The Belated Auscultation

On the third day, I decided to buy Tyler some of the things he'd always wanted before I left for good.

In the Seattle toy store, the shelves were packed with colorful toys.

I stopped in the Transformers aisle.

I could still hear Tyler's voice, the last time he begged Ethan for something.

It was two months ago. After seeing a commercial, Tyler had secretly used my phone to call Ethan.

"Daddy, I really want the new Transformer. Can you play with me?"

"Tyler, Daddy's busy. Don't bother me," came Ethan's impatient reply.

"But Daddy, all my friends have one…"

"Talk to your mother about it!" The line went dead.

Tyler handed the phone back to me, his eyes full of disappointment, but then he gave me a sweet smile.

"Mommy, Daddy must be saving a very important patient, right? Daddy is a superhero, he has to protect the whole world. But… I really wish he would play with me."

It was such a simple wish, one that never came true for him.

I swept every Transformer off the shelf and into my cart.

Puzzles, building blocks, paintbrushes…

Everything Tyler had ever wanted but never gotten.

"Madam, who are you buying all these toys for?" the cashier asked curiously.

"For my son."

The moment the words left my mouth, my eyes began to sting.

I pushed the cart full of toys out of the store, only to run right into three familiar figures.

Ethan was kneeling in front of a little girl, gently fixing her hair.

Isabella stood beside them, a soft, delicate smile on her face.

"Uncle Ethan, I want that Barbie doll!" Emma pointed to a pink doll in the window.

"Of course, sweetie. Let's go get it," Ethan agreed without a second thought.

What a gentle father. They looked just like a real family.

Ethan noticed me looking and a flash of awkwardness crossed his face.

"Sarah? What are you doing here?"

"Isabella wasn't feeling well, so I was just helping her get Emma out for some fresh air," he explained.

I let out a cold laugh but said nothing.

"Uncle Ethan, didn't you say you would play blocks with me?" Emma whined, pulling on his hand.

"Of course. Let's go inside and find a place to sit and play," Ethan said, his voice full of affection.

Tyler had never been treated like that.

"I'm leaving," I said, turning to go with my cart.

"Sarah, wait," Ethan called out, catching up to me. "I'll give you a ride home."

He took everything from my hand before I could refuse, and I had no choice but to get on the car helplessly.

But the ride back was filled with a heavy, awkward silence.

When we got home, Ethan saw my packed suitcase and frowned.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm taking Tyler on a trip," I answered calmly.

A look of relief washed over his face.

"Oh, that's great. You two should relax," he said. "Before you go, let's have a family dinner. I know I haven't been around much lately, and that's my fault."

A storm of emotion churned inside me.

I was about to scream it at him—Tyler is dead, we're divorced!

But just then, the doorbell rang.

Isabella stood there holding Emma, her eyes filled with tears.

"Ethan, Emma suddenly has terrible diarrhea. Can you please take a look at her?"

Ethan's face instantly became serious.

"Diarrhea is no small thing, especially for a child. They can get dehydrated easily," he said, immediately grabbing his medical bag. "Let's go to the hospital right now."

He left with Isabella without a backward glance.

When Tyler had a 102.5-degree fever and blue lips, he said I was overreacting.

When Emma had simple diarrhea, he said it was no small thing.

I wanted to laugh, but the anger and grief had already torn my heart to shreds.

Such a good father. Just not to Tyler.

I dragged my suitcase and all the toys to Tyler's grave.

"Baby, these are all for you," I said, placing the toys one by one in front of the headstone. "They're all yours now."

The white rose in the vase looked especially tragic in the setting sun.

"Mommy has to go now. You be a good boy, and don't miss me too much."

Ethan’s POV

At Seattle Central Hospital, in a VIP room.

Ethan was sharing ice cream with Emma, who showed no signs of diarrhea anymore.

"You're such a good girl, Emma. You got better so fast," he said gently.

"Uncle Ethan, will you always be with me?" Emma asked innocently.

"Of course."

After the check-up, Ethan finally remembered Tyler at home.

He found Dr. Williams.

"Can you get me some children's cold medicine and vitamins? Tyler's cold still hasn't gone away completely."

Williams froze.

"Ethan, what are you talking about?"

"The medicine for Tyler. He has a cold, remember?" Ethan added.

Williams's face went pale, as if he'd just seen a ghost.

"Ethan… Tyler passed away three days ago. Didn't you know?"