บท 26: HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE LEFT?… (GRANDMA MARY AND HER ILLNESS)

Lydia Marsans took one look at the comical appearance that her brother presented in his hospital gown, and it was impossible for her to lie and say that she found him attractive, it was really so funny, thinking how he looked and how the girl saw him, it was impossible for her not to blurt out. A loud laugh…

Lydia Marsans said with tears in her eyes from laughing so much. "And here I was, thinking that there was actually someone who was attracted to my little brother, who feels like an overlord!"

Izan Marsans was extremely offended by Lydia Marsans' comment. Was he really that unpresentable, in the hospital gown? After all, they were biological brothers. Couldn't she have at least lied and allowed him to save face? How bold. —«It's okay, Sister. You should go home now. Otherwise, my brother-in-law will come to the hospital and handcuff you!"

Glancing sideways at Izan, Lydia informed him, "I have spoken to the relevant departments. From now on, they will deliver three meals a day every day to grandmother and granddaughter. And you shouldn't run.

Just focus on getting better soon, so the family doesn't have to worry about you. Besides, I've been guessing. If you really miss not being able to see that young lady again, I could arrange for you to move to a room closer to them…"

Izan Marsans immediately jumped out of bed. Repeatedly waving his hand, making signs of denial, he said, "No, it is not necessary. "I'm perfectly fine on my own here, you don't need to change me."

«So you won't go crazy again? Rest and get well soon! Izan, I'm warning you. If you disobey me again, I will have your brother-in-law come and beat you!

After Lydia Marsans left, Izan sat on his bed, a million things running through his mind. Feeling a little frustrated, he raised his hair. After spending many days in the hospital, his short hair had lengthened and seemed a little…

Messy. His eyes, accentuated by his ink-black dagger-shaped eyebrows, were deep pools of mystical serenity.

In his eyes, confusing emotions that could not be described or understood swirled deep within him, like dark waters of a deep lake in the darkness of a moonless night.

Izan Marsans thought long and hard for a long time, but he still could not find an answer, to what passed through his mind, to the emotions that were overwhelming him, those that he had never experienced and confused him now.

Forget it, he told himself. Since he couldn't understand it, he would stop pondering and go to bed!

After Amaranta Cid saw Izan Marsans, she returned to the room where his room was located, in the hospital. Grandma was still unconscious.

She seemed so serene, as if she were sleeping deeply and peacefully.

However, Amaranta knew that her grandmother's body was ageing rapidly and that her health was deteriorating precipitously.

According to the specialist, grandmother's cancer had begun to spread throughout her body. Amaranta was lucky to have discovered it in time.

Otherwise, Grandma's situation could have been much worse. After sitting and resting for a while, he once again began to feel anxious.

Picking up the plastic sink, he went to the boiler room to get some hot water and prepared to wipe her grandmother's face with a towel.

Amaranta was very grateful to Lydia Marsans, she was a kind and meticulous sister who paid attention to details. He had prepared some daily necessities so that Amaranta and her grandmother would not have problems in the hospital, including cups, eating spoons, face towels, toothpaste, a toothbrush and more things.

While Amaranta used the hot towel to clean Grandma Mary's face, he just watched how her grandmother had aged. Her hands, especially hers, were battered by her hard work, creating the insoles for shoes typical of the region where they lived, in addition to creating shoes by hand herself, to sell them in the market.

She threaded needles and sewed all year round, calluses had long since formed on the pads of her fingers from the constant pricks of her embroidery needles.

Her grandmother had been trained in ancient embroidery techniques by the traditional embroidery community of the Southwest.

All these years, she had used these hands of hers to embroider things like shoe insoles, handkerchiefs, and other minor crafts to earn a living for herself and Amaranta.

Grandma finally woke up after being unconscious for almost six hours.

"Amaranta…"

«Grandma, you're awake! Does it hurt anywhere in your body?

Grandma shook her head, "no." Amaranta walked to the foot of the bed and slowly turned the handle to raise the end she was lying on.

Allowing his grandmother to sit down. Then he served her grandmother a cup of warm water with honey.

"Grandma, she drinks some honey water first."

Grandma took the cup from him and took a sip of the honey water.

Then, she looked closely at Amaranta and noticed her red, swollen eyes, and the streaks of tears still visible on her cheeks. She must have been crying!

Grandma silently let out a long, deep sigh. She was eighty to ninety percent sure that her illness was serious. Why else had she collapsed twice in such a short period of time?

When the doctor told her it was nothing serious, she must have been lying to him.

At her age, she was not afraid of dying if she was seriously ill.

However, she worried about Amaranta. What would she do?

Amaranta was about to take the university entrance exams. What would happen if she became distracted by her illness and did not do well?

Also, if she died soon, how would Amaranta cope in the future?

She could not trust Javier Santamarina, she was sure that that man was lying, he was not Amaranta's biological father, because if he really was, her daughter would have mentioned it, she would not have run away when that man went, without saying anything, besides The intention to bring Amaranta back to the Santamarina family, out of heart, would have shown the grandmother her sincerity a long time ago.

However, over the years, what else had she done besides sending them money every month? Furthermore, she could tell with just one look that Javier Santamarina's daughter was definitely not someone to mess with, she was a harpy with the face of an Angel.

If she let Amaranta go with Javier Santamarina, it is very likely that… Amaranta will be at a disadvantage.

«Amaranta, please be honest with grandmother. Is my condition very serious?

Amaranta shook her head and responded: "No, grandmother. Her blood sugar levels are low, and her blood pressure is also a little low. But everything else is normal, really.

«Amaranta, what do you think of that Mr. Javier Santamarina that we met before?»

«Grandma, it doesn't matter how good he is. He is still someone else's father. I don't like. And I don't like his daughter even more, I know she's going to sound bad on my part, however, she distrusted that young lady. Grandma, I want to stay with you.

You don't need to worry about me. Soon I will be eighteen years old and an adult. I am able to take care of myself…"

Her grandmother did not say anything else, and she silently drank her water with honey. She reached into her pockets and her fingers brushed against a stiff card. It was from Javier Santamarina.

However, she had never called him. Because of her pride, she had wanted to show him that she was fully capable of raising her granddaughter on her own without depending on him.

From her perspective, Javier Santamarina was entirely to blame for what had happened to his daughter Monica.

«Grandma, stop thinking nonsense. Oh, yes, let's eat, so you can regain your strength so you'll feel better.

"Alright".

After the grandmother and granddaughter had dinner, Amaranta sat next to her grandmother's bed and, holding her hand, said in a low voice: "Grandma, please pass me your embroidery techniques. I have always thought your embroidery is really beautiful…"

"Embroidery? So that? In the future, my Amaranta should buy whatever she wants.

Amaranta clung to her grandmother's hands. It was this pair of hard-working hands of hers that had painstakingly raised her from a babbling baby to the young woman she was today.

«Grandma, I just want to learn. Please teach me yes!

Her grandmother gave it some thought before committing: "Just focus on your exams for now. I will teach you after the exams.

"Okay," Amaranta agreed in the blink of an eye.

The only occupants in the three-person room were Amaranta and her grandmother, who could be heard chatting quietly inside.

The doctors and nurses who passed by the room and heard the couple talk felt that there was such a wonderful bond between grandmother and her granddaughter.

«Grandma, please wait for me here at the hospital while I go home to tell Mrs. Sáenz what happened.

We've been out since early morning and haven't returned yet. Mrs. Sáenz is probably worried.

Amaranta felt that since Mrs. Saenz had kindly let them stay at her house, the least they could do, as a matter of courtesy, was informed her that they planned to stay outside for the night.

«That's right, Amaranta. You are very thoughtful. Let's do it. Take a taxi home and let Mrs. Sáenz know. Don't worry about me. "I will wait here at the hospital and not wander around."

"Grandma, just watch some TV. I'll bring us a change of clothes and my practice books.

Amaranta was reluctant to leave her grandmother alone in the hospital, but he really needed to go home, and since he didn't have a phone, he had no way to keep Mrs. Saenz informed about what was happening.

After Amaranta left, the grandmother retrieved Javier Santamarina's business card and looked at it several times.

She was illiterate and she didn't know how to make a phone call, so she had to take the business card to the nursing station.

"Young lady, may I trouble you to contact the person on this business card and tell them that I am in the hospital?"

The nurse took one look at the grandmother and knew that the old woman was illiterate.

Happy to help, she dialed Javier Santamarina's number and handed the phone to Grandma.

«This is Javier Santamarina. Who is calling, please tell?

«Javier Santamarina, this is Amaranta's grandmother. I'm in the hospital. Can you come in please?

Javier Santamarina was having dinner with Ana Santamarina and Óscar Roing when his grandmother called him. However, after talking to her, he got into her car and quickly drove to the hospital.

He entered the room and immediately noticed the name and prognosis tag on the medical chart at the foot of the bed.

He then realized what was happening and prepared himself for what would come next.

«Mrs. Cid, why are you alone in the hospital? Where is Amaranta? »

The grandmother looked at Javier Santamarina. To tell the truth, she was extremely reluctant to hand over Amaranta to him.

But she was very sick and he didn't want to become a burden to her. After all, Santamarina was the only one who knew whether or not he was Amaranta's father.

«Santamarina, come with me to talk to the doctor!»

A touch of reluctance flashed in Javier Santamarina's eyes, as he did not want his grandmother to know the truth about her illness. However, he replied, "Yes, let's go."

With a voice cold with disapproval, the doctor said, "What kind of son are you? Your mother is seriously ill and yet you…"

The grandmother interrupted the doctor's tirade. "Doctor, can you tell me how much time I have left?"

Javier Santamarina and Grandma Mary listened attentively to the response.

«Mrs. María, this illness you suffer from is not serious. I just tried to relax. When your mood improves, you will feel happier and then you will live a long time, understand."

Deep down, the grandmother knew that her illness must be serious.

«Doctor, please don't lie to me. The doctor in our city told me that I only have a month to live..."

The doctor was silent for a moment before answering: "Mrs. Maria, the doctor in your city must be incompetent.

How could I say that without the relevant studies? All you have to do is relax and you will live many more years! You just have to let go of your worries…"

«Doctor, do you think I have at least three months left? My granddaughter is taking the university entrance exams in less than three months. I don't want my illness to affect her exams in any way!

Grandma knew that if she left this world before the entrance exams, the exam results would definitely be affected.

And the entrance exams were extremely important because they could shape Amaranta's future, her life would change completely!