Chapter 8
I hid under the bed, listening to footsteps pacing back and forth outside.
One by one, messages popped up on my phone. I glanced down–my nose was bleeding, and a drop landed squarely on the screen.
When I came to, my whole body felt drained. In a haze, I thought I heard glass shattering
My poor window
Since moving in, it was the tenth time my window had been smashed. Before, it had been debt collectors; this time, it was Edward.
I couldn’t afford to replace it again. He had better leave some money before walking away.
1 didn’t even have the energy to care what he was up to. My head throbbed lie bell
The next morning, I woke up freezing. I knew I couldn’t hold on much longer. This time, I even dreamt of my parents.
For the first time in years, I saw them, arms wide open, inviting me in. I wanted to throw myself into them, but they told me to hang on.
“Hang on, my ass,” I thought
The first 25 years of my life had been joy, the last five were nothing but
pain
And the pain of the past five years far outweighed all the sweetness before -I couldn’t find a reason to keep going
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Chapter 8
Half an hour later, I heard the landlord yelling. Seeing the broken glass, she was on the verge of losing it again. Then, her scream pierced the air.
My memories blurred. Scenes flickered in my mind like a carousel, spinning endlessly. I could feel myself coughing up blood, but it didn’t hurt as much as it should have.
“Move! Everybody, move!”
The hospital broadcast an emergency alert. Doctors rushed over in a flurry.
As they pushed me into the trauma room, I miraculously caught sight of Edward.
He was helping Viviana out of a nearby ward, her arm bandaged like a club.
“Why is she bleeding so much?”
“Looks like she’s vomiting. The landlord found her unconscious in her room. It doesn’t look good.”
Edward’s gaze cut through the crowd and landed on me for a moment. Then he pulled back and let the staff make way for the medical team.
Probably blood on my face made me unrecognizable, which was a good thing.
A team of specialists gathered to discuss my treatment. I grabbed Philip’s hand.
“Don’t be scared, kid. I’ll save you, just like every other time. You’ll pull through.”
I had no strength left to speak. The oxygen mask muffled my voice. I just clutched his hand and lightly traced it with my fingers.
Chapter 8
His eyes were red as he removed my oxygen mask.
“Phil, money… At the usual spot… Bury me next to my parents,”
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Chapter 9
