Aunt Sienna couldn't resist her. "Alright, I'll rest on the scarf here, you go up first. I'll catch up once I've rested enough."
"Okay," Bella said. "Call me when you're ready, and I'll come get you."
Aunt Sienna nodded, "Go on, go on."
"Mm." Only then did Bella continue up on her own.
When she crossed over to look for those tombstones, Aunt Sienna took out a handkerchief from her pocket and muffled her cough.
"Cough, cough, cough!" She didn't dare to cough too loudly for fear Bella might hear, so she tightly covered her mouth and suppressed the cough.
After a good while of coughing, Aunt Sienna moved the handkerchief away from her mouth, revealing a spread of bloodstains.
She had been coughing up blood for more than two months now, bearing it alone without telling anyone.
She was already old, with not much time left, and didn't want to add to Bella's burdens.
