Leslie woke up before an hour passed. Calix kept waiting by her bedside. He used the table lamp as a light source as he read a book he found inside the room. The orange light cast a glow on the pages, illuminating each word.
Slowly opening her eyes, Leslie took quite so ti to adjust to the faint rays. Fortunately, the orange lights were not as glaring as the white ones. She quietly watched Calix reading the book before finally calling him.
"Ca...lix..."
Leslie winced, unable to bear the ache flaring out in her throat. She let out dry and husky coughs. The act itself added to the pain instead of soothing it.
"Leslie!" Calix abruptly closed the book, hurrying to get closer to Leslie, "How do you feel? Are you hurting sowhere? Want to call Dr. Mo?"
Calix could perfectly see the grimace of pain on Leslie’s contorted countenance. Reaching out to one of her shoulders, he gently supported her back as she tried to sit up.
"I’m... fine..." Leslie shook her head, refusing Calix to get Dr. Mo, "...back... go back... now?"
Leslie didn’t know what ti it was but, she believed it was already afternoon. A sense of guilt tugged her heart.
Calix had just got off from a long flight this early morning yet, he stayed to accompany her at the hospital. Even though his action plucked at her heartstrings, Leslie still felt bad.
"Are you sure?" Calix was hesitant despite understanding what Leslie ant, "Shouldn’t we get you for another checkup? How about just a brief one?"
Leslie blinked, feeling Calix’s broad palm on the small of her back. Even though it was not a suitable ti for it, she couldn’t help but recall the night they danced under the moonlight.
It has just happened recently but, why did it feel like a distant mory?
Brushing the thoughts off, Leslie told herself sothing else was more important. She quietly said, "...then... ask... if I can... leave now."
A quick checkup wouldn’t hurt, right? Calix’s tension also might lessen.
"Okay."
Calix carefully lay Leslie again on the bed while tapping on the call button by the bedside. The nurse had already inford him about its function. Within no ti, the sa nurse stepped inside the room.
"May I assist you with sothing, Mr. and Mrs. Xu?" asked the nurse politely.
"Can we go ho now? Or, should we do another brief checkup?" Calix threw the questions at the nurse, wondering what the answers would be, "My wife has just woken up. She cried in pain just now."
"Let check Mrs. Xu," the nurse approached Leslie to examine her, "Mrs. Xu, do you feel sothing different than your usual pain?"
Stepping away from the bed, Calix let the nurse check Leslie. The examination didn’t take too long. The nurse also didn’t need to call her colleagues or Dr. Mo to help.
Leslie was just suffering from the common pain caused by her condition. Hearing that managed to ease a bit of Calix’s worries.
"You’re good to go, Mrs. Xu. Please have plenty of rest. Don’t push yourself to move if you can’t. Please take it easy, en?"
Calix and Leslie thanked the nurse before finally making their way out of the room. Mrs. An was waiting for them outside. Uncle Raymond also had co from Graceville Manor to pick them up.
"Aunt Wendy made so porridge for you," said Calix while carrying Leslie to the car seat, "You can’t have solid food yet. Eat so before you continue resting."
Calix saw how drowsy Leslie was beyond the sunglasses. She could barely open her eyes out of exhaustion and light sensitivity.
"...en," whispered Leslie as a response. She smiled faintly at Calix, "You too... should rest."
Calix’s smile was imbued with helplessness, "Okay, let’s do that."
After making sure Leslie was comfortable in her seat, Calix sat on his. Mrs. An had procured a good wheelchair from the hospital. Uncle Raymond moved it to the back of the executive van.
Leslie had to use the wheelchair for the ti being. Fortunately, Calix’s private residence had an elevator. Aunt Wendy and Uncle Raymond mostly used it to transfer heavy goods between those floors.
Throughout the ride back to Graceville Manor, none of them spoke much. Uncle Raymond wanted to ask Calix about Leslie’s health condition but, he held back after seeing how tired his employer was.
Today was a long day for the husband and wife. But, it was filled with blessings and good news.
Once they reached Graceville Manor, Calix insisted on sending Leslie back to the bedroom. He pushed the wheelchair to the elevator.
Mrs. An handed her tasks to Mrs. Su who had just arrived. The latter followed Calix and Leslie to the second floor. Uncle Raymond went looking for Aunt Wendy in the kitchen.
"Please help my wife change," Calix spoke to Mrs. Su after laying Leslie on the bed. Each of his movents was slow as he was careful in handling Leslie, "I’ll head to my room for a bit."
"Yes, Mr. Xu."
Mrs. Su and Mrs. An never openedly inquired why the husband and wife resided in different bedrooms. The reason might be for their own convenience. It was not sothing rare.
Before leaving, Calix gently patted the back of Leslie’s hand, "I’ll return with the porridge. Wait for a mont, okay?"
"...okay," Leslie smiled weakly in response.
Calix wanted to say more but, he stopped before the first word escaped his mouth. Once again he reminded Mrs. Su to take good care of Leslie. Then, he disappeared behind the door.
Smiling softly, Mrs. Su began to help Leslie change out of her attire. She chose a cotton nightgown for the forr.
"Mrs. Xu, you’re so blessed ah," said the middle-aged private nurse. Mrs. Su carefully slid out the dress worn by Leslie to the hospital from her body, "Your husband is so attentive to your wellbeing."
Leslie was caught in a daze. She didn’t expect to hear Mrs. Su saying sothing like that. Without her realizing it, her cheeks pinkening.
"He’s... good. A good... man."
"Indeed," Mrs. Su chuckled, agreeing with Leslie’s opinion, "Mr. Xu is a fine gentleman. With his constant support, you’ll get better in no ti. Believe in yourself."
Leslie was amused by how friendly Mrs. Su could be. Unable to respond verbally anymore, she simply nodded.
When Mrs. Su cleaned so parts of her body, Leslie pretended to be dead. She still couldn’t get used to it ah.
If she could cry out in sha, she would.
Fortunately, Mrs. Su was as professional as Mrs. An. They pointed out nothing about the embarrassnt suffered by Leslie, treating her as usual.
"The weather is good outside but, your eyes are still strained, Mrs. Xu," Mrs. Su glanced to the closed windows where curtains were drawn back, "Perhaps, your husband will take you for a stroll tonight? The spring air is fresh."
"...he might..." Leslie couldn’t help but bloom a smile on her lips, "I want... to see... the garden. It’s... beautiful."
Leslie was aware that she couldn’t walk or run in the spacious backyard. But, she still wanted to feel the gentle breeze caressing her cheeks.
How alive would she feel?
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