Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Charles stopped and looked at me with surprise.

I realized I might have overstepped, so I quickly added, "I didn't mean anything bad. I just..."

"It's fine," Charles interrupted. "Before she got sick, she was full of energy and loved making friends. She'd be happy to see you," he said, still not looking at me, seeming almost like he was talking to himself. Seeing him like this made me feel sad.

"Madeline, come with me," he said, then started walking again.

As I followed him, I suddenly felt how heavy his burden had to be, like he was carrying too much.

Charles took me to a rehabilitation ward that looked almost as fancy as the VIP ward. The place was really nice, which meant that it was expensive. It was clear that the woman lying here came from a wealthy family.

Charles hesitated at the door, seeming like he wanted to say something.

Thinking that he might be having second thoughts, I quickly said, "If it's not a good time, we can skip this."

"Madeline, she really does look a lot like you... just thinner now," he finally said.

I'd almost forgotten that there was someone out there who looked just like me.

I smiled softly. "Real beauty comes from within, not just from looks."

Charles gave a slight smile too. Then, he quietly opened the door.

Inside, I saw a caregiver in a blue uniform, gently massaging the woman on the bed. When she noticed us, she stood up right away.

"You can take a break now. We'll call you if we need anything," Charles said politely.

The caregiver nodded and left, but not before giving me a quick look, probably because of how much I looked like the woman lying on the bed.

"Is it just the caregivers who take care of her when you're not here?" I asked, trying to break the heavy silence in the room.

Charles looked even more downcast. "Yeah, I have to work, so I can't be here all the time," he said, setting the fruit on the table and then sitting next to the bed.

I moved closer and saw the woman lying there. Her skin was so pale that it was almost see-through, and her hair was spread out over the pillow. Her eyes were gently closed, and her lips were slightly open. She didn't look like she was in a coma. She just looked like she was sleeping.

She was beautiful, like Sleeping Beauty from the fairytale. The tear-shaped mole on her cheek made her look even more striking.

Charles looked at the woman in the bed and spoke quietly, "She's amazing. She skipped grades and got into Beckham University without taking any exams. By 26, she was already our mentor."

He sounded really sad. "If it hadn't been for that accident, she'd probably be the youngest professor by now."

I asked, "What happened? Was it an accident?"

Charles didn't answer right away. After a long pause, he said, "It was my fault."

His guilt was obvious. It was clear that this was really weighing down on him.

I said softly, "Charles, she saved you. Don't you think she'd want you to live without feeling so guilty?"

Charles looked at me, but I kept watching the woman on the bed. "She protected you because she wanted you to be okay. If you let this guilt eat you up, then all her sacrifice will be for nothing."

I said softly, "Charles, don't let the guilt take over. It won't change what has happened. Your mentor was amazing and had many dreams. Now, it's up to you to make those dreams come true. As long as you work toward them, she'll stay alive in your heart."

I didn't know where those words had come from, but they just came out. Charles looked at me, his eyes full of emotion. He seemed surprised and moved.

"Did I say something wrong?" I asked, noticing his reaction.

"No," Charles said, swallowing hard. "The way you spoke just now... it was just like her."

I felt a jolt in my heart and looked back at the woman on the bed.