Rachel Carter looked painfully thin, her face pale and exhausted. She leaned heavily against the doorframe as if simply standing required effort. Yet her eyes were the same—intelligent and determined.
“Mr. Brooks,” she whispered. “You came.”
Daniel stared at her in shock.
“Rachel… what happened to you?”
She gave a weak smile.
“A lot,” she said softly. “Please come in.”
The small apartment was simple but clean. There was little furniture, but signs of warmth filled the space—children’s drawings on the refrigerator, a worn teddy bear on the couch, and a tiny Christmas tree decorated with handmade ornaments.
Rachel slowly sat down while Grace curled beside her.
“I’m sorry for bringing you here like this,” Rachel said quietly. “But I didn’t know what else to do. And time… time is something I don’t have much of.”
Daniel listened as she explained everything.
Three years earlier, shortly after leaving his company, Rachel had been diagnosed with stage-four cancer. She left work to focus on treatment and to spend as much time as possible with Grace.
“I’ve been fighting for three years,” she said softly. “But the doctors say I may only have six months left.”
Her voice trembled.