Alia couldn't stop the tears from falling from her eyes, her lonely thoughts suffocating her.
The creaking sound of her bedroom door opening snapped her out of her thoughts. She quickly wiped her tears and lay down on her side, backing the bedroom door. She closed her eyes, as she heard the bedroom door quietly closed.
From the unique fragrance exuding from the door, Alia knew it was Maria. She stilled her breath as she listened to Maria's quiet footsteps approaching her bedside.
There was a pause by the bedside as if she was dropping sothing by the bedside table.
Then the relaxing aroma of so sort of herbal mixture tickles her nostrils, feeling her with a sense of warmth.
Alia gulped down the lump in her throat as she felt Maria's soft hand caress her arm tenderly.
"I know you're not sleeping, my darling." Maria gently sat down on the bed, shifting Alia's scattered hair from her face.
"Oh, Mom." Alia sat up and embraced Maria, sniffing. "I couldn't sleep."
"I know. I couldn't either." Maria kissed Alia on the forehead while stroking her hair.
"I can't stop thinking about that pregnant woman and her unborn child. What if they don't make it alive? What if they die?"
"They won't. Let's just keep them in our prayers. Miracles do happen." Maria said reassuringly.
Alia nodded, sobbing quietly.
"I know how difficult this is for you, considering everything happening around us. But I also know that nothing bad lasts forever. We will get through this just as we have done in the past. I just need you to be strong. I also need you to try your best and get so rest. I don't want you falling sick because of this."
"I'm trying but I can't sleep. I keep seeing her face every ti I close my eyes." Alia lanted, biting down on her lower lips.
Maria sighed. She turned away from Alia and picked up the glass of steaming herbal tea.
"Here, drink this." Maria handed the mug to Alia. "It will help calm your nerves and help with sleep."
Alia accepted the mug, moistening her lips. Even though she didn't have an appetite for anything, she couldn't resist the aroma of the herbal tea.
"Go ahead, take a sip. It's not too hot." Maria encouraged her staring at her with so much affection.
Alia nodded and took a sip. She savoured the rejuvenating flavour, picking out a hint of lemon, ginger and chamomile.
"It's nice." Alia smiled in appreciation.
"I knew you would love it." Maria bead proudly. "It's an old recipe my mother-in-law always made for anyti I'm overstressed. Drink up. It will help you sleep well."
"Okay." Alia forced herself to empty the entire content in the mug before handing it over to her mother-in-law, who dropped it on the table.
"Now sleep and dream of only beautiful things like your handso baby." Maria cooed, pulling Alia into her arms and stroking her lovingly like a little child.
"Mom..." Alia whispered her eyes drooping as the effect of the herbal tea kicked in slowly.
"Yes, my baby," Maria responded softly.
"Please stay the night with ."
"I am going nowhere." Maria watched Alia's eyes slowly shut as weariness and fatigue kicked in.
When Alia opened her eyes the following morning, it was already past 10:00 AM.
Staring at the fancy wall clock opposite her bed, Alia couldn't believe she had slept in when she had a lot to do at the office.
She tried to sit up on her bed, but her body felt so heavy, as though a boulder had been placed on her chest. Her head felt heavy, her mouth felt slightly bitter, and her nose felt a bit clogged as if she was coming down with the flu.
"Oh no..."
The door to her bedroom opened, and Maria strolled in, beaming at her.
"You're finally awake."
"Why didn't you wake ?" Alia's voice was slightly hoarse and faint. She tried again to sit but Maria quickly stopped her.
"No, my darling. You must relax."
"But I have to go to work." Alia frowned.
"No, you don't. There are capable hands at the office to take care of things in your absence. Guess who ca all the way to see you..."
Alia's dull eyes brightened a little as she coughed out the first na that ca to her mind.
"Blaze."
Maria sighed, chuckling bitterly. "No darling. It's Dr Vanessa and she ca bearing good news."
At that sa mont, Dr Vanessa cladded in a pencil-yellow knee-length gown and, holding a brown dical bag, walked into the room, beaming.
"Hello, Alia."
"Good morning, doctor. It's good to see you."
Maria took her place beside Alia and helped her sit up a bit seeing that she was struggling to do so herself.
"Sa here, dear. I ca as quickly as possible when your mother-in-law called . I'm sorry we had to cancel our appointnt yesterday because of the ergency in my clinic."
"Yeah..about that, did the woman and her child survive?" Alia voice quivered with anticipation and anxiety.
Dr Vanessa smiled, seeing how this little incident had affected Alia's health greatly.
"We almost lost the woman but she's a fighter. She miraculously made it through the surgical procedure. Since her baby was born prematurely, she is currently getting all the necessary nutrients in an incubator."
"Oh..." Alia exhaled, releasing the breath she didn't know she was holding all this while. Tears of joy stread down her face, her lips stretching in a contagious smile.
"I told you they would make it." Maria embraced her caring daughter-in-law and wiped her tears.
"Thank you, doctor." Alia appreciative gaze flickered to Dr Vanessa.
"You don't need to thank , dear. I was simply doing my job."
"Nonetheless, you and your team saved two precious lives and I owe you my gratitude for that." Alia bead proudly.
"You're welco."
"Please, put the bills of the mother and her precious daughter on . I'd like to see them both when they are much better."
"That's so thoughtful of you." Dr Vanessa was intrigued by Alia's generosity. "Thank you. I'll keep you inford."
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