"I…" Evelyn swallowed hard. "I haven't visited him yet." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I was still recovering. I thought… I thought I had more time."
Alicia didn't answer immediately. Only the sound of breathing, shaky and uneven, passed through the line.
"Eve," Alicia said finally, her voice gentle despite her grief, "he always asks about you. Even yesterday. He will probably ask the same by the end of today, too. He said he wanted to meet you."
Tears burned behind Evelyn's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Not yet.
"Alice," Evelyn said, forcing steadiness into her tone, "please tell Grandma and Grandpa I will come tonight. No matter what. I will be there."
"Alright," Alicia replied quietly. "But please, Eve… come soon. We never know when…" Her voice broke again. "When will he leave us...!?"
Evelyn's fingers curled tightly into her palm.
"I understand," she whispered. "Thank you, Alice."
The call ended.
