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    “I will keep my word!” Brian struggled to his feet and replied without hesitation. He couldn’t wait to walk toward the hospital room, but stopped at thest moment.

    “What, having second thoughts?” Dereck asked, his fist nearly flying out.

    Brian shook his head and asked quietly, “Do you have protective clothing?”

    He looked down at the suit he’d been wearing all day–attending the press conference, rushing around everywhere. Who knew how many germs he’d picked up. There was no way he could go in wearing this.

    When Dereck heard this, his expression finally softened a bit. Ste quickly called over a nurse to bring fresh protective clothing.

    After Brian changed and sprayed himself with disinfectant, he carefully stepped into the hospital room.

    Jessicay weakly on the hospital bed, her face deathly pale, her chest barely rising and falling.

    Brian’s heart broke as he crouched by the window, tears nearly spilling from his eyes. “Jessica…” he whispered her name, but stopped after just once,

    afraid he might disturb her.

    But then, Jessica’s eyelids started fluttering on the hospital bed, and her hands began waving frantically in the air. “Brian, Brian where are you? The babies, our babies-”

    Brian quickly caught her hands and gently tucked them back under the nket while trying to calm her down. “I’m here, Jessica, I’m right here. Don’t be

    scared.”

    The moment he finished speaking, Jessica’s eyes shot open, but they were unfocused and staring nkly at him.

    “Jessica, you’re awake?” Brian was overjoyed.

    But Jessica justy there silently, tears streaming down her face.

    Brian’s smile instantly froze on his face.

    “The babies, our babies are gone. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Jessica’s mind was still stuck in that moment when she’d been pushed down. The memory of fluid and blood flowing out made her think she’d lost the baby, and guilt was eating her alive.

    “I’m useless, Brian. I’m so useless. I couldn’t protect our baby. I failed you. I’m sorry,” Jessica kept apologizing through her tears, which never stopped flowing.

    Brian felt like his heart was being torn apart. He couldn’t take it anymore and stood up to gently wrap his arms around her. “No, Jessica, you’ve never failed me. It’s always been my fault…”

    し

    Z

    Jessica was still lost in her own thoughts and couldn’t make out what he was saying. She just looked up in confusion and touched her face. “Is it raining?”

    ‘Is sky crying for my child too?‘ Jessica thought.

    Brian finally broke down and started sobbing.

    Outside the hospital room, Sana listened to the heartbreaking criesing from inside, her emotions all over the ce. “I can’t believe he’s actually crying,” she said.

    “He’s human too,” Wesley replied gently, cing his hand on her shoulder. He guided her away from the hospital room door so she wouldn’t be affected any more than she already was.

    Wesley eventually settled her on a bench not far from the room, his touch gentle but firm enough that she couldn’t argue.

    14:48 Tue, 26 Aug A

    “Want some water?” Wesley asked with concern.

    ?63%

    “No thanks. Jessica’s really going to be okay, right?” Sana stared at the hospital room down the hall, her mood heavy. “Jessica’s had such a hard life. Just when things were finally looking up for her, this horrible thing happened. Why couldn’t you protect her better?”

    “You’re right. It’s my fault,” Wesley said simply, not trying to defend himself.

    Sana shook her head. “Actually, I can’t really me you for this. I just feel so bad for Jessica.” She wasn’t the type to be unreasonable, so she knew that Wesley was truly innocent in this whole ident.

    “Then hit me a couple times,” Wesley said, half–joking, half–serious.

    Sana rolled her eyes in annoyance. “What’s the point of hitting you?”

    14:48 Tue, 26 Aug A

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