Chatper 331


    Chapter 0331


    Fear drove all feeling from my body. Then, at once, in a wave, in all came rushing back, and I was


    moving.


    Mark had turned to lead us, but he was too slow. I already knew the way, so I started to run.


    My little girl was sick. I had to get back to her side as soon as I could.


    It didn’t make any sense. I was just there with her, eating cookies and having fun. She had seemed fine


    then, in good health. How could the illness set in so quickly? Usually there was at least symptoms


    before!


    1 needed to get back to her. My poor girl was probably as scared as me. She never understood why


    her body would just stop working.


    I didn’t understand it either.


    As I ran, two pairs of footsteps followed close behind. Nichs had followed then. Good. If I didn’t have


    his presence nearby, I might fall apart when the time for waiting began.


    “I’ve already called the doctor,” Mark alerted them as they ran.


    “Good,” Nichs said.


    Finally, we reached the hallway of my room.


    “Paprika!” I shouted as we came closer. The identification answer. “Paprika!” I said again, in case they


    didn’t hear me the first time.


    One of the two definitely worked. They stepped aside as I came close. I shoved the door open, and


    Nichs, Mark, and I flooded into the room.


    Charlotte and the nanny were standing beside the bed. Elva was within it. Her cheeks were pale, and


    her hair was damp with sweat.


    Only when I was at her side, did I stop to take a breath. I ced my hand to her forehead. She was


    burning up.


    “Mommy…” she said, her voice so small and scared.


    “I’m here, honey. It’s okay.”


    “It hurts,” she said, and my heart cracked.


    I looked behind me, seeing my heartbreak written all over Nich s’s face.


    Nichs turned to Mark. “Where is that doctor?”


    Mark brought his phone to his ear.


    +15 BONUS


    “It doesn’t make any sense,” Charlotte said. “We were having a tea party, and all of a sudden she


    copsed.”


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    “I’m sorry,” the nanny said, sobbing into her hands. “I’m so sorry.”


    It wasn’t her fault, but I couldn’t offerfort to anyone but my whimpering daughter right now. I leaned


    into Elva. “Shh. It’s okay. The doctor will be here soon.”


    Charlotte touched the nanny’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault. Let’s go, and give them some space,”


    1 gave Charlotte a grateful nod. Later, when and if the danger passed, I would apologize to the nanny


    and thank her for everything she did. But for now, my mind was too filled with fears and worries.


    Elva lifted her hand and I quickly took it in mine.


    “Nickss?” she asked.


    “I’m here, Elva.” Nichs stepped into the new open space with the nanny’s absence. He ced his


    hand on the top of Elva’s head. Elva closed her eyes, content for a moment, before the pain began and


    her eyes squeezed tight.


    She sobbed and whimpered, and each tiny sound of pain and difort chipped away at my


    heart.


    The doctor showed a few minutester. Nichs and I stepped back to let her work.


    “Nick…” My voice trembled.


    He pulled me into his arms and tucked my head under his chin. He was being strong for both of us, I


    knew, because, and though I’d never admit it, I felt the tremor in his hands.


    We stood like that, unmoving, holding each other for a long time. The doctor checked Elva over. She


    asked her questions, then she asked questions to Charlotte and the nanny too.


    When the doctor returned to Nichs and me, her face was grim. “The nanny assures me she


    hasn’t missed any of her pills.”


    “I swear,” I said. I’d been diligent with all of Elva’s treatments. She’d been doing so well sinceing


    here, I wasn’t going to risk anything.