But she was right.
Fuck.
“Lio had a fainting spell due to his cystic fibrosis. I’m not sure how much you already know about the disease, but it’s a genetic condition that affects the respiratory system. It produces mucus that becomes thick and sticky, leading to blockages in the airways. The symptoms are the same as asthma, wheezing, shortness of breath, but also a persistent cough and salty-tasting skin. In his case, it led to a severe coughing fit, which caused him to faint. These fits and spells would have worsened over time, making him even weaker. He was already in pretty rough shape because the mucus is hindering his oxygen intake. Untreated, this disease is fatal. And his coughing spells could have led to a lack of oxygen in his brain, causing additional damage.”
No.
Shock visibly runs through all of us, and Nash and I exchange glances while North appears stricken. It’s hard to tell if he’s stopped breathing or is just holding his breath.
The doctor continues, “Fortunately, we’ve caught it before it caused any lasting damage. He will take some time to regain his strength, but with proper treatment, Lio can lead a normal life. Luckily, kids tend to bounce back quickly from such strains. It’s essential to manage his condition religiously, though, to prevent further complications.”
Relief washes over me as I absorb his words. While the situation is undoubtedly serious, knowing that treatment is possible…
Thank fuck.
After all the fear for him, the years of concern, of him getting worse.
Tears brim in my eyes, and my vision gets hazy.
He’s going to be okay.
“I know this is a lot, I’m sorry. I’m glad I was able to meet with you before my next round, and I will send in a nursewith more detailed information shortly.” With that, Dr. Mitchell leaves the room, leaving us to process and stand in front of Sloan and Lio, a tense silence settling over all of us.
North opens his mouth, but before he can speak, Sloan rises from her seat, her expression determined as she holds out her hand to silence us.
“Jessica has something to say.”
Jessica standson the other side of Lio’s bed, her hand resting on his head. She looks down at him lovingly, then turns her gaze toward me. The fiery and urgent look she used to give me is gone, replaced by one filled with gratitude.
“They need to know. I need to tell them before I can leave,” she whispers, and I nod in agreement.
I never wanted to do this again, but it doesn’t matter anymore. I can do one last thing to help this family heal and move on. I can be the bigger person for a few more minutes.
Nobody deserves what they were going through.
“I’m so sorry,” Jessica whispers, her words carrying the weight of the world. “I wish I could have seen things differently. I wish I could have fought harder.”
“Jessica wants you to know that she’s sorry, that she wished she could have fought harder for you,” I tell the room, all eyes fixed on me. I look down at Lio. He’s looking at me with a scrunched-up nose, and I gently squeeze his hand. “Your mommy is standing on our other side, Lio. She came to say goodbye.”
Lio’s head turns toward Jessica, his voice frail as he asks, “Mommy?”
A sob escapes Jessica, and she leans down to kiss Lio’s forehead. “Mommy loves you more than anything, Lio, and she’s so proud of you.”
My nose burns as I relay her words to Lio, “Your mommy loves you more than anything and is so proud of you.”
North chimes in, his tone stern, but I can hear a hint of insecurity in it. “Why are you doing this? You’ve proven your point. You were right. Tell me a number, and I’ll make it possible. You don’t have to keep up this charade. This is just cruel to him.”
The stricken look in his eyes tells me it’s mostly cruel to himself, but I ignore him, focusing on Jessica, who begins to tell me her story. When she finishes, I turn to the guys, who wait silently, their skepticism written all over their faces.
“Jessica wants you to know that she never wanted to leave you. She never wanted to inflict this pain on the people she loved the most. But she couldn’t see a way out anymore. She wore a mask, a happy façade, to conceal the depression that consumed her. She took medication and went to therapy without anyone knowing, ashamed that she was struggling so badly even though her life was mostly good. It was just her past that haunted her, while you guys had it much worse. She urged you not to give up. All the while, she was struggling to do just that. She thought she could bear the weight of her demons alone, not wanting toburden her family with the ugliness lurking in her. But after giving birth, she fell even deeper into a hole.”
Nash is hugging himself, looking like he’s about to be sick. Hunter’s eyes brim with tears, and North appears frozen, not moving a wink.
I continue, “She’s free now. Free from the depression that had its grip on her, and she can see clearly again.”
Tears stream down Jessica’s cheeks as she whispers, “It wasn’t their fault. Please let them know they couldn’t have done anything to prevent it. I was fighting for so long. I just couldn’t anymore. The mind can make you feel so worthless.”
Oh, I know the feeling.
