A Countdown on Camera

I stepped into the bedroom.The closet was full of dresses Ethan had bought for me.However, they were all the same: white dresses, just like the ones Winter used to wear.I yanked one off the hanger — it was a birthday present Ethan had thrown at me last year.He had said, "Wear this. Winter's got anemia, so go donate blood to her."I spent three hours in that dress at the hospital, donating 400cc of blood, and all he said was, "You're kind of useful, I guess."I grabbed the scissors and cut into the dress with all my might."Rip—"One after another, they all got the same treatment.I was like a robot that never tired, wildly tearing apart everything in sight.All the "presents" I had once thought were treasures were now just torn fabric on the floor.The livestream started up again.Viewers zoomed up to a hundred thousand.[Did something upset the host? Why cut up such nice clothes?][This is so satisfying to watch! Gifts from a jerk like that should be torched!][Hey,

The next morning, the cold woke me up.I was curled up on a park bench, newspapers my only blanket.My phone would not stop buzzing.Ethan was calling.The phone rang, and before I could say hello, Ethan's grumpy voice burst through. "Nina, hurry to Metropolitan Medical Center! Winter fainted from not having enough blood. She needs a transfusion. You've got the same rare blood type, Rh-negative."You've got thirty minutes. If you're even a minute late, I'm cutting off paying your mom's medical bills!" The line went dead. I stared at the blank screen and could not help but chuckle. Same old Ethan. However, I had to keep going. My mom had to outlive me or my wish would not come true.Dragging myself out the door, I caught a cab to the hospital. Right at the ER doors, Ethan's guys scooped me up and rushed me inside. "What took you so long?" Ethan snapped. "If Winter gets worse, it's on you!" He massaged his temples as his men shoved me into a chair for the blood draw. The nu

I hung up and went back to my feast without another thought.The chat in the livestream went wild.[Whoa! Ethan was in a car crash? He totally had it coming!][Hope he gets what's coming to him!][Did the streamer have something to do with it?]I saw those messages, wiped my mouth, and gave an icy laugh to the camera."Like I have time for that."He made too many enemies. What goes around comes around."I finished my meal, paid up, and walked out of the restaurant without rushing.The sky was dark and heavy, like it was ready to snow.I pulled my coat tighter and wandered down the street without any real plan.Ethan was in an accident.His fate was up in the air.I should be happy, right?However, I felt so empty inside, like something was missing.I had loved him for seven years.Even a pet kept for seven years evoked feelings of fondness.He was a real, live person.However, I was not going to the hospital.He asked for that.I hit the mall and splurged on all the

The doctor arrived.After examining me, he looked very serious and shook his head."Mr. Larsen, you need to prepare yourself. She's not going to make it. It's amazing she's lasted this long."Ethan grabbed the doctor's shirt."You're wrong! She's just been a little hungry! How can she be dying?"Fix her! Use the best treatments! I'll pay whatever it costs! And if she doesn't get better, I'll hold you responsible!"The doctor was scared, but could only let out a sad sigh."Mr. Larsen, it's not about the money. She's got late-stage stomach cancer, and it's spread everywhere…"She's also been so sad for so long that she doesn't have much fight left in her... not even a miracle can save her now."Late-stage stomach cancer.Those words hit Ethan like a bolt of lightning. He let go of the doctor and stumbled back, falling into a chair."No, that can't be right..."Just days ago, she was out dancing and even scolding me. How could everything change so quickly? "He moved to the e

Ethan lost his mind.He gave up his role as the mafia Don to someone else, chosen by a family elder.Then, he roamed the big, empty house, holding onto my ashes.He changed the house back to how it was when I first came.Every piece of furniture, every little decoration, just like I remembered.He even learned to cook.He would make a whole table of my favorite foods, enough for two people. He would talk to no one at all."Nina, dinner's ready.”"I put extra butter in the cream soup today. Try it.”"Nina, it snowed today. Are you cold?”"Nina, I miss you so much..."However, no one answered him.The room was filled with silence. Winter had visited once.She came all dressed up, trying to sneak in when he was vulnerable.Ethan had his guys break her legs and toss her onto the street.People say she ended up doing the worst kind of jobs just to get by.She got what she deserved.Ethan was falling apart, too.Drinking too much and never sleeping well made him look old