Chapter 18
Valencia’s POV
The hospital loomed ahead, a building of pale grey bricks with large glass windows reflecting the morning sun. The structure looked functional rather than welcoming, with its straight, rigid lines and the faint smell of disinfectant in the air.
People buzzed around the entrance–some hurried, clutching paperwork, while others sat slumped on benches, their eyes red–rimmed with worry.
Marcelene walked ahead of me, looking completely different from her usual self. She wore a soft baby–blue dress that hugged her waist and flowed gently to her knees. The roses emboidered on the fabric matched her hair perfectly. Her hair. normally tied back in her practical soldier’s ponytail, was styled fleatly open today, with her bangs framing her sharp cheekbones.
“You look stumting,” I said sincerely.
Marcelene rolled her eyes, brushing me off with a wave of her hand. “Don’t get used to it. My mom hates it when I act like a man, so I do this to keep her happy.”
I frowned at her words. “Act like a man? What does that even mean? You look great no matter what you wear,
She scoffed. “Tell that to her.” Her eyes flicked to me, and she smirked. “Besides, it’s not like you don’t benefit from my manly acting. You get to act like a complete baby.”
I laughed softly but couldn’t help studying her closer. Marcelene was tall, nearly a foot taller than me, with a toned figure that spoke of her soldier’s training
Her dark skin glowed in the sunlight, and her sharp jawline added to her air of confidence. She was undeniably gorgeous, no matter how she dressed.
“If she hates the soldier look, how did she let you join the army asked.
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
“She didn’t,” Marcelene replied curtly, her tone clipped. “She got sick, and we needed the money.”
Her words lingered between us, heavy with meaning. There wasn’t much I could say to that, so I simply nodded.
Marcelene opened the door to a hospital room, and we stepped inside. The room was small but clean, with pale green walls and a single window overlooking the parking lot. Her mother lay on the bed, her face gaunt but peaceful, her eyes closed. Machines beeped softly in the background, tubes snaking from her arms.
-She has stage three breast cancer,” Marcelene said quietly, her voice steady, though her hands clenched at her sides.
I placed the fruit basket I’d brought on the bedside table as her mother stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked a few times before smiling weakly. “Marcy, you’re here
Marcelene’s face softened, the hard lines smoothing as she approached the bed. “Of course, I’m here. How are you Mom
feeling
They exchanged pleasantries, her mother’s soft voice carrying a warmth that made me feel momentarily like an intruder. I stayed quiet, observing their dynamic. Marcelene, usually so composed, seemed more vulnerable here, her every word and gesture infused with a tenderness I hadn’t seen before.
The door creaked open, and a boy stepped inside, clutching a rucksack. He looked to be around Celeste’s age, with bright eyes and a nervous energy that filled the room. His gaze darted to me, widening slightly before flitting back to Marcelene.
1/3
Chapter 18
What are you doing here?” Marcelene asked sharply. “Why are you at school?”
The boy hesitated, his shoulders slumping. “I was just visiting during lunch break.”
Marcelene huffed. “It isn’t even 9am, what lunch break? Mario, this is Valencia. Valencia, this is my little brother, Mario
I smiled politely, nodding. “Nice to meet you.”
Mario’s checks flushed as he nodded back, muttering a shy, “Youou.”
I turned to Marcelene. “I didn’t know you had a brother.”
She shrugged. “He’s a cadet.”
“Oh.”
The word hung in the air, but a memory suddenly surged forward, unbidden.
I was hunched over in a cramped medical tent, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid scent of antiseptic. Soldiers groaned in pain around me, their wounds fresh from battle. Marcelene sat across from me, wincing as I disinfected. a gash on her arm.
“It’s good you treat your sister so well,” She said trying to distract herself from the sting. But I was too distracted by Jaxon not showing up for lunch again to think too deeply of her words. “I wish I had done the same for my brother.”
What happened?” I asked just for the sake of it.
Marcelene’s expression darkened, and her voice was low when she replied. “He died last year. During the Blue Moon Festival bombing. His name was Mario.”
The weight of the memory hit me like a punch to the gut. My chest tightened as I looked at Mario, alive and smiling as he handed his mother a bouquet of wildflowers.
My stomach churned as a sudden thought hit me.
What had I been worrying about in my past life? Jaxon’s infidelities? His wandering eyes? How petty and selfish had I been, consumed by my own insecurities while soldiers and children like Mario were being sacrificed in pointless wars?
I forced a smile as Marcelene’s mother thanked me for the fruit basket I had brought along, but my thoughts were a mess. The Blue Moon Festival was tomorrow. And the day after, the Steele Pack’s surprise attack would devastate the rearguard of our battalion. Many cadets, including Mario, would lose their live. If I remember correctly.
We left the hospital an hour later, Marcelene walking ahead of me. I couldn’t stop replaying the memory in my mind, the haunting realization of how many lives had been lost in vain.
Was it possible to stop the bombing? If Celeste married Dante and peace talks continued, perhaps the war would cease before it reached that point.
Just as I felt a flicker of hope, a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I doubled over, clutching my stomach.
“Valencia!” Marcelene was at my side in an instant, her hands steadying me. “What’s wrong?”
“It hurts.” I managed, grimacing as the pain subsided slightly.
Marcelene frowned, her hand swiping over my stomach. “Have you been eating too much junk again? I knew I shouldn’t have given you so much.”
Chapter 18
Tears welled up in my eyes, confusion swirling in my chest. “But I felt movement.”
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, neither of us spoke..
“Movement?” Marcelene repeated, her voice wary.
I nodded, pressing a trembling hand to my belly. It didn’t make sense. The pregnancy tests were negative. I couldn’t be…
could I?
SEND GIFT
