Chapter 2

Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the hallway.

I poked my head out. "What's going on?"

Linda rushed in, shaking her head. "Don't look."

Then, a wave of sobs filled the air as a bed covered in a white sheet was wheeled away, with people crowding around it.

I froze, growing even more silent inside.

It seemed like barely a few days would pass before someone died here.

Sometimes, they even wheeled away two bodies in a single day.

But just yesterday, people on the whole floor were quietly content.

Now, many people were lining up for a bowl of beef soup that Linda cooked.

There was still laughter in the hallway.

Linda, who was cleaning up, let out a sigh. "Thanksgiving is almost here. That family just wanted to hold on until Thanksgiving, but life can be so brutal sometimes."

At that, Linda glanced at David lying in the hospital bed, turned away, and quickly wiped her eyes.

Then she turned back with a smile. "Thanksgiving's coming up. What kind of filling do you all want in your pumpkin pie? I'll make it when I get home."

"You've had a long day. Don't go to all that trouble," the carer of the patient by the window said. She was a bit older than Linda.

"Trouble? Not at all. I enjoy it," Linda replied. "After eating my pumpkin pie, everyone can live a long, healthy life."

The room fell silent again.

Everyone lowered their heads.

David held Linda's hand and said, "You silly woman."

*****

Before I knew it, Thanksgiving had arrived.

Linda stuffed two pumpkin pies into my hands. They were the traditional kind.

I tore open the wrapper, and right then, every patient in this hospital room was eating together.

But we were just nibbling, taking tiny bites, partly because we had no appetite, and partly because we didn't have the strength.

It was really just to keep up the holiday spirit.

In the end, I couldn't hold back my tears.

On one Thanksgiving before, I said, "Mom, don't give me the pumpkin pie. I don't even like it."

Sarah replied, "Pumpkin pies are a symbol of harvest and comfort. If you don't like it, give it a try."

In my memory, she gently pinched my nose after saying that.

Back then, I was just a little kid.

So I took a big bite of the pumpkin pie, stuffing my mouth full.

I chewed it slowly and finally swallowed it down.

Now, all of a sudden, I felt a lump rise in my throat.

On TV, they were showing the Ashton family's Thanksgiving party.

The massive round table was covered with an array of delicious, authentic dishes.

Seeing that, I bit my lip.

In the center of the screen was Richard and Evelyn, with their son, Ethan, beside them.

Next to Ethan was a woman in a sheath dress, but her face never appeared. Only her fair and slender wrist was caught on camera.

The camera only showed that much on the left, but on the right, all the Ashton family's relatives were clearly in the shot.

I turned my head, and with my cheeks puffed out with food, I stared out the window.

In years past, the Ashton family always went all out, making a big deal of their family traditions.

But I never thought they'd actually allow media coverage this time.

Next to Ethan was Vivian, a girl who loved sheath dresses.

Later, I saw Ethan and Vivian getting shown on TV together over and over again.

But I could never see Vivian's face. It was either a glimpse of her profile or the back of her head.

It sparked a huge discussion online.

[Who's that girl sitting next to Ethan?]

[He must have someone on the side.]

[Don't jump to conclusions. We can't even see her face. It could be Ethan's wife.]

[If it were Ethan's wife, she wouldn't be hiding her face. Plus, her figure doesn't match. This girl's a bit plumper.]

[That's exactly the kind of girl guys go for.]

[Word on the street is that she's definitely not Ethan's wife, but Ethan already brought her home and introduced her to his family.]

[He introduced her to his family? Then what about Ethan's wife?]

[No idea about that. But now that you mention it, hasn't Ethan's wife been MIA from the media for years?]

I put my phone down.

Then I raised my hand and looked at my arm. It was nothing but skin and bones.

The doctor said I had to get my head shaved.

I pressed my lips together in silence and called my lawyer.

After that, I asked the doctor if I could go home for a bit.

In the cab, I called Ethan.

We hadn't seen each other in half a year, and his voice was even colder than before as he said, "Yeah? What is it?"

"I'm coming home. Let's talk," I said.

He paused for a moment and said, "You're coming home?"

"Yes, almost there," I replied.

"I'm still in a meeting. I can't get away," he said.

"I'll wait for you," I said and then hung up.