His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

The sound of the door opening pulled me from my reverie. I glanced up as Issca stepped into the room, a tray in his hands. scent of something savory wafted

The

toward me, and I realized I hadn't eaten all day. Issca had been hovering around me ever since Oliver passed, trying to take care of me as if he could somehow fill the void that was left.

"Doris, you shouldn't be watching this trash," Issca said, his voice gentle but firm

as he placed the tray on the coffee table.

He was always like this-caring,

protective, but I couldn't bring myself to accept his help completely. Not when the pain was still so raw, so consuming. "I'm fine," I replied, forcing a small smile

that didn't reach my eyes. "You don't have

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to worry about me."

Issca sighed, his eyes full of concern. "You need to eat something. You've been in and out of the hospital so much lately... I made

your

favorite soup."

Í nodded, but my mind was far away. I

couldn't shake the memories of those

endless hospital visits with Oliver-the} sterile smell of antiseptics, the beeping

machines, the doctors' grim expressions.

We had fought so hard, clung to everyConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

-shred of hope, but it hadn't been enough.

And now, all I had left were memories.

"I know you're trying to help," I

I said

quietly, picking up the spoon. "But I need to do this on my own. I need to be strong."

Issca knelt down beside me, his hand

resting gently on my shoulder. "You don't

have to do it alone, Doris. You have people who care about you. Let us help."

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His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

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I met his gaze, and for a moment, I almost believed that I could lean on him, that I

could let someone in. But then the pain would come crashing back, reminding me that no one could truly understand the depth of my loss.

"I appreciate it, Issca," I said, my voice soft but resolute. "But I need to focus on getting better my way."

Issca's shoulders slumped slightly, but he nodded in understanding. "I'll be around if

you need anything."

With that, he left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more. I

stared at the tray of food, the smell of the soup filling the air, but my appetite had

vanished. I placed the tray aside and

stood, needing to escape the confines of the house.

The hospital had discharged me earlier

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His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

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that day, deeming me well enough to go home, but the walls of this place felt like they were closing in. I needed to breathe, to feel something other than the suffocating grief.

The garden outside was overgrown, weeds sprouting up between the flowerbeds where my mother's roses used to bloom.

This house had been hers, left to me when

she passed, and now it was all I had left of

my family. I bent down and began pulling

at the weeds, my hands moving

mechanically as I tried to lose myself in

the task

the task.

But no matter how many flowers I planted

or how many weeds I pulled, I couldn't shake the memories. The hospital room

where I had spent so many hours by

Oliver's side, the nights I had sat awake,

praying for a miracle.

Doris, you're spiraling. My wolf's voice

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His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

HIS

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was calm, but I could sense the concern

beneath it. You need to rest. Take care of

yourself, as Oliver would want you to.

trying," I whispered, tears finally slipping down my cheeks. "But it's so hard

hout him."

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting

the garden in shadows. I stood, brushing

dirt from

my hands, and made my way back inside. I passed by the living room, where Oliver's toys were neatly arranged on the

the shelves, each one holding a memory, I h I had put them there as soon as I returned from the hospital, unable to pack them away just yet.

The house was quiet, too quiet, and as

night fell, the silence became unbearable. I found myself pacing the halls, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn't escape. The pain, the loss, it was all too much. I needed to do something, anything, to distract 18:49 18:4 His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

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21

myself.

I went to my computer, sitting down with a heavy sigh as I began searching for

information on the medical organization

that had been working on the drug. If only

they had worked faster, if only they had

found a cure i in time. I could feel my wolf

urging me to stop, to calm down, but I couldn't. I needed answers, even if they

wouldn't bring Oliver back.

As I clicked through page after page,

-something caught my eye. A news article,

its headline blaring in bold letters: "Doris:

The Woman Behind the Scandal."