Rachel's slender fingers moved as she peeled the apple, her eyes never leaving Ava's still form. The hospital room was quiet, except for the soft beeping of machines and the occasional murmur of nurses outside.
"Ava, honey, look, I'm peeling the apple just the way you like it," Rachel whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "Wake up and eat, sweetie." Tears streamed down her face as she gazed at her daughter,
Just then, Aiden entered the room, his eyes scanning the space before landing on his mother. "Hey, Mum," he said softly, approaching her. He gently took the apple from her hands and began peeling it himself.
"Hey, love," Rachel said, her voice weak. Aiden handed her a container of food he had brought. "Eat something, Mum. You need to keep your strength up."
Rachel took a bite, her eyes never leaving Ava's face. Aiden put his arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, Mum. She'll wake up. She'll be fine."
As they sat together, Aiden asked, "Mum, don't you think it's weird that the police said Ava jumped in front of a moving car? I know my sister. She wouldn't do that."
Rachel's expression turned somber. "There's nothing we can do, Aiden. The police showed me the CCTV footage. They said it was attempted suicide."
Aiden's brow furrowed. "That's just it, Mum. It doesn't add up. Ava's always been a fighter. Why would she try to hurt herself?"
Rachel sighed, feeling helpless. "The police said we're lucky she didn't die. The guy who hit her was nice enough to cover her bills…"
The door to the hospital room creaked open, and a young woman stepped inside. "Aunt Rachel," she said, her voice dripping with insincerity.
Rachel looked up from Ava's bedside, a mixture of sadness and wariness on her face. "Oh, hello," she replied, trying to muster some warmth.
Emma, Ava's cousin, approached the bed, her eyes fixed on Ava's still form. "I heard Ava tried to commit suicide. It must be so hard on her since her father died," she said, her tone laced with a hint of satisfaction.
Rachel's instincts told her that her niece wasn't genuinely concerned about Ava's well-being. She knew the girl had always felt overshadowed by Ava, thanks to her grandfather's constant comparisons.
"Well, I just came to check on her and inform you that Grandpa said you should come for the family dinner in two weeks' time," the girl said, her voice dripping with indifference.
Rachel nodded politely, knowing that the girl's visit wasn't solely about the family dinner. As soon as the girl left, Rachel let out a sigh, her thoughts drifting to her late husband.
Aiden, sensing his mother's unease, turned to her and said, "Mum, don't stress yourself about it. I'll take care of sis. Meanwhile, you need to rest."
Rachel smiled weakly, feeling a sense of gratitude toward her son. "Okay, dear, I'll go home, wash up, and take care of the house. You stay here with Ava."
Aiden nodded, already engrossed in his phone. "Don't worry, Mum, I'll take care of everything here." Rachel smiled again, feeling a sense of relief, and left the hospital room, leaving Aiden to watch over his sister.
Aiden continued scrolling through his phone, his eyes fixed on the screen as the nurse entered the room. "Excuse me, it's time for Ava's treatment," she said gently.
Aiden nodded and stepped out of the room, deciding to grab a snack from a nearby shop. As he walked out of the hospital, he noticed two sleek, high-end cars pulling into the parking lot. He raised an eyebrow, wondering who could be visiting the hospital in such luxurious vehicles.