Chapter 747: 746 incoherent speech
The voice, breaking free of constraints, tore through the lungs and chest, vibrating ever so slightly as it resonated around him.
Felix struggled to stand up, but unfortunately, he failed. He revealed a ludicrous yet bitter smile, but did not wallow in the emotion of the struggle. Instead, he straightened his back, opened his shoulders, and raised his arms to cry out.
Once, and then again. Each cry more impassioned than the last, more fervent, and even though his body was seated in the wheelchair, nothing could bind his spirit.
Inadvertently, everyone else also clenched their fists, suddenly stood up, and leapt high into the air, shouting and cheering, reveling in a joyous and unrestrained celebration, making the feverish cries echo and surge within the church like a party.
Annie raised her hands high and ran back and forth in the small space in front of the podium like a young deer, her bell-like laughter scattering everywhere.
One by one, they were like madmen, transforming the funeral into a wild celebration, exuberantly and unrestrainedly honoring life.
Everything was just as Felix had said: thirty minutes.
Following a brief and simple ceremony, Jenna and Karen were already waiting at the church door, ready to take the children back home:
They were still worried.
Although they did not barge into the church, when their group emerged, one could tell from their red cheeks and bodies emitting heat that they must have been waiting outside the church for a little while, even unable to sit calmly in their car, they had come straight outside.
They knew that they should not imprison their children like canaries, as it would only make their already scarce time dim and dull; nevertheless, they still couldn’t control their own worry and fear.
Thus, they were constantly flipping back and forth between conflicting emotions, every day a torment as well as a test.
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Karen promptly came up to welcome them, with her eyes unable to stray from Felix. Even though she did not speak, the concern in her eyes said it all.
When we talk about diseases, the mind often focuses on the pain, the struggle, and the looming shadow of death; but in reality, it is more than that, for the families of the sick, there is the prolonged unease and waiting, the constant care day in and day out, and the changes in their entire way of life.
The operation of the entire world had changed.
It slowly infiltrated into their lives, altering everything about them.
These invisible and inexpressible pressures were another devil.
Such was the case with Karen and Jenna right in front of us.
Karen tried to come forward to help Felix into the car, but Felix refused. Though his movements were a bit slower, he insisted on relying on his own strength to get into the vehicle.
Karen stood helplessly aside, her hands always tense, keeping a protective distance behind Felix, anxiously watching him get into the car. Only after he was seated did she breathe a sigh of relief, hurriedly closed the car door, and then remembered Li Wei and the others.
Karen turned around, looking quite restrained, unsure of what to say, “Li Wei, sorry, I mean thank you. Felix didn’t say anything, I don’t know why he asked you guys to come. Tomorrow’s game day, and you even made a special trip here. He didn’t trouble you all, did he?”
From a distance, Li Wei could see Felix in the car vigorously shaking his hands, making a “shush” gesture, with his eyebrows, nose, and mouth all pitching in, which made Li Wei crack a smile involuntarily:
Apparently, the living funeral was a secret. Clearly, it was too ludicrous an idea for the parents; Karen probably wasn’t yet prepared for such a thing.
Li Wei put away his grin and shook his head gently, “No, of course not.”
“Actually, we should be thanking Felix. He went out of his way to cheer for us. We’re ready for the game now because of him.”
After saying this, Li Wei looked towards Mahomes and Kelsey, who, like bobblehead dolls, nodded in agreement repeatedly.
Karen’s eyes shifted nervously, and only after receiving a confirming answer did she breathe a sigh of relief. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she quickly rubbed them, then put on a smile, somewhat unnaturally exaggerated, as if trying to mask her inner unease and fear with laughter.
These recent days, she felt as if she were suspended in midair, neither able to ascend nor descend.
Karen looked at Li Wei, wanting to say more but ultimately unable to find the right words. “Thank you, Li Wei, you have no idea what this means to me.”
Her words were incoherent, not quite conveying what she meant, and frankly, Karen wasn’t even sure what she was saying.
Finally, Karen stepped forward and gave Li Wei a hug, tightening her arms firmly, using all her strength, and muttered, “Thank you.”
Then she quickly turned around, bowing her head to hide herself, and hugged Mahomes and Kelsey in turn, gave Jenna a vague greeting, and then Karen hurriedly left.
After Jenna had put Annie in the car, she too came over to Li Wei, “Karen… has been through a lot this past week.”
Li Wei could see that Karen had visibly lost weight, clearly dropping pounds right before their eyes.
Jenna twisted her mouth into a smile, “But that’s our duty, to worry, to care, to be strong…”
As she spoke, her voice trailed off, sinking briefly into her own thoughts. Behind the hesitations lay the pain and agony only parents of sick children could understand.
Li Wei tried to offer some words of comfort, but Jenna didn’t give him the chance.
Taking a deep breath, Jenna had already recovered, regaining her smile and looking at Li Wei, “Thank you, for keeping our little one company with your tomfoolery tonight.”
That implied message… it seemed Jenna knew the true nature of tonight’s event.
But Jenna didn’t elaborate. She glanced back at her car, then quickly looked away, “Li Wei, I know Annie was really looking forward to the divisional game, and she genuinely wanted to go to Arrowhead Stadium to watch. Jeff and I are truly grateful for your invitation, but, I’m afraid we won’t be able to make it tomorrow.”
Li Wei’s face registered surprise.
Jenna continued, “Annie’s body metrics have been fluctuating these past couple of days, sometimes good, sometimes bad, and Jeff and I are really worried; plus, the weather forecast for tomorrow looks dreadful, and the doctor also suggests it’s best for her to stay home, so…”
Li Wei’s heart sank slightly.
Li Wei remembered that when Annie left the podium tonight, she had asked for his help; apart from her last back and forth trot, she had been sitting the whole time.
“Don’t worry, Jenna,” Li Wei waved his hand, “Don’t worry about me, and don’t worry about Annie. If there’s no divisional game, there’ll be the conference finals later. We’ll always be at Arrowhead Stadium, not going anywhere.”
Jenna’s nose tingled, and she quickly took a deep breath to control herself, “So confident?”
Li Wei, “Of course. Just like Annie said, we’re not fighting alone, right?”
That’s how it was for the Kansas City Chiefs, and so it was for Annie and Felix.
None of them were fighting a lonely battle.
Jenna nodded repeatedly, breaking into a smile, “I hope we can go to Arrowhead Stadium to watch the conference finals. Go for it! We’ll be watching the live broadcast on TV tomorrow, so please make sure to score. Annie is really praying for you.”
On the side, Kelsey, “What about me, Ms. Galas?”
Jenna, “Haha, Travis, you should be asking Annie that question, not me. The decision isn’t mine to make.”
Haha, hahaha, the laughter was especially brilliant.