Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 652

I had this nagging thought, wondering if Neil, being the proud man he is, might not want to see me because of some lasting damage. The thought of showing vulnerability in front of me must have been unbearable for him.

But I never imagined the reality would be so severe. Seeing him in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down, was a sight I couldn't digest. My emotions, suppressed for so long, broke through as tears streamed down my face.

As Neil and a woman, who was pushing his wheelchair, approached, she seemed to be talking to him, but their words were lost on me.

I should've gotten out of the car to meet him; after all, that was the purpose of my journey. But fear rooted me to my seat. As they passed by, I even ducked down, not wanting Neil to catch a glimpse of me inside.

The driver, puzzled by my actions, only informed me when they had walked a fair distance away, "Miss, they've gone."

Straightening up, my face was a mess of tears, watching their receding figures until they disappeared from view, leaving me overwhelmed with sadness.

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I let the driver go, deciding to stay back and watch for Neil's return.

However, to my surprise, Hiram emerged from the house, scanning the surroundings before closing the door behind him and heading off with a basketball under his arm.

I hadn't heard from Hiram since losing touch with Neil, despite Neil and Faith updating me on his situation. I had almost resolved to search for him abroad, thinking he was still at some international orphanage.

Realizing Hiram was here, with Neil, made me aware that Neil hadn't forgotten his promise to me; he just hadn't informed me.

Following Hiram at a distance, I watched as he confidently joined a group of kids playing basketball at a local court, his joy and energy momentarily lifting my spirits. I attempted to capture the moment with a few sneaky photos, but he seemed to sense my presence, forcing me to hide.

Worried he might inform Neil of my visit, I quickly left after taking the photos.

Two hours later, Neil returned, his mood darker than when he had left. The woman pushing his wheelchair was still talking, but their words were lost to me.

Despite her pleas, Neil knocked the medicine and cup away in defiance.

The sight of him so defeated was painful.

Then Hiram appeared, his maturity shining through as he immediately set to cleaning the mess. Neil's interaction with him, reluctant at first, shifted as Hiram reminded him of his promise to the doctors and the future they could have walking towards Ms. Finch and the rest.

Watching Hiram's persuasion work, warming Neil up enough to take his medicine, was a small victory, highlighted by Hiram's proud thumbs-up and Neil's shift towards concern for Hiram's homework.

The scene was a poignant reminder of the resilience and hope that still lived within Neil, a hope that I clung to, watching from afar.

"Are you still here?" Neil barked.

Hiram bolted into the living room, vanishing from the surveillance's view. Neil glanced around, feeling oddly at odds with technology today. He pointed at the camera mounted in the yard. "And that one needs to go down, too."