there was a faint blush on her face. It was getting redder, which wasn’t normal.

“Mommy...” she muttered to Julianna weakly. However, she clutched onto the doll tightly. Her lips showed a pale white unlike the usual rosy red, and her face was flushed.

She huddled her small body as tears gathered in her eyes.

Julianna looked back at her daughter and saw that she was sitting with her head hung low and being obedient. She put the stocks down and wondered if the little girl had fallen asleep.

She rushed over to her daughter and squatted by her side.

“Raya, are you tired?”

After a long time, Raya’s head remained hanging; and she was quiet.

She tipped her daughter’s head up and saw that her face was flushed. She could even hear her gasping breaths.

“Raya.” The temperature was shockingly high when she placed her hand on her daughter’s forehead.

She has a fever.

“Mommy, I-I feel... so... so cold.” Raya opened her eyes briefly as her hand grabbed weakly at her mother’s blouse. Then, she leaned into her mother’s arms, and the doll fell onto the ground.

Julianna went pale. She scooped her daughter up and ran out. The others outside were puzzled by her actions, and they could not help worrying about them.

Was her child sick?

The hospital was decorated entirely in white. Everything about it was cold and quiet, and no one ever liked it here.

Julianna was no exception.

She sat uneasily outside the emergency room, hands clutching tightly at the front of her blouse. She felt so helpless that it was hard to breathe.

Please, don’t let anything happen to her. Raya was her life; she was still so young. Nothing must happen to her. Nothing. It was just a fever, a common cold.

She lowered her head and covered her face with both her hands. It was all her fault. Why didn't she know that Raya was sick? She had failed her as a mother.

She kept reprimanding herself and wished she could slap herself.

The door to the emergency room opened, and the doctor strode out. His expression was somber.

“Doctor, what is wrong with my...?” She could not finish the sentence even though her lips were moving. She had no idea what to say.

“Are you the child’s mother?” The doctor asked as he lowered his glance at the woman who was struggling to stand.

“Yes.” Julianna nodded, not understanding the doctor’s hesitation in his explanation.

“Please come with me.” He turned around, leaving a stunned Julianna. Finally, she followed the doctor with heavy steps.

A sudden chill engulfed her. She did not know what it meant; she only felt very cold.

She couldn’t help but shudder.

Was winter coming?

The doctor put a set of medical reports before Julianna, and she picked it up with shaking hands. However, she could not make out the contents after reading for a long time. Her eyes became misty, and she could only see a number of numbers. Those numbers became a blur and flickered, and she could no longer see clearly.

“Miss...” The doctor was at a loss as to how to address the overly young woman in front of him. The words he was about to say were not for the faint of heart, and the woman before him was obviously shaking.

“I have a daughter.” Julianna tried to force a smile; it was an ugly one. She realized she was so helpless that she wanted to cry so badly.

“Oh... Madam, you...” The doctor felt cruel as he sighed again. “Do you know that there is such a disease called ‘Leucocythemia’ in the world?”

“Leucocythemia?” Julianna went ashen. What was he saying about this leucocythemia?