Chapter 123

The sun rarely graced the town so brightly, illuminating the diligent workers clearing snow from the streets. The cone plant on the windowsill shivered in the cold breeze, its tender leaves swaying gently. I reached out, trying to touch the wind, but like dew and sunlight, it was intangible.

“Amanda.”

A deep, husky voice broke the silence. I turned to see Chase. The moment our eyes met, he bolted from the bed, regardless of the fact that the anesthesia hadn't quite worn off. His legs buckled as soon as they hit the floor, and he fell heavily.

“Chase!”

Chase’s fall drew the attention of doctors and nurses. Nicole rushed to help him, but he brushed her aside. His eyes lit with a wild joy as he sprinted towards me. “Amanda, you’re back! You finally came back!” To everyone else, he looked like a man possessed. Just as he was about to reach me, he fell again, hard.

“Amanda!”

When he looked up, I was still sitting there, but he couldn’t see me anymore; it was as if he had only imagined me in his dazed state. “Where is she?” Chase reached out towards the windowsill, grasping at nothing.

“Chase, stop it! You need to stop! Doctor, doctor, come here!”

Nicole’s pleas went unheard as Chase, with a look of obsession, insisted, “I saw her! Ann was right! Amanda was sitting there, watching us.”

“Chase, you’re hallucinating. There’s no one here. Look at this windowsill—it’s so narrow. Not even a kid could sit there,” my mother tried to reassure him.

“No, Mrs. Kennedy, what I saw was exactly as Ann described. She looked about seventeen or eighteen. Her hair was down, she was wearing a white dress, and yes—she was barefoot! Sitting there, touching the plant,” he said with conviction.

As he spoke with such detail, my mother nervously rubbed her arms, her eyes darting around the room as if expecting to see unseen eyes watching her.

“That’s impossible. It sounds too crazy,” she muttered.

Nicole, looking serious, asked, “Doctor, is this normal?”

The doctor nodded. “Ms. Kennedy, it’s common to experience hallucinations when the anesthesia hasn’t fully worn off. Mr. Reyes isn’t the only one. Let him rest a little longer, and he’ll be fine to go home once he’s recovered.”

Relieved, my mother sighed. “That’s a relief. I was scared by what he just said.”

“Chase, you heard the doctor. It’s just the anesthesia playing tricks on you because you miss Amanda so much. It’s okay. Let’s just rest for a bit.”

Nicole gave my mother a knowing glance, and they moved to help Chase back to bed. But suddenly, Chase shoved them away and dashed out of the room. “I saw her clearly, it was Amanda, Ann wasn’t wrong. Amanda’s dead. My Amanda is dead…”

“Chase, stop!” My mother, frantic, yelled, “Where are you going?”

Chase turned back, his voice firm. “I’m going to the police to find out everything. I need to know whether Amanda is dead or alive!”

Chapter 124