Chapter 10
The next time I saw David was six months later.
I was pregnant and on my way to a prenatal checkup when I heard David had been in an accident. While negotiating a contract with a client, a chandelier in the restaurant had collapsed on him. By the time he was rushed to the hospital, he was covered in blood, and more seriously, his lower leg had been crushed and broken.
Hearing Bob’s explanation left me shaken. I thought I’d never care about David again, but in that moment, I couldn’t stop trembling.
When I went to visit him at the hospital, he was already awake. David had just finished a painful treatment, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably. In a hoarse voice, he looked at me and said with bitter self–mockery, “Cora, do you think this is my own curse?”
A memory surfaced suddenly. Ten years ago, while we were at my mother’s grave, David had vowed, “If I ever hurt Cora, I deserve to lose my leg!”
It was worth noting that out of the four people present that day, David was the only one severely injured now.
I looked at him and replied earnestly, “No, it’s not a curse–it’s the oath you swore yourself.”
David’s face twisted in pain, and he murmured, “Yes… it was my own doing…”
In the days that followed, I didn’t return to the hospital. But then David’s mother called, crying, “Cora, please come see him again. David has a fever, and his wound got infected. He keeps calling your name in his delirium.”
I hadn’t planned to go back. I didn’t want to give him any false hope. Yet, the next few nights, I kept dreaming of the past–of who we used to be.
Maybe I was finally saying goodbye to the old Cora and David.
I made some soup and, with Erik, went to see David in the hospital. Mrs. Johnson didn’t say much when she saw us; she simply pulled me aside and whispered, “Thank you both.”
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Chapter 10
Though she didn’t say it aloud, I could see her pale face and the trembling of her hands.
I took her hand and reassured her, “Auntie, it’s okay. All these years of kindness–I’ve repaid
it.”
By now, I was almost four months pregnant, with a small but noticeable baby bump.
David’s gaze lingered on my belly for a long time before he smiled. Watching the faint smile on his face, I sighed and spoke, “Listen to the doctors, take your treatment seriously, and get
better soon.”
After a pause, I continued, “After today… Erik and I won’t be coming back.”
David froze, his expression turning wild, like a trapped animal. After a while, he looked at Erik and asked, “Will you take good care of her?”
“Of course.” Erik gave him a reassuring hug, sealing his promise.
I saw David’s warm tears fall onto Erik’s shoulder.
Beyond those whispered words of “I’m sorry,” David didn’t say much else as we left.
More than half a year later, I gave birth to a baby girl.
Around the same time, David was discharged. He came to the maternity ward to see me, bringing many little princess–themed gifts.
“She’s a beautiful little girl–just like you,” he said, smiling.
Then, turning to Erik, he gave him a playful punch on the chest. “You lucky guy–you’ve got
it all.”
I smiled back, meeting his gaze, which had finally softened.
Thankfully, my future still holds many more “right” years ahead of me.
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