The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

"Annie, calm down, that's not what I meant at all," Herman said patiently, gripping Annie's shoulders. "I just want you to shift your focus, change how things are right now. Do you think Pattie's coming back..." "She will, she has to," Annie interrupted, her voice trembling. "I thought you'd always support me, Herman. I can't just give up."

"No one's asking you to give up, Annie," Herman said softly. "We can start a family, that's not in the way of anything. You've always wanted kids, right? You need your own life. Put your energy into your career, into preparing for a baby, but please, don't fixate on finding Pattie. We need to move forward."

"I can't," Annie shook her head, tears in her eyes. "If we have a child, Pattie will just be forgotten. No one will remember her. She can't be replaced. You loved her so much."

"No one will forget Pattie," Herman reassured her, pulling her into his arms. "Annie, I'll always be here with you, searching, waiting. But I hope, for me, for our home, you can find the strength to carry on."

Annie closed her eyes, leaning against Herman's shoulder. She was so tired, too drained to argue. Deep down, she knew he was just trying to help.

Gradually, she calmed down. Herman took her out to their favorite diner for dinner, then back home where he ran a bath for her.

As Annie soaked, Herman stepped out to the balcony for a cigarette. Lately, he'd been smoking more to deal with the stress.

His phone rang. It was Flynn. "Herman, there's trouble. The medical supplies we imported last time... they're faulty. People are having adverse reactions, and the contracts... they were fake. I'm implicated in a bribe. I'm toast." "Idiot," Herman muttered, anger boiling over. "I'm coming."

After hanging up, Herman went to tell Annie but got no response from the bathroom. Pushing the door open, he found her submerged in the tub.

"Annie!"

Panicked, Herman pulled her out and performed first aid.

Annie coughed up water, dazed. "What happened?"

She had no memory of dozing off in the bath, just overwhelming fatigue.

Herman held her close, his heart pounding. "I thought you... Annie, don't scare me like that."

"I didn't mean to," Annie mumbled, her head spinning. "I must've just fallen asleep. I'm so tired lately."

Herman kissed her forehead. "Rest now. I have to go; Flynn's in trouble. Promise me, Annie, no more scares."

"What kind of trouble?" Annie asked, worry etched on her face.

"I'm not sure yet. I'll find out when I get there." He didn't want to stress her out more. Wrapping her in a towel, he carried her to bed. "Wait for me."

With Flynn's crisis pressing, Herman was about to leave when Nelson called about the same issue. He told Salma, their neighbor who was like family, to keep an eye on Annie and rushed out.

Annie changed into her pajamas and sank into the sofa, still feeling exhausted.

"Annie, you look wiped. It's late; get some rest," Salma said.

"Yeah, I'm beat." With no energy left, Annie lay down, her mind replaying her slip into the tub.

She drifted off but was later jolted awake by chills, then intense heat, sweating profusely.

When she was cold, it was bone-chilling; when hot, it felt like she was burning up. Her sweat soaked the sheets.noveldrama

Annie was feverish, her body aching. Unable to stand it, she called out hoarsely, "Mom, Mom..."

Salma, sleeping next door, rushed over. Feeling Annie's forehead, she gasped, "You're burning up, Annie. I'll call Dr. James."