Chapter 44

Aurora's POV
When I called the babysitter, I said calmly, “Hello. How are the babies at home?”
The babysitter immediately answered, “They’re fine, Mom. We’re continuing to monitor them. All is well. And they’re already sleeping after drinking expressed breast milk.”
Hearing the good news from the babysitter made me feel a little more at ease. “Thank you. I’ll keep in touch with you. Make sure they’re comfortable, okay?” I said.
As soon as I hung up, I felt a little more at ease. My mother was by my side, providing much-needed support at this time. Plus, knowing that our babies were fine, at least there was a little light in the midst of this darkness.
“This is a big test for us, Aurora. We’ll get through this together,” my mother said, reminding me that I wasn’t alone in this journey. Surrounded by the love of family and determination, I knew there was hope out there.
“When we stick together, we can overcome anything,” I replied, feeling a sense of revival despite the difficult situation. I just had to stay strong for them—Dante, Roland, and our two babies. With positive thoughts and mindfulness, I would continue to hope that things would get better.
For a week, Dante’s condition remained critical. Every time I tried to visit the ICU, I could only stand outside and watch him through the window. Seeing his frail face and being hooked up to various medical devices made my heart ache. I felt helpless, but that feeling was made even heavier when I knew there was something else that needed attention.
Meanwhile, Roland had been discharged. Although I was happy to hear the news, there was a part of me that still felt depressed. Spending time in the hospital with Dante and fighting to keep Roland healthy made things difficult.
That day, as I returned to the car after seeing Dante, my mother looked at me gently. “We should go home, Aurora. We entrust Dante to the medical team,” she said with concern.
“But, Mom…” I tried to answer, but my words were cut off by a sense of uncertainty.
“Think of your children who still need your love so much,” my mother replied, her voice full of understanding. Her words touched my heart, and I knew she was right. While I continued to worry about Dante’s condition, our children couldn’t wait any longer for my attention.
I took a deep breath. Looking at their innocent faces, I knew I had to focus on what was in front of me right now. If I got too caught up in panic and sadness, I wouldn’t be a good mother to them.
“Okay, Mom. Maybe you’re right,” I said, feeling a sense of reluctance in my heart but also realizing the truth in her statement.
“Dante will be fine. He’s in good hands,” my mother said again, as if trying to reassure me that I didn’t feel guilty. “We’ll keep an eye on the news from the hospital. And when there’s progress, we’ll be back soon.”
I nodded, feeling confused, but also feeling the growing need to get back home and be with the kids. Slowly, I tried to take a step back. “Okay, I’ll do it for them,” I said in a weak voice.
When I got home, I tried to distract myself from the worries that kept bothering me. Seeing our two cute babies who needed me made my heart feel warm. I got close to them, giving them the attention and affection they needed.
However, in my heart, my love for Dante never faded. He was still on my mind, and I hoped that he would recover soon so that he could return to our arms—us as a family.
With the confidence and support of my mother, I tried to strengthen myself to live these days with the hope of a better future.
When I got home, my feelings were mixed between tiredness and hope to be able to be with the children. However, as soon as I opened the door, I was surprised to see a figure I hadn't seen for quite some time. Molly, my sister, was standing in the living room, holding Roline lovingly.
"Molly, how long have you been here?" I asked, my feelings of surprise mixing with my feelings. The more I looked at her, the more questions came to my mind, especially when I was trying to contact the babysitter and check on our babies. As far as I knew, she wasn’t home.
“Since yesterday,” she answered, smiling as she looked at me. “I knew about your condition, so I wanted to help you take care of your children.”
Her smile made me feel relieved, but a sense of suspicion also crept in. “But, you didn’t tell me you were coming. I was worried because I thought you were far away,” I replied, still feeling uncertain.
“I know, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. But when I came into the hospital and heard about Dante, I wanted to be near you and help in any way I could,” Molly said, her voice sincere. She held Roline carefully, while our other baby played in the corner of the room.
I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Molly. So much has happened, and I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed,” I said, sitting down next to Roline. “Roland just got home from the hospital with a fever. And now, I’m still worried about Dante.”
“Yes, I hear you. Let’s do this together. You don’t have to face everything alone,” she replied, confidently. “And I can help take care of them, so you can rest a little and take care of yourself.”
As she spoke, I felt the tension in my shoulders ease a little. With Molly by my side, I knew I would at least have someone to share the burden of responsibility with.
“Seeing you here makes me feel better. Thank you for coming and helping,” I said, grateful for her presence.