, bee

crept into her ears, growin

he looked around, only to re

a! You're finally awa

in. The moment Martha saw her awake, she li

chest-it had to be Martha who found

gently stroked her forehead with worry in her voice. "

you,

ile in response, not inte

rely asked for help, always keeping troubles to herself

st then, someone opened th

ped inside, a calm and f

" Martha quickly stepped up

t too weak and caught a chill, whi

" Martha finally let

ss Abbott, I'm Michael Shaw, your attending physician. Fe

im, nodded slightl

ge, so when dealing with strangers, Lydia

all. He just smiled a

imself slightly surprised-this

do, she did. Quiet, obedi

ore something felt off... b

ming along well. We'll keep you one more night for observation, and if everything looks good, you can

ght of the pills. Just the look

ing medicine-the bitterness l

that her tiny reaction woul

ached into his pocket. A second

aught off guar

led faintly. "Bit of sweetness with the b

to the medication, he stood u

ust sat there, zo

. it sounded

omeone with the same gentle tone had s

years ago. That per

y, a shadow of sadness f

d the candy, hesitated a bit, th

d out the door, Martha

Lydia's going to be ok

ght smile. "If there were anything wrong

... she's a little different. She doesn't talk. S

oesn't

clicked in the back of his mind. He insti

ickly unwrapped the toffee, popped it in her mouth, and closed her eyes with a little

in Michael's chest, and he cou

inded him of a little g

used to beam with deligh

st like Lydia,

of the memory. His eyes turned back to

l these

t reall