After bidding the doctor a polite farewell, Eliza pushed Mikey out of the rehab center. That evening, she and her father stayed at their home in Oak Falls.
Mikey showed no joy or despair at seeing his son. Mumbling under his breath, all he could talk about was "Lynn." His feelings for her had long surpassed mere infatuation and went deep into his bones. Even though she had abandoned him, his heart still ached for her. Eliza felt a deep sorrow for her mother. A marriage that had lasted years was overshadowed by a woman who came out of nowhere.
"Alright, enough with the 'Lynn, Lynn,'" Eliza said, placing a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of Mikey. "Let's eat first."
"I... I'm not eating." Mikey swiped the bowl to the floor, his face set in a stubborn defiance. "I want Lynn, I want... my son."
Eliza furrowed her brow. She didn't say a word, just sighed and bent down to clean up the mess and the broken bowl. As she was just about to head back to the kitchen, a loud 'bang' echoed from outside. It sounded like something had fallen down the stairs.
Her heart clenched, and she rushed out to see. "Dad, Dad?" The door swung open silently, an ominous sign. This was bad. A wave of unease and terror washed over her.
Eliza dashed outside, her eyes scanning the surroundings frantically. Mikey had fallen from his wheelchair down to the first floor. His head was against the ground, his body twisted unnaturally, and a pool of vivid red blood beneath his head was a shocking sight.
"Dad..." Her heart-wrenching cry echoed through the empty corridor. The ambulance arrived with a wail. Mikey was rushed into the emergency room, his fate uncertain. Standing in the hospital corridor, Eliza was filled with regret and self-blame. She had never imagined that stepping away for a brief moment could lead to such a catastrophe. This fall might be...
She dared not think further. After a desperate effort by the hospital, he was temporarily saved but remained unconscious. The doctor said there was a rupture in the blood vessels in his brain and told her to prepare for the worst. Sitting in front of the hospital bed, she looked at her father, his head wrapped in bandages, still murmuring Lynn’s name.
Her heart was a whirlwind of emotions. Eliza tried to contact Lynn, hoping to give Mikey some peace. But all the numbers were blocked. She borrowed a nurse's phone and called again. It connected, but as soon as they realized it was her, they hung up immediately, and it was impossible to get through again.
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