Chapter 3. Dawn Goldenheart’s Fragility

The hospital atmosphere was quiet, and the sky was dark because it was still early in the morning, making the morgue even tenser. Dawn Goldenheart stood silently before a corpse covered in white cloth. Blood stains on the white cloth that covered the corpse made it possible that anyone would not want to see what was behind it.

“Sir, I will wait outside.” Said the morgue attendant at Dawn. Dawn nodded approvingly at the morgue guard’s words.

Now, there was only Dawn alone in the morgue. His eyes were glassy, and he was trying to hold back his tears.

“Martha, I’m sorry.” Dawn stroked the white cloth covering the body of her daughter-in-law. He felt regret for not being able to protect his family. He regretted letting his family have to attend the party, and the party actually was an invitation for him. Still, his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter had to attend the party because he felt unwell.

“It should have been me…. It should...It should be me lying down here. I’m the one who had to die, not you or Chris or Angela.”

Dawn apologized to Martha by kneeling and bowing his head.

“I’m really sorry. I’m the one who took your life, Martha. Please forgive me.”

Dawn cried in front of Martha’s dead body. Dawn then prays for Martha’s life in the next life. Finishing his prayer, Dawn mustered up his courage and opened the white cloth that covered Martha’s dead body. Dawn’s feelings shattered again when he saw the tragic condition of Martha’s dead body. He then covered the cloth and walked out of the morgue. He then walked towards the room where his son, Chris, was being treated.

Dawn’s heart was broken, next month was when he would fully give his company to Chris. But seeing Chris’s current state, his desire to retire had to be postponed.

“I’m sorry, Chris, because all this happened to you.” Dawn stroked his son’s hair. The guilt that welled up in his heart, of course, made him uneasy. His son was treated, his daughter-in-law had to die in a tragic accident, and his granddaughter might not wake up from the coma, making Dawn’s feelings very broken. But things wouldn’t get any better if he did nothing, he thought.

Dawn remembered the first time he brought Martha into their house, a beautiful and elegant woman of royal blood who married his son. Her gentle and understanding attitude made Dawn immediately like her. He even considered Martha to be his daughter, not his daughter-in-law. Martha only had a mother at that time, but her mother also passed away when Angela was born 12 years ago. From then on, Martha only had him, Chris, and Angela. Angela’s green eyes were like Martha’s, but her hair was brown like Chris’s. Chris inherited brown hair like his deceased mother.

At first, Dawn doubted his son’s marriage would survive, not that she didn’t believe in Martha, but she didn’t believe in his son even more. Because Chris had a very different nature from Martha, who had a frank nature, saying what he thought and felt out loud. He was afraid Martha would be unable to stand his son’s behavior, but he was wrong. Precisely, his son was weak in front of Martha, but Martha’s gentle attitude made his son, little by little, become a better person.

“Now Martha has gone for forever. Who will put up with your attitude other than her, Chris?”

***

Martin was sleeping in the living room when William and Susan arrived. Susan rocked Martin’s sleeping body. Martin moaned softly when he felt something disturbing his sleep. Slowly, his eyes opened, and he saw his father and mother standing before him. But Martin was immediately taken aback when he saw the suit and dress worn by William and Susan, which were full of bloodstains.

“Wha.. what happened?” Said Martin, his hands directly holding his mother’s shoulders. Martin’s heart beat fast when he saw what had happened to her parents’ clothes. Worry welled up in his heart. His eyes alternately looked at his parents, asking for an explanation.

“Nothing, son. We are fine.” William rubbed Martin’s head, then immediately went to the second floor, where his bedroom was located.

“You should sleep in your room.” Susan caressed Martin’s face and patted it gently. Then walked into the room, following her husband. While Martin was just silent in the living room, he waited for his parents for several hours, with a feeling of worry, but when they came, not a single sentence of explanation came out of his parents’ mouths.

“What really happened?”

“Why are their clothes in bloodstains?”

Martin felt that his parents were hiding something from him. Why wasn’t he informed of anything that happened while they were away? Questions about his parents kept spinning in his head at this time.

***

While in the room, William and Susan just kept silent on their bed. What happened to them earlier made them very surprised.

“I didn’t expect to witness this tragic incident,” Susan said, breaking the silence between them. The husband held Susan’s hand and gently stroked the top of her head. Their blood-stained clothes were immediately thrown away. They couldn’t put the clothes back on, even if they had been thoroughly washed, because that would only remind them of this incident for the rest of their lives.

“I also did not expect that, honey, but fortunately, we were there at the right time,” said William.

“I can’t imagine if I were him. He lost everything in just one night.” Susan started to cry, imagining that if she were in Dawn’s shoes, she wouldn’t be able to face that. No, not even a single human being could afford to lose their family members forever. Even if time heals everything, the wound will remain until our last breath on earth.

“Don’t cry. Me and Martin are here. Nothing will happen. We will always be together.” William hugged his wife tightly and rubbed her hair. Even though William looked calm, he feared this would happen to him and his family.

William and Susan did not realize that Chris and his family were also at the party held by one of their business partners.

***

A lively atmosphere started to sound in the hospital where Chris and Angela were being treated. The morning sun slowly but surely begins to illuminate the city of Wisconsin. However, the warmth of the morning sun did not warm Dawn’s heart. All night, he couldn’t close his eyes because he had to look after Chris, and he also had to go back and forth to the ICU to see how Angela was, fortunately, past her critical condition. Even though he couldn’t enter the room, he could see his Angela through the large glass window directly facing the ICU patients being treated.

Today was Angela’s surgery, making Dawn even more nervous. He also had to prepare for Martha’s funeral as soon as possible. Chris will also undergo surgery for a fracture he has experienced.

“Knock knock..”

Dawn looked towards Chris’s bedroom door and saw a young man, who was his assistant, coming into the room carrying a small bag.

“Sir, I brought you some food.”

The young man’s name was George Marshall. He was a new assistant who worked for Dawn for a year. George was a diligent young man, and Dawn liked his work. Dawn contacted George and told him about Chris and Angela and everything that had happened, including William and his wife. He was also the one who asked George to come to the hospital because he had something he wanted to talk about.

“I don’t have an appetite, George. I don’t think I can eat anything now.” Dawn rubbed her face and head with both hands. Reddened eyes looked tired from crying, and he had to stay awake all night for fear that his son and granddaughter would experience unexpected conditions. It was making Dawn look very wrinkled and stressed. And that made George feel worried for his Boss.

“But sir, if you are sick, who will look after Chris and Angela? You’d better eat a little, sir. I know in a situation like this, food is not the main thing on your mind. But your health is really needed by Chris and Angela at this time.”

Dawn silently listened to George’s advice. He seemed to think before finally speaking.

“What did you bring?”

George smiled when the Boss listened to what he said. George started taking out some of the food containers he had brought in his small bag and preparing them on the small table next to Chris.

“You brought my clothes, right?” Dawn asked again.

“Yes, sir.”

“Please take care of Chris for me for a while, I’ll clean up.”

Dawn left Chris and George alone in the room while she was going to clean up. While waiting for Chris to clean himself up, George looked over his schedule for the day. While Dawn was in the bathroom, Chris opened his eyes and saw George sitting beside him. Chris then looked around the room, looking for his father’s whereabouts. With his head down, George didn’t notice that Chris had woken up.

“George,” Chris called hoarsely.

“Sir, are you awake?” George put his little book back into his coat pocket and put his ear to Chris’s.

“Do you need anything, sir?”

“My father,” Chris said. Briefly, he felt no energy to say more.

“He went to clean himself for a moment,” replied George.

Chris closed his eyes again when he heard the answer from George. Pain all over his body was torturing him. It doesn’t matter how much medicine is given by the hospital.

Dawn re-entered Chris’ room and saw Chris, who was still sleeping. Dawn looks fresher after cleaning herself.

“Sir, Chris was asking about you,” George said as soon as Dawn entered the room.

“Really?” asked Dawn enthusiastically. He immediately approached Chris and stroked his hair gently. He wanted to wake Chris up and ask how he was. But Dawn discouraged his intention.

“George.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Prepare for my daughter-in-law’s funeral tomorrow.” Dawn was still stroking Chris’ hair.

“Is there anything else that must be prepared, Sir?” asked George again.

“Spread the news of my daughter-in-law’s death and send a gift for William De Vanough and his wife to their residence, not to his company. Send gifts to both of them one week after my daughter-in-law’s funeral.”

George wrote down everything Dawn said in his little book.

“The gifts I give them will never be enough to repay what they have done for my family.”

“What do you want to give them as a gift, sir?”

“Send me a list of items you think would be appropriate as a gift for them. I’ll choose myself later.”

“Yes, sir.” George finished his notes, and then walked out of the room where Chris was being treated.

“Then I’m excuse myself.”

Dawn nodded, giving George permission to leave. Now, it was just him and Chris in the room. Dawn then pulled the chair he was sitting on towards a small table near Chris. Dawn was silent, looking at all the food George had prepared for him. All the food prepared by George is Dawn’s favorite food. Dawn then spooned the food that George had prepared. One spoon, two spoons, the food had entered Dawn’s mouth. Spoon after spoon that Dawn put into his mouth only made him nauseous, as if his throat could not swallow the food. His hands shook as he was about to put the third spoonful into his mouth until finally...

“Prang.” The spoon containing the food fell.

Dawn covered his face with his hands and started crying again. If he could, he wanted to scream and let out his tears. He really couldn’t eat anything right now. His emotions were completely drained by what happened to him at this time.

“What should I do, Mona?” Dawn said on the sidelines of her tears. Mona, Dawn’s wife, died when Chris was seven years old.

“I wish you were here. I can’t lose my family again.”