LONDON
343 Words
CHAPTER 7
The plane landed at 9:40 AM.
I turned my phone on.
3 missed calls. Amanda.
1 text. Unknown number: _Landed safe? - S_
My chest hurt.
Royal London Hospital sent a car.
The nurse at reception already knew my name.
“Miss Cullens. Your brother is in Ward 4B. Doctor will see you in 10.”
4B.
I walked down the white hallway.
My hands were sweating.
The door was half open.
And there he was.
Chidi.
8 years old. Too thin. IV in his arm.
But his eyes. His eyes were still mine.
He looked up when I walked in.
For 2 seconds he just stared.
Then: “Assumpta?”
I broke.
“Hey baby,” I whispered.
He threw his arms around me. Frail and warm and real.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” he mumbled into my hoodie.
“I’m here,” I said. “I’m not leaving.”
The doctor came in. Kind eyes. File in hand.
“Miss Cullens. Payment cleared. We can start treatment tomorrow.”
Tomorrow.
Because Stephen paid twice.
I nodded. Couldn’t talk.
When the doctor left, Chidi pulled back.
“Who paid?” he asked quietly. “Aunt Amanda said she did.”
I looked at him. 8 years old and already learning to read lies.
“Someone else,” I said. “Someone who wants you to get better.”
“Is he nice?”
I thought of black cars. Cold coffee. “Come back.”
“Yeah,” I whispered. “I think he is.”
My phone buzzed again.
Unknown number.
_How is he? - S_
I stared at it.
Then typed: _He’s okay. Treatment starts tomorrow. Thank you._
The reply came in 10 seconds.
_Good._
Nothing else.
I put the phone down and held Chidi’s hand.
For the first time in 2 years, I wasn’t scared.
That night, I slept in the chair beside his bed.
At 2:17 AM, my phone lit up.
Unknown number.
_You ate?_
I smiled in the dark.
_Yes._
_Good. Sleep._
I did.
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