The Marriage She Turned into War novel Chapter 10

"Hello." I reached out to shake the man's hand.

"My name's Dylan Carter. Just call me Dylan. We're all friends here!"

Dylan was very kind to me. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder as he led me into the gym.

Once inside, I was greeted with the sight of muscular men working out.

I remembered how I used to frequent the gym before my diagnosis because Abigail once mentioned she liked men with lean muscle and a defined eight-pack. I'd worked tirelessly to build myself up just to catch her eye.

But now, I no longer cared about what she thought. I was only focused on earning enough to pay for Kayla's treatment.

Although it was technically work, the day passed easily. Dylan looked out for me, even ordering lunch to make sure I didn't go without a meal. At closing, he called me over.

"You'll mostly be cleaning the equipment. There's no heavy lifting," he said, handing me a thick envelope. "Here's three months' pay upfront to help you get started. And if you need anything, just ask. A friend of Sophia's is a friend of mine."

Dylan's words touched me to the core. Life had numbed me to kindness, so these gestures of genuine care felt almost overwhelming.

I thanked Dylan, gripping the envelope, and left. On my way out, I stopped by somewhere for a simple and cheap meal.

As I was heading home, my phone rang. It was George. Ever since Kayla's became ill, fear washed over me each time his name appeared on my screen.

I braced myself for the worst and took a shaky breath before answering carefully, "George, did something happen to Kayla?"

He chuckled softly. "No. She's awake and asking to see you."

My heart raced, and my grip tightened.

In the background, Kayla's voice piped up, "Samuel, why haven't you come to see me?"

My heart softened, and I lowered my voice. "I'll be there soon, Kayla. I promise."

Knowing she was alright gave me a renewed sense of purpose, and I felt energy surge back into me. I rushed to a toy store and bought her favorite doll set before heading to the hospital.

At the entrance to her room, George greeted me with a smile. "Go on in. She's in good spirits today," he said.

I nodded excitedly and pushed open the door.

Kayla's face lit up when she saw me, her big eyes sparkling joyfully. She waved eagerly. "Samuel! You're finally here! I missed you so much!"

I went to her bedside, gently brushing her hair back. Seeing her surrounded by tubes and machines stirred a painful ache in my chest, but I swallowed hard, holding back tears.

"I'm sorry, Kayla. I was busy these past few days, but look, I brought you a present. Do you forgive me?"

I unwrapped the toy and placed it on her pillow. She hugged it close, beaming.

"Thank you, Samuel. I love it!"

At the doorway, George's eyes filled with tears as he watched. This small, joyful moment was more precious than words could describe.

In that year, the times when Kayla had been awake were painfully rare. Either she regained consciousness when I couldn't make it to see her, or by the time I managed to visit, she had already fallen back into a coma.

This cycle had gone on for so long that finally being able to exchange a few words with her had felt like a gift, and even George sympathized with the rarity of the moment.

Before I left, Kayla had clung to my hand, asking me to come see her often. I promised, but tears slipped down my face once outside her room.