"Can I still call you 'sister'?"
The young boy lay on the hospital bed, his voice barely a whisper. His once vibrant features were now dulled by illness, yet his dark eyes shone with hope.
When Mila hesitated to respond, he chuckled softly, "If you don't like me calling you 'sister,' how about... Mimi?"
...
Mimi.
The name sent Mila spiraling into memories. Suddenly, she was transported back years ago, to a time when a young man, tall and straight as a sapling, stood basking in the sunlight. His face was a blur, but the warmth of his smile was unmistakable.
His voice was gentle and clear—
"Mimi."
"How about I call you Mimi?"
"I want a special name that only I can use. Is that alright, Mimi?"
She could hear her own voice replying, "Alright."
From that moment on, time twisted and turned, and fate took its course. She and the young man were separated, lost to each other for years.
...
Eugene noticed her distant expression and nudged her back to reality, "What's wrong? Is calling you Mimi not okay either?"
Mila quickly masked the surge of emotion that had threatened to surface, forcing a smile. "I don't like that name. Just call me 'sister'."
Eugene didn't press the issue, offering a gentle smile. "Alright."
Mila lingered in the hospital room a little longer, but her mind was in turmoil. After reminding Eugene to take care of himself, she left.
As she drove through the thick night, she realized that despite it being mid-winter, she was drenched in cold sweat. Memories had been stirred up, refusing to be suppressed.
Suddenly, she recalled something. At the recent Lockwood family gathering, Roland had mentioned an old acquaintance would be returning.
Mila bent forward, burying her face in her icy hands. Her heart ached with the weight of the past, her deep sigh echoing in the car.
"Green Mountain..."
...
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