All those years of her time with Joanne came flooding down in her memory. The time Joanne kept her company in the library when she read books or used the computer, when the woman would grow frustrated and scold her when she was up to no good, the fights they had when she was a teenager, and the big and warm hugs the older woman gave when Amy achieved something. Joanne had been a constant pillar in her life. But all that came to an end when Amy left the orphanage at the woman's order.
She sighed unable to control the falling tears. "I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. I wish I wasn't so obedient to actually stay away from you when you told me to. I would have done all I could to protect you, but you've done that for me instead, all these years.
"I always whined for a good family to adopt me. That must have hurt you, right? Because you were already one to me and played an important role without me realizing it: a mother. It took me this long to realize that I didn't have to be born from you to be yours, I was yours when you took me in, nursed me, protected me, and gave me your last name.
"The other day, days ago actually, I met my birth mother. It wasn't what I expected but I shouldn't have been surprised either. I should have been satisfied with having you as a mother but curiosity got the best of me. The only time I didn't listen to you and this happened.
"You must think what an ignorant daughter you have. But it only made me appreciate you more yet you're already gone. I wish..... I wish....", she looked up to blink back the tears and let out a long sigh. "I've learned so much from you, the love and wisdom you imparted which I thought was nagging, I want to do the same for my daughter, Roserie. And I'll make sure she knows about you and will remember you too."
She sniffled and wiped away her tears. "I brought her and your son-in-law. We're getting married and I would have loved more than anything for you to be there. You always wanted me to be happy and I wish you could've seen how much this man with me makes that happen. But I know, I know you'll be watching. I love you so much."
Zach cleared his throat. "I promise I'll love them and protect them with my life. I promise you that. Please, continued to rest easy."
He gave a soight bow of respect then extended his hand to Amy which she took and got up. With her hand in his, they left after giving the place one last look. While walking back, they saw a figure walking their way in black and flowers in their hand. They both stopped when they were a few feet away from each other.
"I never gave her a proper fairwell, and I-I-I thought of her today-"
Zach patted George's shoulder in comfort. He knew how the latter had also grown attached to Joanne. Amy gave his arm a squeeze and they left, giving George the privacy he needs. The family of three returned to their home. Amy and Roserie took a nap in the sunroom while Zach attended to work matters in his home office.
The day slowly went by and the sun set being replaced by the darkness. The lights in the sunroom automatically turned on. Amy must have been so exhausted emotionally that she was still sleeping. However, Roserie's sharp cry startled her awake.
"I'm here cupcake", she mumbled while getting up to have a look at her.
All the sleep left in her disappeared seeing Roserie's labored breathing before she would cry out again. Something was wrong. This cry was very different from her normal cries, she could tell. One would think Roserie was in some sort of pain. Amy placed a hand on her little forehead and gasped at how she was burning up.
"ZACHERY!!!!" she screamed as she started undressing her to examine her little body. "ZACHERY! oh my God!"
Tears were already streaming down her face as she panicked which only fueled Roserie's cries. She had only wet her diaper but her body was burning up. She changed her whilst trying to shush her to calm her down.
"Ssh! It's okay cupcake. It's okay. ZACHE-"
"What's wrong?" The man came running to her side. He had not heard her the first time but Edmund had picked up on the sounds and reported to him.
"I don't- I don't know. She-She's burning up and there's something wrong with her breathing", she cried to him while covering her up to keep her warm. "We were both sleeping and-and, I woke up when she started crying. I think I may have hurt her."
"You didn't." Amy was the most careful around Roserie. Hurting her was out of the question. There must be something else that went wrong.
"Then what's wrong with her?" Amy cried out in frustration.
"EDMUND! I NEED THE CAR READY!!!" Zach shouted as he looked around the room, looking for what they might need to take.
"It's waiting for you, sir!" He had guessed it was an emergency from the cries he heard.
He sat beside her and pulled them against him with one arm dialed for the Pediatrician who had been attending to Roserie recommended by Suzy. "Dr. Sherwood, my wife and I will be arriving at the hospital in ten. Our daughter is sick."
"Noooo, Roserie! Roserie!!! Roserie!!"Amy cried out seeing her lips start to turn blue. "Breath baby! Breath!" She blew air in her face and patted her back.
The little one had stopped crying and went under a no breathing spell at the same time. Zach didn't waste a second and gathered them, taking them to the hospital. His wife had a breakdown earlier and now his daughter was practically fighting for her little life. When did things go so wrong?
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