Nicole froze in her tracks.
She couldnât believe what she had heard and swiftly pivoted to face her mother lying in the bed.
Dora raised her hand slowly, pointing at the petite blossoms adorning the windowsill.
With a hesitant and halting cadence, she murmured, âFlower⦠The flower has bloomedâ¦â
Nicole was incredulous.
Rushing back to Doraâs side, she grasped Doraâs shoulders urgently.
âMom! Mom! Can you speak now? Do you recognize me?â
Dora was jolted by Nicoleâs sudden movements, compelled to turn her head and gaze steadily at Nicole.
With deliberate slowness, she scrutinized Nicoleâs face before gradually lowering her gaze.
Nicole stood transfixed as Dora raised her hand toward Nicoleâs abdomen, gently making contact with an awkward yet deliberate gesture.
She stammered, âFlower⦠The little flower has bloomedâ¦â
Nicole was stunned.
Adorning her pure gray shirt was a small white chrysanthemum printed on a button.
Doraâs finger pointed directly at the miniature chrysanthemum on Nicoleâs button as she repeated, âLittle flowerâ¦â
Nicoleâs startled exclamation drew the attention of a passing nurse, who entered the room and was astonished to witness Dora uttering a few words.
Swiftly, the nurse summoned the sanatoriumâs doctor to conduct an examination.
Nicole waited patiently outside as the doctor conducted the examination.
Once it was completed, the doctor approached Nicole and delivered his assessment, âFollowing our evaluation, your mother still hasnât recollected past events.
Her recent speech may have been coincidental.
Nonetheless, itâs a positive sign.
Improved communication and expression of basic needs signify significant progress.
Regarding memory retrieval, pushing too hard may burden the patient.
Excessive recollection could overwhelm the brain, exacerbating confusion.
â
The doctorâs words resonated with a compassionate perspective, treating Dora as he would his family member.
For the elderly, simplicity and contentment often trumped extensive recollection.
Memories, while precious, could sometimes weigh heavily.
Nicole didnât feel disappointed by the examination outcome.
On the contrary, she was filled with gratitude.
Her sentiments aligned with the doctorâs perspective.
In her view, this was the optimal outcome for her broken family.
Simply being able to communicate in basic terms was a significant achievement for Dora.
Returning to Doraâs ward, Nicole spent a little while longer with her.
However, after their initial exchange, Dora remained silent.
With Dora soon needing to rest, Nicole departed the ward quietly, opting not to disturb her.
After departing from the sanatorium, Nicole eschewed the taxi stand, opting instead to linger at the entrance for a moment.
Without hesitation, she strode purposefully toward the green belt where a silver sedan was parked.
Nicole knocked on the window and prompted the glass to glide down, revealing a familiar, handsome visage.
Jarrod was inside.
Jarrod displayed no hint of surprise at being discovered.
The vehicle in question belonged to his assistant, a deliberately unassuming choice.
However, Nicoleâs acute sensitivity meant she had long been aware of Jarrodâs surveillance, yet she refrained from exposing him.
âLetâs discuss tomorrow morning,â Nicole stated tersely, her tone icy.
With that declaration, Nicole pivoted on her heel and departed without a second thought.
A discreet black car arrived to collect Nicole.
Jarrod observed Rhett, the lawyer who had visited him earlier that day, seated beside Nicole in the car.
Nicole had received a text message from Rhett, indicating his desire to speak with her.
Consequently, she had arranged for him to meet her at the sanatorium.