Chapter 58 I'm Not Leaving
A knee injury is different from other injuries - you can leave the hospital quickly, but recovery takes a long time.
After lunch, Aria went through the discharge procedures, then headed to see Elizabeth in a wheelchair.
When she arrived at the ward, Elizabeth was in better spirits. The oxygen mask had been removed, though the nasogastric tube was still in place. It looked like she'd be hospitalized for quite a while.
Aria sighed inwardly, feeling like she and Elizabeth were in the same boat - both stuck with bad luck at the same time.
Seeing them enter, Elizabeth's eyes brightened.
"Aria's here?" She still spoke with some difficulty, but her spirits were clearly much better. "Come sit down."
"How's your leg? It looks pretty serious."
The hospital room was carpeted with thick soundproofing, making it hard to maneuver the wheelchair, so Arthur helped push it to the bedside.
"It's nothing, just scraped the skin. I was too careless. I feel bad making Arthur run back and forth between us."
As Aria spoke, she took Elizabeth's outstretched hand. "Mom, are you feeling better?"
"Much better. Oh, you young people need to take care of your bodies. Don't wait until you're old like me." Elizabeth sighed softly.
"I didn't pay attention when I was young. I always thought I was healthy - pulling all-nighters, climbing snowy mountains in just a tank top and shorts."
"Gold prospecting, adventures, diving, exploring caves... After all that, now I can't even handle a bumpy plane ride."
Arthur showed no reaction, but Aria was stunned.
After all, Elizabeth looked like such a refined, elegant lady who valued propriety!
She even glanced back at Arthur, as if to say: Your mom was this wild when she was young?
She's not confused from being sick and telling someone else's story, is she?
Arthur just smiled.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He pulled it out, looked at it, and his expression changed. "You two chat. I need to make a phone call."
Then he left.
Elizabeth waved her hand. "Let him go. Keep me company and talk."
During their conversation, Aria confirmed that Elizabeth wasn't telling someone else's story.
She talked about many things from her youth.
"...That time Arthur's father and I went exploring in the mountains, it was over a hundred degrees, the mountain walls on both sides were red, we were driving through when we saw a cave between the walls..."
At this point, Elizabeth took a couple of breaths, her gaze seeming to fall somewhere far away, gently squeezing Aria's hand.
Aria couldn't help asking, "Did you two go into the cave?"
Elizabeth nodded weakly, a smile blooming on her lips. "As soon as I saw that cave, I screamed for him to stop the car. I insisted we had to explore it."
"But Arthur's father refused no matter what. I got mad at him, and he couldn't stand my fussing, so he stopped the car. It was so hot that day, like the sky was raining fire."
"The moment I got out of the car I regretted it, but when I looked back, that guy had this expression on his face, like 'I knew you'd come running back,' and I was so angry that I actually climbed up the mountain wall..."
She slowly exhaled. "Forty years ago. It should have been such an exciting adventure, but I don't remember anything about what was in that cave... All I remember is... him pouring a bucket of ice water over my head and pulling me by the hand back to the car."
She tightened her grip on Aria's hand, as if wanting to say more, but her physical condition wouldn't allow it.
Aria quickly said, "You should rest. We can talk more next time."
Elizabeth nodded. After resting a moment, she suddenly spoke again. "When I was unconscious, I kept dreaming. All about the first half of my life, bits and pieces, all blurry."
"Such an exciting life, and in the end, I can't hold onto any of it."
There was an indescribable loneliness in these words that made Aria's heart ache.
"Mom, whatever you can remember, you can tell me. I'll help you write it into a book, and later... later on..."
Elizabeth smiled, her eyes bright. "Later when I die, you'll put it in my coffin to keep me company?"
Aria couldn't help but smile too. "If you'd like, I can upload it as an e-book and put a QR code on your tombstone. Anyone passing by can scan it and learn how amazing your life was."
"That would be wonderful!" Elizabeth got a bit excited and had to catch her breath before continuing. "When I get out of the hospital, could I stay at your and Arthur's place for a while?"
"I don't want to go to Switzerland anymore. With my health, I'm afraid if I go, I'll never come back."
"I want to tell you these stories slowly. I know you're a child who loves romance and adventure - you won't find me too long-winded."
Aria froze, not quite processing this at first.
If this had been four months ago, she would have been happy and willing, but now... now she'd already moved out!
While she hesitated, she saw Elizabeth looking at her. "You don't want me there?"
"Of course not." Aria couldn't think of a reason to refuse and had to compromise. "I'll have Ann prepare a room for you right away."
"No rush. I figure I'll be stuck here for quite a while yet."
After speaking, Elizabeth's eyelids slowly closed. Aria checked the heart rate monitor, saw no alarms, tucked in her blanket, and wheeled herself out into the empty hallway since Arthur still hadn't returned.
She slowly made her way toward the elevator. Near the corner, she heard voices.
Arthur's voice.
And... Sophie's.
Aria's hand paused, the wheelchair stopping on this side of the corner."Arthur, I really can't take it anymore!" Sophie's voice was terribly hoarse.
Aria leaned forward to look and saw her standing by the window, eyes red and swollen, looking haggard.
Arthur had his back to her.
"I didn't sleep at all last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw you and her together." Sophie grabbed his sleeve. "You said you'd marry me. Does that still count?"
"How much longer do I have to wait? Tell me, how much longer do I have to watch you tangled up with her?"
"Sophie, calm down." Arthur's voice was heavy.
Sophie's voice suddenly rose. "How can I calm down? Your mom is sick, so of course you should take care of her. But what about Aria? Why is she here too?"
"So what if she got hurt? What's it to you! Can't you let her go? Have you fallen in love with her?"
Arthur was silent.
Sometimes, silence is a form of admission.
Sophie broke down completely.
"If you really have fallen for her, then what am I? I've waited for you all this time, and now you're going to abandon me?"
"I'm not abandoning you! But..." Arthur grabbed her arm.