Expired Expectation

After receiving emergency treatment at the hospital, Coco's condition was finally under control.

Astrid was very attentive and made porridge for her to eat as well.

However, Coco had no appetite and refused to eat at all.

Then, a thought suddenly occurred to her.

She did her best to force herself to swallow the porridge before telling Astrid, “Mommy, I will lead the dance on stage at school on Children's Day.

“Would you call Uncle Isaiah and ask him to watch my performance?”

Astrid’s hand froze midway. “You want him to come?”

“I do. I really do. It’s going to be my first time performing on stage. It will be the last time I ever ask him to come watch my performance…

“I only hope he will remember the way I shine on stage and never forget about me.”

Sensing Astrid’s hesitant silence, Coco shook her head dejectedly and burst out in tears. “Never mind, I shouldn’t have asked for so much.”

“Coco, you’re not asking for too much.”

Astrid felt morose as she said that. She then reached for her phone and composed a text to send to Isaiah.

[Coco has a dance performance at her school on Children's Day, would you go watch her?]

As usual, there was no reply from him.

Coco stared at the display on Astrid’s phone without blinking.

Every time a notification popped up, she would become very excited. However, her excitement would only be rewarded with disappointment.

They waited until dawn.

“Is he not going to come watch me perform?” Coco asked and coughed violently again.

Then, she tried to justify it nonchalantly, “Maybe he’s just busy with all the surgeries, I understand. I don’t blame him.”

Astrid observed how sensible Coco was, but could not help but feel crushed.

She wanted to comfort her, but did not know how to at all.

Last night, even when Coco was facing an emergency medical crisis, Isaiah still mercilessly refused to attend to her and prioritized Emmie over her.

The sight of Coco trying to defend Isiah despite how much she was hurting was awful for Astrid to behold. She could not take it.

“Mommy, don't be sad! I would still be very happy that you get to watch me perform!

“Mommy is all I need,” she declared as she snuggled up to Astrid.

Astrid gently kissed her and smiled reluctantly, “You can do it, my dear. Mommy is looking forward to seeing your wonderful performance!”

Coco was very motivated by this and forced herself to finish another bowl of porridge and even had a couple of cherries.

While Coco was getting her IV drip, Astrid stayed with her and watched the instructional dance videos the teacher sent.

At one point, a notification message from Isaiah popped up.

[Okay.]

Astrid was overjoyed. She excitedly showed Coco the message, “Look, he says he’s going to come and watch you perform!”

“Really?”

Coco was just as enthused and showered Astrid with kisses.

“This is the first time Uncle Isaiah is going to see me perform, so I must do my best!

“Mommy, please help me put on my outfit. I want to practice right now!”

In their five years of marriage, this was the first time Isaiah made a promise with Coco.

Astrid was overjoyed, but could not quell her concern as well.

A voice inside her head wondered if Isaiah’s reply was nothing more than a typo.

However, she decided she could not rain on Coco’s parade when she saw how happy she was as she put on her outfit.

Isaiah’s reply gave Coco a boost of confidence.

Despite the condition of her body, she made herself practise for three hours in the ward.

When they were taking a break, she produced all kinds of little trinkets from her bag to show Astrid.

She was chirping away cheerily like a little bird.

“Look, this is a clay doll the teachers taught us to make during arts and crafts!

“Uncle Isaiah likes lions… Do you think he’ll be happy if I give him that?

“Mommy, I won sixteen badges this school year! I came in first place in class, and the principal gave me a box of chocolates! I saved it to eat with you and Uncle Isaiah on Children's Day!”

“That’s wonderful, you did a good job, Coco,” Astrid said with a smile.

She hoped Isaiah would not skip the appointment.

She hoped Coco would have an unforgettable Children’s Day before they left for good.

However, she could not shake the fear that her hopes would be all for nothing.