The nurse took a look at my medical record and fell into silence. “Ms. Tanner… I’m sure the doctors will figure a way out,” she muttered.
Her words fell on my ears like a final verdict that sealed my fate. The glass in my hand slipped to the ground and shattered. I was not dreaming.
“Are you okay, Ms. Tanner?” the nurse cried out and ran to grab a towel to dry my hands. My heart warmed upon receiving kindness from a stranger.
“Sorry to trouble you,” I said, trying to put on a smile. “Could you pour me another glass of water?”
The nurse got me some water, and I took my medication under her watchful gaze. I sat back in my bed, listening intentionally for my own heartbeat. I wondered if my heart would stop beating anytime soon.
Sturdy footsteps soon echoed down the corridor outside and stopped right outside of my door. I turned my head toward the door, anticipating someone. “Darius?”
“How are you feeling?” It was Gordon.
“I’m fine. Thanks, Mr. Lane.” I lowered my head, bracing myself to hear the bad news.
“Well…” There was hesitation in his voice. Before long, he cleared his voice and changed the topic. “I know my wife doesn’t like you dating Chris, and I hope you don’t mind her honesty. She tends to overthink things, but rest assured, I approve of this relationship. You might find our family intimidating, but I will readily welcome anyone my son loves. I don’t really care about finding a daughter-in-law with good family background. I’m sure my son made the best choice.”
“Thank you, Mr. Lane. That’s very kind of you.” Our exchange was purely for cordiality’s sake. I was not in the capacity to demand the family to accept me. After all, I was a dying person.
“Get some rest. Darius will bring the doctors later.”
The man did not break the news to me in the end. He was worried I would not be able to take it. I could tell he had my best interests in mind. To be honest, I knew Christopher’s family was genuinely amiable and kind. I would be the most blissful thing in life if I were still in my best health and could gain their blessing, but that wish would remain unfulfilled at this rate.
The day felt unbearably long. I did not go to see Christopher because I was afraid I would break down in front of him. I did not know how to let him know I would be leaving him for good.
He would not be able to come to terms with it.
A few doctors came in not long after, bringing some machines to do a thorough check-up on me. “Please do everything you can to save her. She’s my friend,” Monica said to them.
She probably knew about my situation, else she would still be spiteful and snarky. I could tell she felt bad for me from her tone alone.
It was a familiar tone I used to hear growing up. I had lived on the kindness of people, and it was not like I had a choice not to now.
When everyone finally left, I turned aside and gave way to my emotions. Life was slipping away second by second, but there was nothing I could do. My tears were my only futile protest against the imminence of my death.
“How are you feeling, Ms. Tanner?” Darius’ sudden voice startled me. I did not know there was someone else in the room. I wiped away my tears quickly and shook my head.
“You should think on the bright side. It will be good for your mental health too.” He walked over, and I could feel his gaze falling on me. “You look a lot like your mother when you don’t speak. I remember she would sit quietly in the library buried in her books as I looked at her.”
Darius must have known my mom really well. Deep in my heart, I had always yearned for motherly love. That was why I was jealous of Crystal. “Could you tell me about my mom? She left when I was still young, so I could not remember a thing about her. I don’t even remember how she looked like now.”
