Chapter 20 — Is this the End?

Three Weeks After Lucy Got Shot:

Kent hurriedly called the doctor to check his wife's condition when Lucy moves her right fingers. 

"Is she going to wake up? She's moving her fingers, doc! Honey, it's me, Kent!” he whispered closer to her ears. 

The doctor and nurses prepared everything to check her vitals if she's now in active mode, meaning, her organs are now working well. P

“Let's wait for her reactions again. Maybe this is a good sign,” her doctor said. 

While everyone is waiting for her reaction, Lucy suddenly trembled, and Kent started to panic. 

"Doc, what is happening to my wife?” he doesn't know what to do. 

The doctor checks her bp and her pulse. 

“Sir, please calm down. Let's wait for the progress. She's getting reactions from the dose we injected to her." Kent went closer and hold Lucy's hands. 

"Honey, please, you need to wake up. You're safe now and Austin,” he said, and Lucy's eyes move until they stretch wide open. 

At first, she looked around like she was not familiar with her surroundings. After that, her eyes shifted at her husband and son Austin beside him.

"Hon, it's me, your husband and this is our son, Austin. Did you remember us?” he looks excited while Austin sat beside his mom. 

Lucy caresses her son's face while tears started to stream down her face. 

“Baby, are you okay? I'm sorry if I failed again,” she asks her son for forgiveness.

Austin quickly wrapped his arms around her tightly. 

"Mom, you're my hero. You did the right thing. You save me and dad! I'm happy you're okay, now", Austin said in joy after knowing that his mom just woke up. 

Lucy shifted her eyes at her husband with a smile. 

Kent can't help but cry like a baby. It's a mixed emotion. He doesn't know what to do to see his wife is now smiling and talking in front of him. He wanted to kiss and hug her so bad. 

“Hon, did you eat well? Did you sleep much?” she asked him while Kent just stood there and sniffs in his soft sobs. 

Lucy felt bad for her husband. She raises and extends her arms and told Kent to come towards her. 

"Honey, don't cry now. I'm awake and fine. I won't leave you again,” she mumbled and three of them made a good reunion. 

Lucy has finally awakened and recovered fast after three weeks of being unconscious from a coma. She got discharged after that and return home. She saw her dad Raphael just doing great in his wheelchair in his old age. 

"Dad, I'm home!” she said and embrace him. 

Raphael's happiness can't be bought after seeing his daughter alive and fine. 

“Lucy, I'm so happy you're away. We waited for this day and now it's here!” he said, and they talked about her friend Cassandra, but Lucy had no care to talk about her.

Kent made a huge announcement about his wife's fast recovery, and everyone gave their full support to their bosses. Kent decided to have a simple dinner with Eloisa and Gale at Gale's Cuisine. They're afraid to hold a huge party after what happened to Austin, so they decided to just eat outside. 

While Lucy's happy family celebrated every day for being complete, Eloisa went alone to the asylum where her mom was diagnosed. 

It's been twenty years before her last visit to her mom and she was a bit hesitant to come inside. She saw her mom who was sitting on her bed without moving. She took a deep breath before she walked inside her room. 

"Mom?” Eloisa struggles with her voice to get louder. She felt the husky sound on it. 

She saw her mom slowly turned around and she saw the number of wrinkles her mom had for being here for so long. 

“Eloisa?” she still knew her even tile has passed and she's now older than before. 

Eloisa slowly walked closer and answered her mom. 

"Yes, it's me, mom. I am your daughter Eloisa,” she said, and she doesn't know how her tears fell so fast. Her mom quickly wipes the tears from her face. Eloisa did the same to see that her mom was crying. 

“Don't cry, baby. I know you will come back someday." Rebecca said to her daughter.

Eloisa wrapped her arms around her mom and promise her not to leave her again. 

"Mom, starting today, I will take you home. Dad wasn't around so we can have now our freedom. You will not be locked in here anymore,” she said, and her mom smiled so cheerfully.

***

One Month Later:

Lucy decided to visit the real Cassandra alone inside the prison. The security guard accepted her visit request and she was inside the visitor's room waiting for her.

She tried to relax since she hasn't met her in person but only Carolina who looked so much like her. 

Lucy took a deep breath as the door made a creaking sound. Cassandra had arrived. She had no expression on her face like she was just a ghost of herself. She looks grumpy and so old. There's no sign of regret on her face. The jail warden warned her that she always talking to herself and screaming alone while uttering her daughter's name. They sometimes request for her husband's company to calm her. 

As she sat in front of her, she was the one who started the conversation. 

"Do you know Kylie? She's my daughter but she died at a very young age. I saw her every day and she's telling me that someone tried to hurt her." Cassandra mumbled while fidgeting her long and messy hair. 

Lucy just listened to her. 

"I miss her so much. Can you put flowers and candles on her grave? It's been months since I last visit her,” she requested while her eyes slowly shifted on her. 

Lucy smiled. The real thing was she wanted to slap and yelled at her but seeing her as this made her wanted to forgive Cassandra. She was broken and craving for her lost daughter so badly. Just like her, she wanted to complete her family, but it won't happen since it's badly broken. 

Lucy finally understands her. To be a mother was hard. She will give her the peace she wanted. 

“Sure. I will visit her and will bring flowers and candles. May I know what her favorite flower is?” she asked her.

Cassandra smiled for the first time. She looks so natural and normal.

"She loves daisy. Bring it to her,” she said, and Lucy promises to visit her daughter every day. 

After visiting Cassandra, Lucy screamed when Cassandra suddenly fell on the floor. She called the warden for help. She saw the stab in her heart. She killed herself and not her. 

Police came and took Cassandra's lifeless body from the floor. 

Lucy looks pale to see Cassandra's eyes glaring at her even in death. 

"No! I didn't do it. She killed herself. She stabs her heart." Lucy explained but the police need her statement. 

Lucy screamed inside their room when Kent shook her to wake up. 

"Lucy, you're dreaming!” he said. 

She got up feeling exhausted with her heart pumping like a drum.

“Hon, I'm scared!” she said abs quickly pulled Kent beside her. 

Kent hug her and told her to calm down. Heavy rain is coming because of the typhoon Pinky. It adds to the mood of her dream. Lucy felt that her dream has a meaning. 

"Hon, can we visit Cassandra's daughter Kylie's grave? I just want to put some flowers and candles,” she said in her soft voice. 

Kent kisses his wife's forehead. 

"Okay, we will do that. Take a rest first and we will go after the rain,” he whispered in her ears. 

Lucy, Austin, and Kent decided to visit Kylie's grave. Lucy bought a bouquet of daisy flowers and lots of candles. They put it above her grave. 

She knows how Cassandra feels. She can't blame her since they suffered trauma, tragedy, and misjudgment in their life. Cassandra was like her. She saw her reflection to her. Her mom died early and her dad always running from the thugs, and she was left alone to live. Everyone looked down on her and hurt her but in the end, she rose like a queen and stomped everyone comes her way. She became unbreakable from the mistakes she made in her life. She learned one thing that betrayal isn't what makes you feel better, it will only make your life harder. You will ruin your future. 

"Let's go, baby. Let's have some cold craze!” Lucy took Austin's hands and promise him to buy ice cream. 

Three of them walked out from the cemetery with their hands together. Heaven is clearer than yesterday and birds chirping everywhere. Lucy closed her eyes to make sure that she wasn't dreaming. She opens it again and then she realized that she's still inside the hospital while Kent was sleeping beside her. She was dreaming again. If that was a dream, it feels so real. She will deal with Cassandra, later on, she goes out to the hospital. A great smile was painted on her face knowing that her family had been saved and Cassandra had gone to prison. She closes her eyes again to keep dreaming.