Without much thought, James Black opened his arms and held Jane Sampson tightly in his embrace, "From now on, if you want me to hold you, just say, James, hold me for a moment. You donāt need to ask if itās okay."
Jane Sampson softly responded with a "hmm".
Her face was relishing the warmth in his embrace.
Standing before Granny Sampton and Grandpa Samptonās graves, Jane Sampson clearly recognized this.
In this world, she was nearly left with nothing.
"James, Grandpa is gone, Grandma is gone too. Others have daddy and mommy, at least they have a place to go back to, but with grandparents leaving, I only have one path forward."
Jane Sampson gently bit her lips, "And this path can only lead to you."
"If my life is a triangle, before there were Grandpa, Grandma, and you, each standing at a corner, together supporting the triangle of my world. Grandpa left, and it was just Grandma and you supporting it. Now, Grandma is gone too, and youāre the only one left in my triangle."
Jane Sampsonās voice was so soft that if James Black didnāt listen carefully, he couldnāt hear what she was saying.
The voice was almost nonexistent.
"Now, itās only you holding on, James, if one day you get tired and donāt want to support me anymore, please be sure to tell me. Donāt let go quietly and leave quietly, as I would be gradually engulfed, without even a chance to struggle."
"James, if one day you want to leave and donāt want to support it anymore, tell me. I will reach out my arms on my own and give you the space to leave. I will try to support my world, and I will not burden you."
After saying this, her arms tightened, holding him more forcefully, "James, okay?"
At this moment, James Black didnāt know how to express his heartache to Jane Sampson, nor did he know how to tell her that in this lifetime, he would never be willing to let her go.
But he knew that at this moment, what Jane Sampson needed was not his promise.
What she needed was his answer.
James Black kissed her fevered forehead gently, then nodded, saying, "Okay."
"Thank you." Jane Sampsonās face gently rubbed against his chin, "I believe you."
James Black responded softly but didnāt say anything further; instead, he gently held her, providing her the greatest warmth and patience.
It wasnāt until after a long time that Jane Sampson stepped away from his embrace.
"My head is somewhat hurting. Can you take me back to the hospital?" she said obediently.
After speaking, Jane Sampson turned to say farewell to Grandpa Sampton and Granny Sampton, "Grandpa, Grandma, Iām going back to the hospital now. Once Iām well, Iāll come see you again. Iāll take good care of myself so that you, James, and Bright wonāt worry about me. Iāve grown up now. See you next time, Grandpa and Grandma."
Jane Sampson waved goodbye to the eldersā graves and then leaned against James Black, letting him support her as they left the cemetery.
Just as James Black worried, Jane Sampsonās temperature rose again to over thirty-nine degrees. Once she returned to the ward, the nurse measured her body temperature and was so anxious she was at a loss.
"Little Jane, you have to get better soon. Our colleague is so worried about you." The young nurse administered the injection to Jane Sampson, and seeing Jane lying there quietly watching her busily work, the young nurse had the heart of an old mother, completely worried.
Jane Sampson smiled and responded with a "hmm", "Thank you, and also thank you for the porridge, it was sweet and delicious."