Chapter 221 Sleep Tight Dark clouds could be seen drifting on the horizon.
The evening sun rays filtered through the dark branches and leaves, giving the land an unsettling feel as if mourning the passing of a little life.
Crystalâs face was covered in tears at the moment, making her seem like a lost soul.
Skyler, are you really gone? Did you leave... just like that? What are you going to do? Are you afraid? What am I.... going to do?
Lifting the handful of fresh soil, she pressed it against her heart and curled herself into a ball. Her clothes. did nothing to hide the bony outline of her back.
âWhy... didnât you let me see her one last time!â
Henry had intended to carry her, but his delicate fingers froze in mid-air in an odd posture when he heard that âThe child was not in good shape. I was afraid you wouldnât be able to forget what she looked like at that moment if you saw her.â
His voice sounded extremely hoarse.
Crystal was dazed, and she closed her eyes. âHenry, you are truly heartless! She was also your child, and you just... You just...â
She couldnât bring herself to finish her sentence.
After placing the dirt in her hands back onto the slightly raised dirt before her, she began piling the surrounding earth on top of the raised patch of soil. Sharp stones were obviously in the soil, so her hands quickly got cut by them, but she didnât care.
All she cared about at the moment was mechanically performing her act.
Skyler, Iâm covering you with more blankets, okay? Would this make you feel warmer? Skyler, I didnât have the chance to love you. Before you were born, I had imagined what you would be like countless times, but you turned out much better than I had hoped. Sleep tight and grow up well, Skyler. Mommyâs right here with you....
Soon, the land became gloomy.
The final ray of light from the horizon faded, and darkness enveloped the earth.
âLetâs head back.â Henry spoke as he bent down to pick her up.
Just as he carried her, he realized that she had fainted, and her whole body was unusually hot.
In the ward, Crystal lay on the bed stilly while Henry wiped her body.
He spoke in her ear, hoping to wake her up.
Despite his efforts, she refused to wake up. According to the doctor, the shock had traumatized her, and her subconscious refused to accept the truth, which was why she was still asleep.
Julia and Melora were also there.
Melora sobbed, âHenry, will Crystal never wake up again? You shouldnât have deceived her like that.... She must be so heartbroken!â
Julia wiped her tears away discreetly.
Although she and David were aware of Henryâs decision, they did not dare to hope for too much. After all, there was only a five percent chance of the childâs survival.
And now, they, too, couldnât see the child anymore.
Everything was Henryâs idea.
Listening to his mother and sister cry made him grab Crystalâs hand. Staring intently at her countenance, he muttered, âI have no regrets.â
Melora was taken aback to hear that.
Crystal remained unconscious for four days.
She awoke in the dark, quiet ward four days later and reckoned it was nighttime.
Henry was resting on the side of the bed, and her hand was close to his face. The face she had once admired looked haggard and weary.
Crystal silently observed him until he suddenly jolted awake.
In the faint yellow light, he looked up and met her gaze.
They were husband and wife, but after all that they had been through, their relationship was already riddled with holes. They didnât even know what to say when they faced each other.
Skyler was gone, and there was nothing left to say between them.
Crystal gently closed her eyes. âGet out.â
âAre you hungry?â Henry asked, his voice hoarse but gentle. âLet me bring you some warm oatmeal.â
He went to get oatmeal after saying that Crystal turned her head to the other side. âNo, thanks.
His hand paused in mid-air, and the faint smile on his face stiffened. Nonetheless, he quickly resumed. getting oatmeal for her and said in a casual tone, âThe doctor said you lack nutrition, so I had someone prepare the oat-â
âI said no thank you, Henry! How many times do you want me to repeat myself? I donât need you!â
In the end, with a slight tremble of his hand, he gently put down the bowl.
They had their backs toward each other, unable to see each otherâs faces. Perhaps it would be easier to speak this way.
He was afraid of seeing her cold expression.
âIf you donât want to see me, I will get Mom to take care of you. Her leg is getting better; and she can walk now... Crystal, I know youâre upset, but can you not stay sad for too long? We... We still have to keep on living!â
After an uncomfortable moment of silence, Crystal said, âShe was the child I had in me for seven months. It took me sixteen hours to give birth to her.â
Her heart ached as she spoke, and her body was in pain as well.
She sat up, staring blankly at her chest, which was starting to swell. It didnât happen when she first delivered Skyler. Yet, now that Skyler was already gone, she was just starting to produce milk.
The discomfort constantly reminded her that she had given birth to a child, and it caused her to burst into tears abruptly.
She clutched the white blanket desperately and cried with all her strength, her slender fingers balling into fists.
Henry witnessed her every move.
He approached her and gently embraced her.
âCrystal, can you please come home with me? We donât have to stay in the hospital. Youâll only be reminded of Skyler if you keep staying here,â the man persuaded, burying his head in the crook of her neck.
Crystal flung his hands off her.
She gathered the blanket in her arms and fell into a daze.
The doctor had told him that it would take a long time for her to recover and asked him to have patience and be by her side.
In the end, Henry stayed in the hospital with her even though she ignored him and would even go days without saying a word to him. He simply wouldnât give up as he stared intently at her face.
He knew he was running out of chances like these.
Occasionally, he would receive urgent phone calls and be away for two days.
Crystal didnât know where he went during those times, and she didnât care.
Their relationship eventually came to a standstill, but they still stayed together for half a month. Subsequently, Henry came to realize that this was the most heartbreaking time of his life.
She was right there in front of him, yet he couldnât see any hope.