Chapter 7 Midnight Confessions

Delina got up and went to wash her face but couldn't fall back asleep, so she decided to grab some snacks.

As she stepped out of her room, she was startled to see Karen in the hallway. "Mum! You scared me!" she exclaimed.

"So sorry for that, dear. Why are you awake?" Karen asked, her eyes filled with concern.

"I just had a disturbing dream and couldn't sleep, so I decided to get some snacks," Delina replied.

"What was it about?" Karen asked as they both made their way downstairs to the kitchen.

"I saw my daughter, but older... and she looked exactly like her dad," Delina said, her voice filled with unease as she opened the fridge and picked up some cereal.

Karen placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, dear. It's just a dream. Even if she does look like her father, that's something we can't change. What we can do is make life easier and sweeter for her."

Delina smiled weakly. "Yeah, I'm looking forward to that."

"You'll be the best mum," Karen added warmly.

Delina laughed. "And you'll be the best grandma ever!"

They shared a laugh and sat down at the dining table, where Delina quietly munched on her snacks. As they sat in silence, Karen received a call.

"Ma'am, we've carried out the test, and the child is suffering from Diabetic Ketoacidosis. The seizures have stopped, and the child is stable now, so there's no need to worry," the voice on the other end said calmly.

"Thank goodness. Please make sure to keep an eye on the child and continue the treatment," Karen instructed, her voice now more relaxed.

"Yes, ma'am," the person replied, and the call ended.

Karen let out a deep breath of relief. The reason she had been awake was because of the hospital's call about the child's condition, and now that she knew the child was stable, she felt a weight lifted.

Delina, accustomed to these late-night calls, asked calmly, "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything's fine. The child who was rushed in earlier is now stable. His parents are so poor, they didn't detect the disease in time, and it spiraled out of control. I'll help them as much as I can... I know how it feels to lose a child," Karen said, sadness evident in her eyes.

Delina's brows furrowed in surprise. She had never asked Karen about her personal life, respecting her privacy. But now, hearing this, her curiosity grew, and she couldn't help but ask, "Mum, you had a child before?"

"Yes, dear. It's a long story," Karen said with a sad smile before she began to share her painful past. Tears welled up in her eyes, and despite her attempts to stop them,

But the tears wouldn't stop falling.

Delina stood up from her chair and pulled Karen into a comforting embrace, her own eyes moist. She felt a deep ache for Karen-how similar their stories were. When Karen finally stopped crying, Delina spoke softly, "Such a cruel world, Mum. But don't be sad. I'm here for you, and my unborn child will be so happy to meet you too. Your kindness is that of a true mother. I never received such love from my foster mother."

Delina's voice faltered as she continued, "It was just beatings or insults... always one or the other. The only thing they did for me was send me to college, but they couldn't afford the course I wanted to study. I had to choose a cheaper option. After graduating, they forced me to start working, demanding I pay them back every month. It was exhausting."

She sighed, the memories flooding back painfully. "They would remind me constantly that they raised me, spent their money on me, and now it was time for me to repay them. It broke my heart, but I had no choice but to apply for countless jobs and work overtime just to meet their demands."

Delina's voice grew heavier. "My foster father was abusive. He beat my foster mother whenever he was drunk or if she did something to upset him. She died a few years ago because of him. He killed her... when she stole some of his money to buy jewelry. He was furious-he wanted that money to drink with his friends. Now he's in jail. Even though they treated me badly, I was devastated when she died. They raised me, and I saw them as my parents."

She paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "After he was jailed, I left that house and started a new life on my own. That's when I met Bella, my former best friend. She was an orphan, just like me, and we became so close-like sisters. We even lived together back in Helix City."

Karen's eyes were filled with pity for Delina. They had both endured so much suffering, but in sharing their pain, it felt as if they were healing old wounds.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through all that, Lina," Karen said, her voice thick with sadness.

"It's all in the past now," Delina said with a soft, bittersweet smile. "But it still hurts whenever I think about it."

Karen glanced at the clock, noticing it was almost 3 a.m. "We need to get back to sleep," she said, standing up. "Rest well, Lina. You don't want to be too tired in the morning."

"Okay, I will," Delina replied, rising from her seat. She climbed the stairs with graceful steps and entered her room. Lying in bed, she found herself unable to sleep for a while. But after turning on the TV and letting it play in the background, she eventually drifted off into a peaceful slumber.