C26 Chapter 26

Emily pushed open the door to Jules' hospital room, expecting to find her daughter sleeping peacefully. But what she saw made her pause. Jules' face was relaxed, her lips curled up in a small smile. It was a smile Emily hadn't seen in a long time.

A shiver ran down Emily's spine as she approached the bed. She'd seen that smile before, on nights when Jules was little, when she'd laugh in her sleep, dreaming of playing with friends or chasing after butterflies.

But this...this was different. Jules was smiling in the midst of fear and chaos. The contrast was jarring.

Emily's mind started racing. What kind of dream could make Jules smile like this? Was it a happy memory? Or was it something else?

She leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Jules?"

Jules didn't stir. Her breathing remained even, her smile eerily calm.

Emily's skin pricked with unease. This wasn't just a happy dream. It felt...off.

She straightened up, pulling out her phone to text Thompson. "Jules is sleeping but she's smiling. Feels weird. Should I be worried?"

The reply came a minute later. "Tell me more. I'll check it out."

Emily's eyes stayed on Jules as she typed out a response. What was going on with her daughter?

Emily's thumbs flew across the keyboard: "She's smiling like she used to when she was little. But given what's happening...it feels wrong. Can you check if there's anything on her phone or in the hospital that could've triggered this?"

She hit send and waited, eyes fixed on Jules. The smile stayed, eerily calm.

Thompson's reply came: "Checking CCTV. Anything unusual happen before she fell asleep?"

Emily thought back. "We were talking about Alex. She was upset. I told her to rest."

Emily's fingers hovered over the keyboard, a new worry creeping in. She typed out a quick message to Thompson: "Wait, could she have been hit on the head or something? This smile...it doesn't feel like her."

She hit send, eyes never leaving Jules' peaceful face. The smile seemed to grow wider, and for a moment, Emily felt a pang of doubt. Was Jules okay? Was she...?

Thompson's reply came instantly: "No head injury noted. CCTV shows nothing unusual. Keep an eye on her. I'm on my way."

Emily's grip on the phone tightened. Something was off. Big time.

The word "Dad" slipped out of Jules' lips, her smile still eerily in place. Emily's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, Jules was dreaming about her father.

Emily felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She'd felt unease at Jules' smile, and it was because she was dreaming of her dad.

"Dad?" Emily repeated softly, her voice barely audible. "You mean...?"

Jules' eyes fluttered open. For a split second, her gaze locked onto Emily's. And then, her smile vanished.

"Mom?" Jules' voice was groggy, confused. "What...what happened?"

Emily's expression softened, regret flooding her. "You were dreaming, sweetie. It's okay."

Jules blinked, rubbing her eyes. "I...I saw him."

Emily's grip on the bedrail tightened, her voice gentle. "Your dad?"

Jules nodded, a mix of sadness and longing on her face. "He was smiling at me."

As Jules nodded, a faint smile still on her lips, Emily felt a pang of sorrow. It had been years since Jules' parents and brother died, but moments like these reminded her of the deep scars they left.

"You were smiling," Emily said softly, brushing Jules' hair back. "Like maybe you were remembering something happy."

Jules' eyes welled up, and she looked away. "I miss them, Mom."

Emily's heart ached. She knew the pain of losing loved ones. She pulled Jules into a gentle hug. "I know, baby. Me too."

They held onto each other, the hospital sounds fading into the background. After a while, Jules pulled back, her expression more composed.

"Did...did I say anything else?" Jules asked, a hint of worry creeping in.

Emily's eyes met hers. "Just 'Dad'."

Jules' brow furrowed slightly. A small sigh escaped her lips. "

Emily's grip on Jules' hand tightened. "We'll figure it out, sweetie. Get some rest now."

As Jules closed her eyes, Emily pulled out her phone and typed out a quick message to Detective Thompson: "Jules is okay. She was dreaming about her dad. False alarm."

She hit send, feeling a mix of emotions. The hospital sounds faded into the background as she watched Jules sleep.