Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 434

“In three months, let’s go to the insect museum—I heard they have so many cool bugs... Hey, Mom, why are your eyes red?”

Amelia turned her head away. “The onions in the kitchen are making my eyes sting.”

Ashley popped her head out from the kitchen. “I haven’t even started cooking yet! The peppers I bought today must be extra strong. Can you smell them all the way over there?”

Amelia stood up, brushing her hair behind her ear. “I’m just going to wash my face in the bathroom.”

Ruby watched her mom’s back as she left, a puzzled look on her face.

A buzz-buzz broke the quiet. Ruby saw her mom’s phone light up on the cushion, a new message flashing with her own name—“Ruby.”

She didn’t recognize the other words, but she knew her name and “Martinez”—that one she’d seen before, printed on the doctor’s badge.

Thinking about how strangely her mom was acting, Ruby pursed her lips and reached for the phone. She swiped the screen open.

A long message appeared, full of words she couldn’t read. Ruby crawled to the drawer and pulled out her reading pen—Mr. Daniel had given it to her. She pressed the pen to the screen and listened to the message read aloud, line by line, in a gentle robotic voice.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Amelia splashed cold water over her face again and again, soaking her hair at the temples before she finally stopped.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror—her face was pale, her eyes dull. This can’t go on, she told herself. I can’t let Ruby see me like this. If I can’t get through this, how can I expect Ruby to?

Drawing a deep breath, Amelia pulled herself together, took a quick shower, and slipped into her soft pajamas. She left the bedroom, forcing a bright smile.

Ruby was already waiting at the table, her little legs swinging as she sat, ready for dinner.

Ashley brought out a steaming pot of soup. “Perfect timing—dinner’s ready!”

Amelia smiled and sat down. She reminded herself: It’s not the end of the world. If it doesn’t work out this time, we’ll just wait. Ruby is stable for now. We’ll keep hoping—surely, someone up there is looking out for her.

Dinner passed with laughter and warm conversation, the three of them gathered together, trying to forget the heaviness that lingered in the background.

Maybe that’s what love really is, Amelia thought—a constant sense of not having done enough. She owed Ruby a healthy body, and more than that, she owed her a carefree, unburdened childhood.

…

Amelia quietly put away the little desk calendar. Ruby didn’t ask why.

It was going to hurt, but she owed her daughter honesty.

That day, Ruby was admitted to the hospital.