Chapter 8

I don't even know what I am to him anymore. Maybe in all the stories they share, I'm nothing more than an afterthought in his life.

He fell asleep after talking for so long, and that's when Chris finally noticed me. "When did you get here? Why didn't you say something?"

I forced a smile. "You two seemed so immersed in your conversation. I didn't want to interrupt. I didn't know your memories together were so happy and full of life."

Chris looked uneasy, playing with her hair and fixing her dress. "It's not like that. I just..."

Not wanting to make her feel awkward, I handed her the box of chicken. "He wanted these. But they've been sitting too long, so they've gone cold. No matter how good the container is, it can't keep them warm forever."

She hesitated before taking the box. To me, the hospital is now just a place to discuss his condition with the doctor. It doesn't mean anything more.

As I turned to leave, she called out to me. "Zara."

I stopped and looked back at her. "He will recover, won't he? I believe he will. You should believe it too."

Her voice was soft. She seemed to be saying it more for herself than for me. For a moment, it looked like she had something else to say, but she didn't. She turned back to the room and shut the door.

I went home and sat on the couch, eating the chocolates he bought. They were the flavor I loved, but they didn't taste the same anymore.