Previously:
"Hi, Mom," Lai whispered, her voice a delicate melody in the sterile room.
Bai took the bouquet of vibrant chrysanthemums from her hands. He placed the bouquet in a vase on the bedside table, the vibrant colours starkly contrasting with the clinical whites and greys.
They both pulled up a chair, her eyes never leaving her mother's face. She reached for her mother's hand, its warmth comforting in the cold hospital room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I brought your favourite flowers, Mom. Thought they might brighten up the place a bit and help you feel better," Lai said, a tremor in her voice, "Bai bought them for you."
She could feel the words catch in her throat, a lump forming as she fought back tears. Bai reached for her other hand. He gently squeezed it, giving her a supportive smile. She glanced at the window across her mother's bed, the outside world a distant blur of movement.
