The doctor nodded slowly, his expression softening as he adjusted his glasses.
"I see… Ms. Lincolm. Then, I apologize again for the assumption."
He sat down behind his desk, motioning for me to take the chair across from him.
"Ehem—what I meant earlier," he continued, "is that Cairo seems to carry an emotional weight that affects his heart condition. When he was first confined here, he often mentioned he missed his mom dearly. And…" the doctor trailed off, glancing at me with a knowing look. "it turns out that someone was you."
My lips parted slightly. "Me?"
He nodded. "Yes. He would tell the nurses that he wanted to see you. There were even nights he'd wake up crying, saying he wanted to see you. His heart rate would spike during those moments, then slowly calm when we reassured him that you were coming to visit."
My chest tightened, guilt and regret washing over me.
