Chapter 146: Just Be Patient...

"Send me the address. I want to visit my sister-in-law."

Sylvia lowered her voice as she looked toward the closed hospital room. "Venny, I don’t think you should come now."

There was a pause on the other end. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"No. Amelia is fine. She’s sleeping."

"Then why don’t you want me there?"

Sylvia leaned against the wall and rubbed her forehead. "Because she doesn’t remember you either."

Venny became quiet.

Sylvia could imagine the expression on his face. He had probably been expecting her to tell him that Amelia was awake, talking, and slowly returning to normal. Instead, he was hearing that the woman he knew as his sister-in-law couldn’t remember him.

"I don’t want her to wake up and see someone she doesn’t recognize," Sylvia explained, glancing through the small glass panel in the door. "She’s already confused about everything. She keeps asking questions, and when she can’t find the answers, she starts overthinking."

"She’ll probably remember eventually."

"I know." Sylvia looked through the glass again, watching Amelia sleep peacefully. "But right now, I just want her to rest."

Venny sighed. "So you want me to stay away?"

"Just for now."

There was another pause before he finally said, "Okay. If you think that’s better, I won’t come."

"Thank you."

"But Sylvia?"

"Yes?"

"Call me if anything changes."

"I will."

"And please don’t stay there without eating."

Sylvia looked down at her empty stomach and smiled faintly. "I’ll eat."

"You always say that."

"This time I mean it."

"Good. Take care of her."

"I will."

After the call ended, Sylvia slipped her phone into her pocket and stood there for a few seconds. She felt a little guilty about stopping Venny from coming, but she believed it was the right thing to do. Amelia needed a quiet environment, not more unfamiliar faces and explanations.

Sylvia turned and walked toward the cafeteria.

The hospital seemed different when she wasn’t standing beside Amelia’s bed. The hallway was quieter now, with only the occasional footsteps of nurses and the distant sound of a trolley being pushed across the floor. The smell of disinfectant remained strong, mixed with the faint smell of food coming from the cafeteria.

Sylvia bought a bottle of water, some biscuits, a sandwich, and a few other snacks. She also picked up something for Camila and Daniela. She knew they would probably come to the hospital later, and she didn’t want them complaining that she had bought food without thinking about them.

When she returned to the room, she opened the door slowly.

Amelia was still asleep.

Sylvia stopped and watched her for a moment. The room was dim and peaceful. The monitor beside the bed continued its steady beeping, and the IV line beside Amelia’s arm remained in place. Her breathing was slow and even, and her face looked much calmer than it had earlier.

Sylvia quietly closed the door and placed the food on the small table before walking to the bed. She looked at Amelia’s face and gently moved a few strands of hair away from her forehead.

"Still sleeping," she whispered.

Amelia didn’t respond.

Sylvia smiled faintly before returning to the chair. She opened the sandwich and took a bite.

The first few bites made her realize just how hungry she actually was. She had spent most of the day worrying about Amelia, talking to doctors, answering questions, and trying to keep herself from breaking down. She hadn’t noticed how little she had eaten until now.

She ate slowly, keeping one eye on Amelia.

Every time Amelia shifted slightly, Sylvia stopped eating. When Amelia’s fingers moved beneath the blanket, Sylvia immediately looked up, but Amelia remained asleep.

Sylvia finally relaxed.

She took another bite and leaned back against the chair. For a few minutes, there was nothing but silence.

It was strange.

She had spent so much time around Amelia that silence no longer felt uncomfortable. Even when Amelia wasn’t talking, simply having her there made the room feel less empty.

Sylvia looked at her again. "You really don’t remember me," she whispered, her smile slowly fading.

She looked down at her hands.

She knew the doctor had told her not to pressure Amelia. She knew Amelia couldn’t force her memories back. She knew the brain needed time to recover after such a serious accident.

But knowing those things didn’t make it easier.

Sylvia wanted the old Amelia back.

She wanted the girl who would argue with her over the smallest things, the girl who would roll her eyes whenever Sylvia teased her, the girl who would call her bossy and then secretly smile when Sylvia wasn’t looking.

She missed all of it.

Yet the Amelia lying in front of her was still Amelia.

That was what mattered.

Sylvia took another bite of her sandwich and forced herself to stop thinking too much.

A soft knock came from the door.

She looked up as the door opened slightly, and Camila peeked inside.

When she saw Sylvia, she opened it wider. Daniela stood behind her.

"Is she asleep?" Camila whispered.

Sylvia nodded. "She’s been asleep since the medication."

Camila stepped inside carefully, followed by Daniela, who closed the door behind them without making much noise.

They both looked toward Amelia.

Daniela’s expression softened. "She looks better."

"She is," Sylvia replied quietly. "The doctor said she’s stable."

Camila walked closer to the bed and looked at Amelia for a few seconds. "Did she wake up again after we left?"

"Not since the medication."

Camila nodded.

Daniela turned toward Sylvia and noticed the food on the table. "You finally ate."

Sylvia looked at her. "Yes."

"Good."

Daniela walked over and picked up one of the snacks Sylvia had bought. "You bought this for us?"

"Yes."

Daniela smiled. "I knew you still loved us."

Camila gave her a look. "Put it down. You haven’t even asked if you can take it."

Daniela looked at Sylvia.

Sylvia waved her hand. "Take it."

Daniela smiled triumphantly and quietly opened the snack.

Camila shook her head. "You spoil her."

"I’m not the one who brought her up."

Daniela placed a hand over her chest. "That was hurtful."

Sylvia covered her mouth to hide a laugh.

Daniela immediately looked toward Amelia. "Sorry," she whispered.

The three of them laughed quietly.

For a moment, the room felt lighter.

Camila pulled a chair closer and sat down beside Sylvia while Daniela sat on the other side, keeping her voice low.

"How was school?" Sylvia asked.

Daniela sighed. "Terrible."

Camila raised an eyebrow. "You say that every day."

"Because school is terrible every day."

Sylvia smiled. "What happened?"

Daniela leaned closer and lowered her voice. "We had two classes today, and both teachers decided they wanted to destroy us."

Camila shook her head. "That’s dramatic."

"It’s true."

Sylvia looked amused. "What did you learn?"

Daniela opened her bag and brought out her notebook. "The first class was okay. We continued the topic from our last class. The teacher explained the main points again and then gave examples."

She opened the notebook carefully and added, "I wrote everything down."

Camila glanced at the page. "Everything?"

"Almost everything."

"You missed half of it."

"I was writing fast."

"You were probably sleeping."

"I was not sleeping."

Sylvia laughed quietly.

Daniela immediately pointed at Camila. "She doesn’t believe me either."

"I believe you were awake," Camila whispered. "I just don’t believe you were paying attention."

Daniela frowned at her.

Sylvia smiled.

The normal conversation felt strangely comforting. It reminded Sylvia that life was still moving outside the hospital.

People were still going to class. Teachers were still giving assignments. Students were still complaining about school.

Everything hadn’t stopped just because Amelia had been injured.

Daniela flipped another page. "The second lecture was longer. The teacher started a new topic and spent a lot of time explaining the basic concepts before moving on."

"What was the topic?" Sylvia asked.

Daniela told her.

Sylvia listened carefully as Daniela explained some of the things they had been taught. She wasn’t familiar with every detail, but she enjoyed listening to Daniela talk. Daniela became more animated whenever she explained something she understood.

Her hands moved as she spoke, although she kept them close to herself so she wouldn’t make too much noise.

"And then," Daniela continued, "the social sciences teacher gave us an assignment."

Camila sighed. "Of course."

Daniela nodded. "Exactly."

"What’s the assignment about?"

Daniela showed them the page. "We have to write about what we learned from the new topic and explain some of the points he discussed."

"How many pages?" Sylvia asked.

Daniela’s face fell. "Too many."

Camila laughed softly. "That’s not a number."

"It’s enough pages to ruin my life."

Sylvia covered her mouth as she laughed.

Daniela looked at her seriously. "I’m suffering and you’re laughing."

"I’m sorry."

"No, you’re not."

Sylvia smiled.

Daniela continued talking about school, explaining what happened during the classes and mentioning some of their classmates. She told Sylvia about one student who had nearly fallen asleep during the second class and another who had asked a question that made the whole class laugh.

Camila occasionally corrected her when she exaggerated something.

"You always make everything sound worse than it was."

"Because it was worse."

"It wasn’t."

"It was."

Sylvia watched them argue quietly and smiled. She liked seeing them like this.

They were comfortable around each other. There was no fear in their voices.

For a few minutes, Sylvia almost forgot they were in a hospital. Then her eyes moved toward Amelia. Her smile slowly disappeared.

Camila noticed and lowered her voice. "You okay?"

Sylvia nodded. "Yeah."

Camila studied her face. "You’re thinking about her again."

Sylvia lowered her gaze. "Of course I am."

Daniela stopped eating and looked at her. "Did she remember anything?"

Sylvia shook her head. "No."

Daniela’s expression softened. "Nothing at all?"

"Not yet."

She looked toward Amelia. "The doctor said we shouldn’t pressure her."

"That’s probably for the best," Camila said.

"I know."

Sylvia rubbed her fingers together. "I just wish she could remember me."

Her voice became quieter. "I know it’s selfish. I know she can’t control it. But sometimes I keep thinking that maybe if I say something familiar, or do something we used to do, she’ll suddenly remember."

Camila reached over and placed a hand on Sylvia’s shoulder. "Don’t blame yourself."

"I’m not."

"You are."

Sylvia didn’t answer.

Camila squeezed her shoulder gently. "She’s alive. She’s recovering. That’s what matters right now."

Sylvia looked at her. "I know."

Daniela nodded. "And she still reacts to you."

Sylvia looked at her with surprise. "What do you mean?"

"When she woke up earlier, she wanted you near her, didn’t she?"

Sylvia remembered Amelia reaching for her. "Yes."

"Then maybe some part of her still knows you’re important."

Sylvia looked toward Amelia again. She wanted to believe that.

Even if Amelia couldn’t remember their history, there were still small things that made Sylvia feel as though their connection hadn’t completely disappeared.

Camila leaned back in her chair. "Don’t force anything. Just be patient."

Sylvia nodded slowly. "I’ll try."

Daniela smiled. "That’s all you can do."

Silence settled over them again.

Amelia shifted slightly in her sleep and all three of them immediately looked toward her.

She moved her head against the pillow and then became still again.

Sylvia waited until her breathing returned to its previous rhythm before relaxing.

Daniela whispered, "She’s okay."

Sylvia nodded. "I know."

She reached over and adjusted the blanket slightly around Amelia’s shoulder before returning to her chair.

Daniela looked at the time on her phone. "It’s getting late."

Camila nodded. "We should probably leave soon."

Sylvia looked at them. "You don’t have to."

"We know," Camila said. "But you should get some rest too."

Sylvia shook her head. "I’m staying."

Daniela frowned. "All night?"

"Yes."

"Sylvia."

"I’ll be fine."

Camila looked at her for a moment before sighing. "I knew you were going to say that."

Sylvia smiled faintly.

Daniela packed her notebook back into her bag. "Then at least promise you’ll call us if you need anything."

"I promise."

Camila stood and picked up her bag. She looked at Amelia one more time before turning to Sylvia. "She’ll be okay."

Sylvia nodded. "I hope so."

"She will."

Daniela moved toward the door but stopped before opening it. "Sylvia."

"Yes?"

"Don’t forget to eat the rest of your food."

Sylvia looked at the sandwich on the table. "I won’t."

Daniela narrowed her eyes. "You better."

Sylvia smiled. "I said I won’t."

Camila opened the door quietly. "Come on, Daniela."

Daniela gave Sylvia one last look before following Camila outside. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

The door closed softly behind them.

Sylvia remained seated as the room became quiet again.

She looked at the food on the table, then at Amelia. The hospital lights outside the room cast a faint glow beneath the door. Somewhere down the hallway, a nurse spoke quietly to another staff member, while a trolley rolled past, its wheels making a soft sound against the floor before fading into the distance.

Sylvia took another bite of her sandwich and ate slowly this time.

She no longer felt as alone as she had before Camila and Daniela arrived.

Their short visit had given her something she hadn’t realized she needed—a few minutes where she could talk about ordinary things, laugh quietly, and forget about the fear sitting heavily in her chest.

She looked toward Amelia again.

Amelia was still sleeping.

Sylvia lowered her gaze to the remaining food in her hand and finished it quietly, making sure not to disturb the peaceful room.