Chapter 80: A Flicker in the Night

Chapter 80: A Flicker in the Night
The car ride back to the Joe’s residence was anything but quiet. The girls had a lot to catch up on. Victor, half-smiling behind the wheel, let the chatter fill the car like music while occasionally adding his own remarks. Melissa leaned forward from the back seat, tapping Lydia’s shoulder playfully.

“So, how did it go? The surgery,” she asked, her tone a mix of genuine curiosity and cautious hope.

Lydia let out a tired breath, her voice low but reassuring. “It went well. The doctor said the surgery was successful, and Dennis should be awake in about 18 to 20 hours.”

“Ah, thank God,” Melissa said, placing her palm on her chest as if to calm her heart. “I’ve been wondering all evening. That’s a huge relief.”

Victor nodded. “That guy is tough. I knew he’d make it.”

Lydia smiled faintly. “Yeah. It was a long day, though. His mom literally fell to the ground in relief. I’ve never seen her like that before.”

“Must have been overwhelming for everyone,” Melissa added, her tone softening.

There was a brief silence in the car as the three of them settled into their thoughts. The streetlights cast long shadows across the road as Victor made a turn into Lydia’s estate.

“Wait—what about your parents?” Melissa suddenly remembered. “Weren’t they supposed to be back today?”

Lydia sighed. “Yeah. That was the plan. But my mom called earlier—there’s a really bad weather condition where they are. No flights are going out right now. They’ll be on the next available flight, but they said it could take another two or three days.”

Melissa’s expression turned sympathetic. “Ugh, that’s tough. I’m sure you were looking forward to seeing them.”

“I was,” Lydia admitted. “But I’m just trying to stay grounded. There’s already so much happening. It’s probably better they’re safe where they are for now.”

Victor glanced at her and said, “You’ve been holding up pretty strong, you know. Not everyone your age would manage all this so calmly.”

Lydia smiled. “Thanks. But trust me, I’ve had my moments.”

Soon enough, they pulled up in front of the Joe’s house. Victor got out to open the door for Lydia while Melissa followed behind. Lydia thanked them for the ride, and they all exchanged a warm round of goodbyes.

“Text me when you get in,” Melissa said.

“I will,” Lydia replied.

Victor added, “Rest well. You’ve earned it.”

Lydia gave them a small wave as she stepped into the compound and locked the gate behind her. The house was quiet when she walked in. Julia wasn’t in the living room, but Lydia found her phone buzzing with a message from her younger sister.

Julia: How’s Dennis? I’m already in bed. Auntie’s gone home, but she restocked the kitchen. There’s food and everything.

Lydia smiled. She sent a quick reply updating her on Dennis’s progress, then dropped her bag and made her way to the kitchen. True to her sister’s message, the counters were stacked with new provisions—cereal, milk, fruits, bread, and snacks. Her aunt had done a full grocery run on her mom’s behalf.

Lydia picked up an apple, sliced it into pieces, and took them with her to her room. She placed them on her study table, changed into her pyjamas, and sat on the bed, stretching out her legs with a quiet sigh. The softness of her sheets felt like heaven after the long hours at the hospital.

She scrolled through her phone for a few minutes before switching it off and letting the silence wrap around her. She had planned to do a little journaling but didn’t have the mental energy for it. For now, rest was enough.

In the hospital, Mr. and Mrs. James had decided to spend the night in Dennis’s room, sitting close to his bedside. Their hearts were still heavy with emotion but lighter than they had been in days. Nurses came in periodically to check his vitals, but the room stayed mostly calm. They whispered softly to one another, thankful to be past the hardest part.

Back at the Wrights’ residence, Melissa had already gotten home. After greeting her mom and Victor, she retreated to her room. Mrs. Wright, standing in the hallway, asked a few questions about Lydia and Dennis. Satisfied with the answers, she gave thanks under her breath before heading to her own room.

Melissa pulled the covers over her legs and stared at the ceiling. For the first time in weeks, she felt a bit of ease—Lydia seemed okay, Dennis was stable, and things were beginning to take a calmer shape. She didn’t want to jinx it, but it felt like maybe—just maybe—the tide was turning.

She reached for her book and flipped through a few pages before setting it down. Her mind was tired.

Around 2 a.m., however, that peace was interrupted.

Half-asleep, Melissa stirred to the subtle creak of the front gate. It wasn’t loud, but it was unmistakable. She sat up, blinking into the darkness. Her heart did a small leap.

She reached for her phone on the nightstand and tapped on the flashlight. Carefully, she stepped out of her room and padded down the hallway. She checked Victor’s room first. He was sound asleep, facing the wall with one hand under his pillow. Then she checked her mother’s room—Mrs. Wright was also fast asleep, a soft snore escaping her.

Melissa frowned, her brows furrowed in thought. If none of them had gone out, then who opened the gate?

She tiptoed to the front door, turned on the outside security light, and peered through the curtain. The compound looked completely still. No shadows, no movement. The gate appeared closed again, as though nothing had happened.

Yet something inside her wouldn’t settle.

A low, indescribable feeling of unrest hung over her. Not fear exactly, but an alertness she couldn’t shake. She double-checked the locks on the door and went back into her room. She climbed into bed, pulled the duvet over her shoulders, and stared at the window for a long while before closing her eyes again.

Sleep didn’t come easily. Her ears stayed tuned to the faintest noises—a breeze, a creak, the occasional bark of a dog outside. Eventually, her body gave in, and she drifted into light sleep.

Back at the hospital, the room where Dennis lay was quiet except for the steady beep of the heart monitor and the occasional shifting sound from his mother’s chair. The nurse on duty noted his vitals and adjusted a blanket around his feet. Everything was steady.

In the Joe household, Lydia had finally fallen asleep too. Her phone buzzed once more around 2:30 a.m.—a weather alert update—but she didn’t stir.

And while the storm may have paused the return of Lydia’s parents, something else—something subtle—seemed to be stirring beneath the surface. Whether it was a coincidence or not, the uneasiness Melissa felt didn’t completely fade.

The hours ticked on toward morning, but for a few families, sleep was lighter than usual. Even with the relief of good news, no one could fully shake the tension that had built up over the last few days. It would take more than one successful surgery or one quiet night to reset everything.

Still, they were inching toward better days. Slowly, but surely.