Broken Strings

C H A P T E R T H I R T E E N

He had wanted to talk to Anisha about it tonight. But he couldn't.

Because the minute he had walked the through the door, the first thing he had seen was her laughing and smiling alongside Mira. And he couldn't remember the last time he had seen her looking so joyous and alive.

And he couldn't take that away from her. Because he wanted her to be happy. So he had stuffed her blood test results deep in his pocket where she would see and ask what it was.

"You were so focused on money and power. Isn't that what he could give you? You could finally be better than your step-sister especially by associating with the prestige and power behind the Hayes last name. But you ruined a family, Amanda." He slowly folded the paper, refusing to look up at her.

"You're just like your step-mother. Andrew is like your father, except that he didn't leave his wife for his mistress. Anisha is just like your mother. I'm sure she's spent hours wondering where her husband was and who he was with. Ryan and Mira, they're both just little kids." Sebastian looked up to the sky, a certain softness of pain in his voice.

His heart felt heavy. Heavy and tired. He couldn't help but remember the day he had first met Anisha. And now he wondered if he would even get to say goodbye.

"And Mira, she's younger than you were when your father left. But Mira's going to grow up in a broken family. Because of what you did." He paused and rubbed his eyes, running a hand over his face. "Her parents might not be getting a divorce like yours did. But Mira, little Mira, she's going to grow up without a mother. Because Anisha doesn't have it in her to fight anymore."

As a doctor, especially with the specialty he had chosen, he was used to having to tell families about both the good and most times the bad. But this time, this time it was different.

Because this time, it was about the girl he loved.

The girl he had loved, still loved and always would love.

"You know Anisha's very sick. And she suffers from depression. It's hard watching her suffer. It's heartbreaking to watch her slowly fade away. It's like I don't even know which doctor's appointment is going to be her last. Every time I see her, I can't help but wonder if that's the last time I'm going to see her." His voice cracked and he tried to hold himself together.

Because he'd rather watch her love and be with someone else than to watch her slowly dull and fade away the way she was.

"She's been sick for a few months. But that shouldn't bother you right? You'll get what you want. Andrew will be single and maybe you could be the next Mrs. Hayes. But what about Ryan and Mira? Don't you feel for them? Their mother is sick. They don't fucking know their mother is sick. Andrew doesn't know his wife is sick." He bit his lip to control the slight tremble in his voice.

"You should feel for Mira. She's what? Eight years old and she's going to grow up knowing that you ruined her mother's happiness." He unfolded the piece of paper in his hands and handed it to her.

So Amanda could finally see what a grave mistake she had made. And how badly she had ruined things.

He watched as her face filled with confusion and she finally looked up at him. He snatched the paper away from her and showed her the one number that made everything clear.

"Her blood count isn't normal. And she isn't going to get better." He looked down at his watch and shook his head slight. "She's sick. And since it's now 12:03 am, Anisha has only twenty-six days left. If she's even that lucky."

"I...I" Amanda looked down at the paper in his hands. She had no idea what do say. She had no idea what was even going on.

Anisha was sick. Very sick.