Victoria approached him slowly, trying her best to ignore her rapidly building worry. She looked at his face, seeing the pained expression, his fingers digging into his hair, his mouth and eyes closed tight. And the closer she got, the more she could hear him whimpering.
It was troubling her. A lot.
She knelt next to him. "Héctor," she whispered. He shuddered.
Victoria reached for his head, moving his hands out of his hair. The fact that he did nothing to respond worrird her more.
She tried again. "Héctor, can you hear me? You need to stand up. We have to go back."
He gave no reply. Though his eyes were squeezed shut she could see tears coming out of them anyway. He was breathing way to fast.
Victoria looked away from him and saw the Rivera hacienda in the distance. She then looked back at Héctor. If he wasn't going to move, then...
She picked him up in her arms, momentarily surprised at how light he was. Then she started making her way back to their home.
It was already troubling when Imelda heard the door to the house swing open. The actual sight was another matter. The first thing she saw was Victoria standing in the doorway. Then Imelda's eyes wandered to what Victoria was holding.
She wasted no time rushing Victoria upstairs. Then Imelda throws open her and Héctor's bedroom door.
"What happened?" she asked as Victoria set Héctor down on their bed. "Where were you two?"
Victoria sighs, her vioce trmbling as she speaks. "We went for a walk outside." she explains. "I thought it'd be good for him since he was getting better. But then I guess it all just came back to him. He collapsed on the ground. He didn't even try to warn me."
Imelda's eyes wander to Héctor, who was shaking and whimpering loudly. He was clearly in an immense state of pain. It was almost as if his illness was starting over.
She gives Victoria a look. Victoria seems to get the message and hurries out, leaving Imelda alone.
Imelda sits next to the bed and squeezes Héctor's hand. She ignores the rush of tears that come to her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Héctor." she whispers. She sobs as she continues. "I wish you didn't have to go through this."