Chapter 80: Chapter 80

Valeria woke up and tried opening her eyes, but she closed them back immediately, due to the bright lights in the room.. She waited for sometime for her eyes to adjust to the light, then she slowly opened them.

She groaned as she tried to sit up.

"Careful there." Shane said as she rushed to her side to help her sit up. After she helped her up and was sure Valeria was comfortable, she sat beside her on the bed.

"Shane, what happened? Where's my son?" That was Valeria's first question.

"Calm down baby girl, Fred is fine now, but he's still in the ICU." Shane sighed.

"All by himself? No no, I have to go to him, my son needs me." Valeria said.

She tried to get off of the bed, but Shane placed her hands on her shoulders and pushed her back gently, preventing her from leaving.

"What do you think you're doing?" Shane asked.

"Please Shane, my son needs me, you don't expect me to be here when my little boy is in the ICU all by himself. Let me go to him, please let me go, I want to see my son." Valeria cried. Shane sighed deeply.

"I know Valeria, but please, you're not so good yourself. The doctor had said you need a lot of rest, you shouldn't even get out of this bed. You should be resting on it," Shane scolded sternly.

"You don't have to worry about Fred, I'll go to him now, I'll go be with him, you just stay here and rest."

"Please Shane, you have no idea how badly I want to see my little boy right now, I just want to see him. It's important for me to see him. I promise you, I'll rest once I see him. Just take me to my son, please," Valeria pleaded in desperation.

Shane let out a sigh, she stared at Valeria for sometime, and she could literally see the desperation in her eyes. She knew she couldn't keep Valeria from her son.

"Fine then, I'll take you to him, but promise me you'll get some rest afterwards." Shane said sternly.

Valeria quickly nodded her head.

"I promise." She said in haste.

"Come on then, let's go to him." Shane said. She got down from the bed, then she helped Valeria down too, and they both made their way to Fred's ward.

*****

"Fred." Valeria wept as she looked at her little boy's face, his face looked so pale, even in his sleep, and it broke her heart to see him in such a state.

She was sitting on her chair beside the bed, while Shane stood beside her.

Shane also couldn't hold back her tears as she looked at Fred. She hurriedly used her palm to wipe off her tears. She didn't want Valeria to see her crying. One of them needed to be strong, at least, for Fred's sake.

Valeria took Fred's hand in hers, and she kissed it continuously.

"You'll be okay honey, mommy won't let anything bad happen to you, you'll be okay." She said and that woke Fred up.

"Mama." He called and Valeria could no longer hold her tears, she could notice the weakness in his voice and it broke her heart.

"Why're you crying mama?" Fred asked and she immediately covered her mouth with her palm.

"Don't cry mama, I'm here to protect you. I told you I'd shield you with my little arms, right?" Fred asked and Valeria couldn't hold it any longer.

She pulled Fred into her arms, as she hugged him tightly.

"I'm fine son, I'm fine." She said as she ruffled his hair.

"My teacher at school told me to always protect the one I love. I'll protect you mama." Fred said, and that only added to Valeria's tears.

She began crying all over again, and mucus rushed out of her nostrils.

Shane watched them and she couldn't help but cry. She could feel the strong bond Valeria had with Fred, and she felt bad that she couldn't do anything to assist Valeria.

"I'm a liability, I can't even protect my son, I can't even provide for him. What kind of a mother am I? I don't deserve to be called a mother." She cried the more.

Shane rushed to Valeria, and she handed her a handkerchief.

Valeria pulled away from the embrace and she took the handkerchief, then she used it to clean her face.

"Baby, how are you doing?" Valeria asked and Fred made to sit up but he suddenly held his head.

"It hurts mama, it hurts." Fred groaned.

Valeria hurriedly sat on the bed and she placed his head on her thighs and she rubbed his face.

"You'll be fine son, I promise." She cried silently, making sure she didn't make any sound.

Shane also sat on the bed as she held Valeria's hand, rubbing it gently.

"He'll be fine." She mouthed and Valeria nodded.

A few minutes later, Fred was already sleeping peacefully on Valeria's thighs.

"Shane!" Valeria called, and Shane turned to her.

"Let's say you have a son." She said and Shane nodded, waiting for her to explain further.

"If you say you're willing to do anything for your son? To what extent?" Valeria asked.

Shane furrowed her brows, not understanding what Valeria said.

"I mean, can you do anything for your son? Even if you know it's wrong?" Valeria asked.

Shane thought for a while and she knew Valeria was actually referring to Fred.

"I don't—"

"Just tell me Shane, and please be sincere," Valeria interrupted.

Shane stared at Fred and she knew she had to say something, and at the same time, she didn't wanna say something that would make Valeria do anything that wasn't right.

"Say something Shane!" Valeria urged.

If I were to be a mum, I'd be willing to do anything for my son. I'll go to any extent for my son," Shane said, and that was the only push Valeria needed.

She stared at Fred and she muttered.

"I'm willing to go to the moon and back for you son."