Chapter 3
There was still a week before the surgery.
But I had already checked into the hospital.
Finally, one day, my mom came to see me.
We sat together for quite a while without saying a word.
Since she stayed silent, I didn't feel like talking either.
"Sorry, but all the nicer rooms on the fifth floor are already filled up. Otherwise, your dad and I would've definitely booked one for you," she finally spoke.
I nodded and kept remaining silent.
Then, I turned to look out the window.
"You used to be such a chatterbox when you were little. How did you end up like this?"
My mom let out a sigh and stood up.
"I'm heading upstairs. See you later," she said.
"Okay," I replied.
With that, my mom left.
I glanced at the spot where she'd been sitting, and at the fruit she'd set by her feet.
I let out a bitter smile.
The way she got up, nervously picked up the fruit, and left all shy and awkward—it was honestly a little funny to watch.
I always thought the word "awkward" was never in her dictionary.
Still, I couldn't get her.
Couldn't she just go upstairs first, give the fruit to Emily, and then come see me?
But then I realized something.
My own mother despised me, after all.
If she went upstairs, there was no way she would come down just to check on me.
Today, I finished my final checkup.
Tomorrow would be the big day—the surgery.
Carrying all my test results, I returned to my ward.
It was still as quiet and empty as ever.
I sat on the bed, my eyes staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.
Why was it always so empty here?
Oh, right.
Didn't Jason promise me to live together as a real couple?
But he never came home even once while I was recovering.
And during the whole week I'd been in the hospital, he didn't visit me either, not even once.
It seemed his promise was nothing but a joke.
Then, I realized something.
Right, he said "after the surgery." Which meant he wouldn't do anything for now.
Yeah, I got it now. It was not like he actually wanted to be with me.
Jason probably felt like he owed me, so he figured he'd just pay me back with the rest of his life.
As long as Emily stayed healthy, he wouldn't care about anything else.
On the day of the surgery, just as Emily and I were about to be wheeled into the operating room, Jason made it in time.
"Dad, Mom, I'm so scared," Emily said, her voice trembling.
"It's okay, Emily. Just think of it as taking a nap. The doctor said once the transplant is done, you'll be healthy again," my mom reassured her.
She then reached out and gently tucked a loose strand of hair under Sophia's surgical cap.
Jason rushed over. "Is the surgery about to start?"
"Yeah," my mom replied.
Emily released my mom's hand and reached out toward Jason.
Jason instinctively reached out as well.
But then, Emily pulled her hand back and smiled faintly.
"Jason, you're here," she whispered.
Jason's hand froze awkwardly.
After he shot a quick glance at me, he pulled his hand back right away.
"Yeah. This kind of surgery is quite advanced. There's nothing to be afraid of," Jason said gently.
"Okay," Emily replied softly.
Then she smiled, "Go ahead and say something to Sophia. She's been waiting for you."
Jason nodded.
Then, he looked at me.
However, his lips felt as heavy as lead, and he just couldn't say a single word.
Just then, the surgical team, all suited up, came over. "Alright, it's time to head into the operating room. Please step aside."
The team started pushing the gurneys forward.
At that moment, Emily felt a wave of fear wash over her.
She reached out again, and the name buried in her heart slipped out. "Jason..."
Jason caught up and said softly, "Don't be afraid."
But their hands failed to meet. He only had a split second to put his hand on the side of her gurney.
My gurney was in front, leading the way, so I just watched it all happen.
However, I felt nothing but calmness and indifference.
Finally, the doors to the operating room slowly closed.
Jason's figure was gradually shut out, little by little.
Slowly, I closed my eyes.
As the surgery was about to begin, I heard Emily's whisper.
"Thank you, Sophia, for donating your liver to me."
The anesthesia started to flow into my veins.
Right as I was about to drift off, I said softly, "You're welcome."
I was trapped in an endless, numb dream. Everything inside was bizarre and surreal, as if someone had blindfolded me.
In the empty hallway, I seemed to hear someone talking to me.
"If you had known your life would turn out this way, would you still accept your fate?"
I turned to look at the person who spoke.
However, I couldn't see anything.
In a heavy daze, I drifted through the darkness.
Soon, I saw an operating room.
Inside, the doctors were discussing something.
"Why are we cutting out so much?"
"The agreement said 70%. See?"
"Damn, if we take this much, can the donor even make it through?"
*****
Wasn't I still alive? I was confused.
How come my body was drifting?
I floated, heading off into the distance.
On the operating table, there was blood everywhere—so much blood.
Soon, I drifted farther and farther away.
"They're sisters, but the mother clearly cares more about the older one. She deliberately agreed to take so much just to save her."
"Didn't the younger one object?"
"She just looked at the agreement, then stared blankly out the window without saying a word."
"Honestly, back then, I just wanted to give her a comforting hug."
I kept drifting forward, not even knowing where I was heading.