Chapter 6
I was back on the hospital bed when I woke up once again. Winston and Asher stood by the bed. Their eyes were red and swollen. Clearly, they have been crying.
Winston walked over to me and said hoarsely, “I’m sorry, darling-”
I was momentarily stunned before it hit me. I forced a smile and softly said, “There’s nothing to apologize for. It’s all in the past now.”
Winston held my hand as tears sprung out again. “Why did you hide it from us? Why didn’t you tell us the truth? We could’ve faced it together-”
I shook my head. With a weak yet determined tone, I said, “You would’ve refused my donation if I told you. I don’t want the two of you to suffer. I only wanted happiness for you-” Winston cried, “No! How could I be happy without you?”
Asher threw himself on the bed and hugged me tight. He was sobbing uncontrollably as he said, “I’m sorry, Mommy. I shouldn’t have blamed you. Can you please come back? Please-” I looked at them and said nothing.
Winston held my hand tightly. Although he was crying, he said in a determined tone, “I’ll definitely make you better, darling. No matter how much it costs or how many people I need to find, I won’t give up. I won’t let you leave me. I’ve already lost you for five years. I can’t lose you again.”
Asher said, “Daddy and I will surely find a way, Mommy! We promise!”
I gently caressed his hair, my heart heavy with bitterness.
Despite Winston being the richest man in Hesperia and Asher being a genius, a kidney transplant was no easy feat. It was hard to find a matching donor in such a short time, and my health was deteriorating–I couldn’t hold on much longer.
Ten days passed in a blink of an eye, yet there was still no news on a matching donor. Winston and Asher went all over, even resorting to prayers for my sake.
At the same time, the online public opinion began to shift again. I wasn’t sure what Winston had done, but people started apologizing to me and praying for my safety.
Selene handed her phone to me and said, “Look, Sera! Those people online are apologizing to you!”
I took the phone, noticing the screen was full of comments from the public.
“We apologize for misunderstanding you.”
“Please get well soon. We’ll keep you in our prayers!”
I smiled as I returned the phone to her. “Thank you, Sel. But honestly, these don’t matter to me anymore.”
Selene gripped my hand, her eyes reddening. “No, they matter! You have to live on,
Sera!”
I gently patted her hand and said nothing.
I started frequenting the emergency room in the next few days.
Every time I woke up, I saw Winston and Asher sitting by the bed, their eyes red and swollen. Their faces were filled with worry and exhaustion, yet they refused to leave my side.
I caressed their faces and said softly, “We’ve come this far, and I’ve never blamed either of you.”
Winston gripped my hand tightly. “Please stop saying that, darling. Please don’t give up—”
Asher buried his face into the palm of my hand. “Daddy and I can’t live without you, Mommy!”
During the last round of resuscitation, there were times I thought I might never wake up again. However, fate gave me a second chance. A woman who had just passed away donated her kidney before she died, and I pulled through miraculously.
I woke up from the anesthesia, seeing the sterile white ceiling of the hospital as soon as I opened my eyes.
Winston and Asher stood by the bedside, shedding tears of joy.
“Darling, you’re awake! The surgery was a success–you pulled through!”
“I’m so happy you pulled through, Mommy!”
I looked at them, feeling strangely calm on the inside. Surviving this ordeal felt so much like a dream.
I reached out to wipe away their tears, and Winston took hold of my hand. “Darling, let’s all go home when you’re discharged, okay?”
I shook my head. “No. I love the both of you, but I’m truly tired. Now, I only want to live for myself.”
