Chapter 73: The Quiet Weight of the Night
Chapter 73: The Quiet Weight of the Night
The doctor had finally returned. His expression remained professionally composed, but there was a visible layer of exhaustion underneath. “You can see him now,” he said, facing Mr. and Mrs. James. “The nurses have finished preparing him in the ICU. You won’t be able to enter the room, but you can see him through the observation glass.”
Relief and dread sat together in the room. Everyone stood—Mrs. James, her husband, Lydia, Melissa, and Julia. A nurse walked in shortly after, holding out protective gowns, masks, and hair caps. “Please wear these,” she instructed softly. “We’ll also disinfect your hands before going in.”
The hallway to the ICU was colder, quieter—its silence felt more intrusive than comforting. As they reached Dennis’s room, the nurse stopped just in front of the glass wall. On the other side, Dennis lay still on the hospital bed. The oxygen mask was strapped across his face, a series of tubes and monitors surrounding him. Machines beeped at regular intervals. His body looked peaceful, but the stillness was unnerving.
Lydia felt her knees weaken slightly at the sight. She held back a sob, but the tears found their way down her cheeks anyway. She didn’t make a sound. Melissa and Julia stood quietly beside her, taking in the sight of their friend who just this morning had smiled at them before getting into a car he never should have entered.
Mrs. James could no longer hold it in. Her chest trembled as deep sobs escaped her lips. Mr. James placed a firm arm around her shoulder, holding her as she cried. The weight of everything that had happened seemed to land on all of them at once.
After a few minutes, the nurse stepped forward gently. “Let’s allow him to rest. You can wait just outside in the family waiting room.”
They all turned slowly, giving Dennis one last look before walking away. No one said much. The mood was heavy, but each person seemed to carry their grief in their own silent way.
The waiting room was dimly lit, with soft beige couches lined against the walls. The girls sat on one side, while Dennis’s parents sat on the other. Detective Philip, who had returned to join them quietly, leaned against the wall near the door, arms crossed.
The silence lasted for a long time, until Mrs. James suddenly broke it. “Your parents will be worried,” she said, her voice hoarse. “It’s already dark outside.”
The girls instinctively looked at the window—night had fallen completely. Streetlights cast a faint glow on the hospital driveway.
Melissa’s brows furrowed. “That’s weird… My mom would’ve called me by now.”
She reached for her strap bag and pulled out her phone. The screen stayed black no matter how many times she tapped it.
“Oh… I forgot to charge it this morning,” she said aloud.
Lydia blinked, realising she hadn’t heard her phone ring all day either. She checked hers—it was also dead.
“No, I want to stay,” Lydia said quietly, looking at Mrs. James. “I want to be here when he wakes up.”
Mrs. James gave a small, teary smile and tried to stay strong for her. “You heard the doctor,” she said, reaching out and gently touching Lydia’s hand. “He won’t wake up just yet. Not until after the next surgery. You won’t miss anything tonight, my dear. Please, go home and come back tomorrow.”
Lydia’s face dropped, but she didn’t argue again.
Detective Philip, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke up. “Mrs. James is right. Let me drop you girls off.”
“Thanks, detective,” Dennis’s mother said with a nod. “I’d really appreciate that.”
Lydia hesitated, but Melissa reached out and squeezed her hand softly. Lydia nodded reluctantly. “Okay, ma.”
“We’ll take our leave now,” Melissa and Julia said together, bowing slightly to the James.
Mr. and Mrs. James stood up as well. Mrs. James stepped forward and gave Lydia a warm, tight hug. She leaned in and whispered, “Thank you for being here for Dennis today.”
Lydia hugged her back, her eyes misting again. “Always.”
The girls followed Detective Philip through the hospital corridors until they reached the parking lot. The cool air outside stung their skin slightly after the hospital's warmth. His black car was parked near the exit, and they quietly got in—Lydia in the front, Julia and Melissa in the back.
“So where are we headed?” Detective Philip asked as he buckled in. “Everyone going back to Melissa’s place?”
Lydia shook her head. “Melissa’s going to hers, and we’re going to ours.”
“Alright,” he said. No more questions were asked as the engine started and the headlights cut through the night.
The radio played soft instrumental music as the car rolled down the nearly empty road. For a long time, no one spoke. The mood was still heavy, and each girl was lost in thought.
Then, just before they reached Melissa’s neighbourhood, Detective Philip spoke up again. “Do you think… Dennis’s accident was just another traffic incident? Or was it something else? Something planned?”
It was the question none of them had dared to voice out loud.
Melissa looked up at the rearview mirror but said nothing. Julia shifted in her seat.
Lydia stared out the window, her thoughts spiralling. She didn’t want to believe it was something darker—but her gut didn’t fully agree.
The silence returned.
As they neared the Wright residence, two figures became visible at the gate, pacing restlessly.
Detective Philip narrowed his eyes. “Isn’t that your mom and your brother, Melissa?”
Melissa’s eyes widened. “Yes. That’s them.”
“They must’ve been really worried,” Lydia said, glancing at Melissa, who nodded in agreement.
The detective dimmed the headlights and parked just a few meters from the gate. The car came to a stop, and they all got out.
Mrs. Wright rushed forward. “Melissa! Lydia! Where have you girls been? I’ve been calling both your lines!”
Victor, who had been pacing, let out a sigh of relief. “Finally.”
Melissa looked apologetic. “Sorry, Mom. My phone died. I didn’t even realise it until much later.”
Lydia checked hers too. “Mine’s off too. But I had it on all day…”
Mrs. Wright frowned, shaking her head. “You should’ve at least called me from someone’s phone.”
“We’re really sorry, ma,” Julia said quietly.
Mrs. Wright looked toward Lydia and Julia. “Why don’t you girls stay the night here? It’s already too late.”
Lydia politely declined. “Detective Philip is dropping us home. Our parents should be back from their trip soon.”
Mrs. Wright still looked concerned but didn’t press further. She turned to the detective. “Thank you so much for bringing them back safely.”
Victor added, “Yeah, thanks a lot.”
Detective Philip nodded. “Of course.”
Lydia and Julia got back into the car. As the gate closed behind Melissa and her family, the vehicle started once more, gliding off into the quiet night toward the Joe residence.