"I have no appetite. Just eat it," Anya seemed to have lost her zest for life. Her eyes seemed to have lost its lights and her body looked shriveled.

Tara lowered her head as she poured the warm soup into two bowls. While doing so, her tears unconsciously fell on the table.

​​

She took a deep breath and tried to hold back her tears. When she turned around, a smile came back to Tara's face.

"Come on, eat with me. I'll tell you a funny incident at the clinic," Tara put two bowls and two spoons on the table. After that, she took Anya's hand and asked her to stand up.

"Tara, I really don't want to eat," Anya sat in front of the window, not wanting to move from there.

"I've been tired all day and don't have the strength anymore to pull you. At least, keep me company over there," Tara hugged Anya's arm. "Anya... Anya! Accompany me, please!"

It was rare for Anya to see Tara's spoiled behavior like this. She had no other choice but to get up and sit beside her.

The Atmajaya family still treated her very well. They arranged for the best doctor, the best medicine, the most expensive hospital room and even delivered a variety of nutritious foods for her.

But the only thing Anya didn't get was the reason why her child had to lose their life. Why did her child have to die...

A sound came from the microwave, signalling that the food's ready after it got warmed.

Tara immediately put a few plates on the table, making Anya frown. "It's not good to eat too many at night like this."

"Then, help me finish it. Or I'll lose control and eat it all alone," Tara took her spoon and tried the soup in her bowl. "This soup is very good. Try it."

Anya looked at Tara helplessly. "Did you come here to keep me company or to eat?"

Tara only smirked when she heard that. "When I come again tomorrow, I'll bring you kiwis. I like them."

"Shouldn't you ask what fruit I like? Would you like to bring kiwi fruit for you to eat yourself?"

"I know you like flowers, but flowers are not edible," Tara pretended to be sullen as she said this.

"You freak!" Finally, Anya showed a little smile.

Tara laughed seeing her. She was happy to see her friend smiling again.

She finished the soup in her bowl and poured the rest of the soup back to its place before asking Anya. "Do you want more?"

"Just eat. I can't finish it," finally, Anya lifted the spoon and fed the soup in front of her into her mouth.

Tara didn't tell Anya that she had dinner with her grandfather at home before coming here.

In order to persuade Anya to eat her meal, Tara didn't mind filling her stomach. She was very full, but she forced herself to keep eating.

When she saw that Anya had only eaten half a bowl of soup and two spoons of rice, Tara frowned.

"Can I stay here today?" Tara patted the empty bed beside her.

"Don't you want to spend Christmas Eve with your grandfather?" Anya asked.

"We don't celebrate Christmas. Maybe my grandfather had fallen asleep at this time. I will accompany you tonight," Tara said as she stood up and then sat on Anya's bed.

"Thank you, Tara," Anya said in a low voice.

"Don't treat me like a stranger. I feel so uncomfortable," Tara took her bag which contained all the toiletries and a change of clothes. "I'll take a shower and chat with you after this."

She went to the bathroom and turned on the faucet. She let the sound of running water cover her vomiting sound.

She just had dinner with her grandfather and then ate again with Anya. Her stomach felt so uncomfortable that she vomited all the food she had just eaten. Tara could no longer take any food.

When she came out of the bathroom, she saw Anya sitting back by the window and looking outside.

"It's raining outside and it's cold. Don't sit by the window for too long, you will catch a cold," Tara pulled Anya from the place. "Do you want to take a shower? I will prepare the warm bath for you,"

"No, I can do it myself," Anya answered quietly.

Tara used the time when Anya was taking a shower to text Nico.

Tara: "Anya can only eat two spoons of rice and half a small bowl of soup. Tell your family to make a lighter soup for tomorrow's meal. It was difficult for her to swallow it because it was too oily."

Nico: "Thank you."

Tara considered for a moment and then decided to tell Nico.

Tara: "I am accompanying Anya to the hospital tonight. She said she wanted to take a shower at this time, but I heard a cry from inside. What should I do?"

Nico: "I don't know either. Better to just pretend you're stupid, you're good at it. Right now, she doesn't need advice. Auntie just needs a friend."

Tara snorted as she read it.

Tara: "You idiot!"

Nico smiled when he got Tara's reply.

Nico: "Take good care of aunt. If there's anything I can do, just say it."

Tara tilted her head and thought for a moment. Then she answered.

Tara: "I want fireflies."

After saying that, she got no more reply from Nico. She didn't know if Nico didn't see the message, or had fallen asleep.

Forty minutes later, Anya still hadn't come out of the bathroom. Tara put her ear to the door, she couldn't hear the sound of crying or the sound of water.

She knocked softly on the door. "Anya, have you finished taking a shower? I want to pee."

Anya didn't answer. Tara pretended to be annoyed and knocked on the door louder.

Finally, the bathroom door opened. Anya's eyes were red and her voice was hoarse. "Come in,"

Tara went into the bathroom and saw that it was completely dry. She pretended to squeeze the flush and came out of the bathroom.

This time Anya sat on her bed, staring out at the same window, like a soulless doll.

Tara felt a little panicking. She felt a bad feeling when she saw Anya continuously staring out the window.

"What's outside the window? Why do you keep looking over there?" Tara asked.

"I heard, once a person dies, the soul doesn't go away immediately. I was wondering if I could see my child…" Anya muttered.

Tara felt the hair on her neck rise. It turned out that Anya didn't want to kill herself or anything. She just wanted to see her child.

"Anya, your child has gone to heaven. He or she is not outside the window," Tara tried to comfort her as she stroked her hand.

"All of this is my fault. I can't protect my child," Anya said, tears seemed to escape the corners of her eyes, flowing smoothly down her cheeks.

"Don't cry..." Tara hugged her best friend and patted her on the back, as if she was comforting a child.

"Tara, my heart hurts a lot. I don't know what to do!" Anya's hand gripped her chest, hoping that this grip could reduce the pain in her heart.