Still no sign of him.
Fear swallowed her whole.
She became restless despite her illness, asking nurses repeatedly whether anyone had seen him. Her mind filled with terrifying possibilities.
Had he gotten into trouble?
Was he hurt?
Was he arrested?
Had something terrible happened while trying to help her?
The fear nearly drove her mad.
Then suddenly, the impossible happened.
One morning, a nurse entered her room with unexpected news.
“Madam, your bills have been fully paid.”
She blinked repeatedly, certain she had misheard.
“What?”
“Everything has been settled,” the nurse repeated kindly. “Your treatment will continue normally.”
Shock froze her completely.
Who could have done it?
She had no relatives nearby.
No savings.
No friends wealthy enough to help.
Confusion mixed with relief.
Days later, after receiving proper treatment, her health slowly improved. Strength gradually returned to her body, and eventually she was discharged from the hospital.
The mystery, however, remained unanswered.
When she finally asked her son where he had disappeared to and who paid the hospital bills, he avoided her eyes.
“Everything is okay, Mama,” he said quietly.
“But where were you?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“What happened?”
“I said everything is fine.”
His strange silence troubled her deeply, but exhaustion prevented her from pushing further.
Deep inside, she assumed perhaps Mr. Tabe had eventually stepped in secretly after learning the truth.
That thought gave her slight comfort.
Maybe there was still kindness left in the world.
But life had one final cruelty waiting for her.
The day she returned to the Tabe residence to resume work, she approached the house nervously, carrying the little hope she had left.
Then she froze.
Another woman opened the gate.
Wearing her old uniform.
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