Chapter 69

Aurora's POV
Every morning, as the children prepared for school, I felt grateful to see them excited and cheerful. However, as they left, the worry about my mother’s health began to creep into my mind again. Dante and I arranged for him to accompany the children to school before rushing to the hospital, giving me more time to be with my mother.
Since my father could not take care of my mother during the day—he had to work—I decided to bring Cherry to the hospital every afternoon. I hoped that Cherry’s presence would cheer me up and bring a smile to my mother’s dull face. Cherry, though still small, had a unique ability to make everyone feel happy.
Every afternoon, as I brought Cherry to the hospital, my eyes often saw my mother’s tired face, but when Cherry entered the room, her eyes immediately lit up. “Cherry! My little granddaughter,” she said, her voice soft but cheerful. Seeing my mother smile again made my heart flutter.
During the few hours in the hospital, I let Cherry play near my mother’s bed while I continued to tell her about what was happening outside. The two of them shared warmth and small moments of love. Sometimes, we would play light games or try to distract my mother from the difficult situation she was facing. Cherry’s presence was like an oasis in the midst of hardship.
However, as the evening approached, I had to return home to pick up the children. Every time I left the hospital, there was a heavy feeling in my heart, but I knew that I had to stay strong. Time with my mother was precious, and I wanted to make sure that she knew that we all supported her.
After completing my daily routine, when evening came, I would return to the hospital or steal time to talk to Dante and the children. When we came together as a family, our love and support strengthened our bond. We shared stories about our day, shared laughter despite the challenges ahead.
Seeing the togetherness and love in our family made me confident that, although the journey ahead might be difficult, with each other’s support, we would get through it all. My mother would face her struggles, and we would be by her side, giving her endless encouragement and love. In my heart, I held onto the hope that with love, everything would work out.
In the quiet of the hospital, amidst our visiting hours, I felt it was important to talk to my mother about Molly—a chapter that had colored my life for the past few years. I approached her and began to express my curiosity.
“Mom, about Molly… I still have a hard time understanding how this could have happened. She was part of our family, then ended up in prison and then died. How did this happen?” I asked, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.
My mother looked at me tenderly, her eyes showing the depth of understanding and wisdom she always possessed. “Honey, sometimes life throws us hard paths. Maybe it was meant to be,” she replied calmly. “We can’t change the past, but we can learn from it.”
The sadness hit me again. My mother’s words felt like a stab to the heart, a reminder that life isn’t always fair. But on the other hand, there was a deeper understanding of how Molly made the decisions that led to her own path, and how it all continued to ripple out around her.
“Mom, you always taught us to be kind and to live life with love,” I said, holding back tears that threatened to flow. Memories of all the teachings and values my mother instilled in me began to flow. “I want Cherry and the children to know about all those values.”
Mom smiled softly. “They will learn from the way you live your life, Aurora. The platinum you instill in their hearts is more valuable than anything. Remember, we can’t control other people’s decisions, but we can control how we act toward the people around us.”
Our conversation about Molly and all those life lessons made me realize how important strength and compassion are in life. Everything my mother taught me was a foundation for my children and for me as a parent. I want to pass those values on—through sincerity, love, and understanding.
As time passed, in my search for understanding the past and hope for the future, I grew more and more grateful for my mother who was always there, teaching me the meaning of family, love, and wisdom. Sharing these moments of reflection with her, I felt fortunate to have such a strong mother who always guided me, celebrated the good, and taught us to always hope despite the hardships of life.
We hugged, and in that warmth, I knew that no matter what, we would find a way to move forward, with love and hope that would never fade.
The next day, the news that my mother would have to undergo surgery to remove her tumor made my heart beat faster. Although I knew this was a necessary step for her to recover quickly, my anxiety was unavoidable. I felt uncertain about what would happen during the surgery, but one thing I did know was that I had to be prepared to support her.
At the hospital, I was with Dante as we waited for the preparations to begin. He sensed the tension that was enveloping my mind and tried to calm me down. “Aurora,” he said softly, taking my hand. “Let’s trust the doctors with this. They are the best in their field, and this is the right step to make sure your mother is okay.”
“Yes, I know,” I replied, though a pang of anxiety was gnawing at my heart. “But… this is a big decision, and I am very worried about how it will all go.”
Dante nodded understandingly. “The reason she needs surgery is for her own well-being. Your mother has done so much for you, and now it’s time for you to be there for her. She knows that you are doing it out of love.”