No matter what happened between them, I did not care anymore. The operating room doors swung open again and my mother was wheeled out, still unconscious.
"She’s on the roof right now!" Austin shouted.
Darien instantly pulled out his phone and dialed. The line picked up almost immediately.
"Darien…" came Vienna’s voice, soft and trembling.
"Vienna, don’t do anything stupid! I’m coming right now. Just wait—anything you want, I’ll agree to it, okay?"
He hung up and turned to leave, with Austin right behind him. But halfway down the corridor, he stopped and looked back at me.
"Come on, Darien. Hurry up!" Austin barked.
"Ellie," Darien called, "please take care of Mom. I’ll be back soon."
He did not even wait for a reply. He just turned and ran.
I stood there, watching the man I had once loved with all my heart walk away—again.
And softly, I whispered the only thing left to say.
"Goodbye, Darien."
Later, after arranging for my mother’s transfer to another hospital, I returned to the small apartment and began packing. There was not much I wanted to bring with me—just two boxes.
Before heading to the airport, I made one final stop—Darien’s office.
I left behind a sealed envelope.