Effie knelt beside her grandmother, her hands trembling as she gripped the old woman’s wrinkled fingers. “Grandma, please don’t move. We’re taking you to the hospital right away.”

When she looked up, she saw Lyman already on the phone, calling for an ambulance.

Given her grandmother’s age, neither of them dared to move her on their own. It was safer to wait for the paramedics and let the professionals handle it.

The ambulance arrived quickly, doctors in tow. Effie’s grandmother was rushed to the hospital without delay.

As the doors to the emergency room swung closed behind her grandmother, Effie felt her heart twist with anxiety.

Lyman tried to comfort her. “She’s tough, Effie. She’ll pull through. Don’t worry.”

Effie nodded, guilt gnawing at her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she should have taken better care of her grandmother.

Noticing her worry, Lyman said gently, “When she’s better, let’s have her come live with us. That way, we can look after her properly.”

Effie sighed softly. “Grandma’s so stubborn, though. I doubt she’ll agree.”

She’d brought it up many times before, but her grandmother always refused. With her best friend living next door, she was even less willing to leave her home.

“It’s okay,” Lyman assured her. “We’ll talk to her again when she’s feeling better. And if she still doesn’t want to move, I can hire a live-in caregiver for her. It’s not a big deal—just a matter of money, and that’s something I have.”

Effie managed a small smile. With Lyman by her side, she felt a little more at

ease.

Just then, the light above the emergency room door flicked off. The doctor emerged, pulling off his mask. “Your grandmother has a fractured ankle,” he explained. “We’ve put it in a cast, but because of her age, healing might take a while. She’ll need to stay in bed and rest for some time.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Effie said gratefully.

Soon, her grandmother was transferred to a private suite the hospital’s best, quiet and comfortable, perfect for her to recuperate without disturbance.

It wasn’t long before her grandmother woke up. “I’m fine,” she insisted. “It’s just a twisted ankle. I’ll be back on my feet in a couple of days. You two don’t need to worry about me. Go on, get back to your own lives.”

She hated the idea of being a burden.

Effie, exasperated, shook her head. “Grandma, how can you say that? You scared me half to death! Promise me you’ll be more careful from now on.”

Lyman chimed in, “She’s right, Grandma. You really gave us a fright. After you’re discharged, why don’t you come stay with us for a while? We can take good care of you.”

“No, thank you. I like living on my own,” her grandmother replied firmly. “I’m not about to become a third wheel in your newlywed nest. Besides, my neighbor is waiting for me to teach her yoga!”

Lyman tucked the blanket around her and said gently, “At least let us hire a live-in caregiver for you. We’d feel much better.”

“We’ll talk about it later,” she replied, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Effie could only sigh, resigned. “Alright, we’ll figure it out after you’re discharged.”

Her grandmother needed to rest, so Effie slipped out to handle the admission paperwork.

As she walked through the quiet corridor and turned a corner, a voice called out behind her.

“Sis, what are you doing here?”