By the time I arrived at the hospital, my grandmother was sitting up in bed, peeling an orange. The sight of her, so frail yet still trying to act strong, sent a wave of emotion crashing over me. I didn’t know whether I should tell her about my breakup with Wilbur.
To her, he was a dependable, good man—someone she had always believed I could entrust my future to. We were at the age where marriage was the next natural step, and I wasn’t sure how she would take it if I told her everything had fallen apart.
Maybe it was best to wait until she was feeling better.
Sensing me at the door, she waved me over impatiently. “Naomi, come here.”
I nodded, avoiding her gaze as I walked over and sat beside her. “Grandma, did you sleep well? Are you craving anything? I can go downstairs and buy you something.”
But before I could move, she grabbed my hand, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “Naomi, my health is getting worse,” she said softly. “Dr. Beck already told me everything. It’s late-stage bone cancer. I don’t have much time left.”
My chest tightened.
“Grandma…” My voice cracked as tears spilled over. Without thinking, I buried my face against her shoulder, just like I used to when I was a child.
She gently stroked my hair. “All I want before I go is to see you and Wilbur get married. If I could witness that, I could leave this world peacefully.”
I stiffened. A lump formed in my throat as I looked up at her, torn between her last wish and my own future.
How could I possibly marry a man who had already betrayed me before the wedding?
Grandma studied my face and sighed. “Did you two have a fight?”
I frowned and asked back, “How did you know?”
She gave me a knowing look and revealed, “Wilbur called Dr. Beck earlier. He told me he upset you and that you probably didn’t want to see him right now. So, he asked me to talk to you on his behalf.”
Naomi's POV
I swallowed my anger and forced myself to stay calm. "Grandma, did he tell you why we argued?"
She gave me a strained smile. "Yes, he did. That boy, Wilbur, is at least honest about it. He told me he made a mistake—one you might never forgive him for. He gave in to temptation and cheated on you. He said he’s sorry… and that he..."
When she trailed off, I frowned and asked, "That he what?"