A NEWS

Chapter 5: A News

What!?

My mouth hung open for minutes—I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There had to be a misunderstanding somewhere, because this couldn’t be true.

“Doctor, what is the meaning of this?” I threw the result at him angrily.

“What is this nonsense?” I snapped, furious and shaking. There had to be a mistake—there was no way I could be pregnant.

“Check this result again,” I demanded, my furious eyes locked on the doctor. “I’m sure there’s been a mix-up.” I needed immediate relief. I was desperate for him to say this result wasn’t mine.

“Yes, doctor, there must be a mistake. My friend can’t be pregnant,” Eva added, her voice trembling with fear.

“But this is the result, and there’s no error,” the doctor said gently, unfazed by our reaction. “However, if you have doubts, I can re-conduct the test.”

“Of course I’ll retake it!” I snapped. “There’s no way a woman with a damaged womb can conceive.” I folded my arms under my chest, seething with anger. This was beyond frustrating.

Yes, you heard me right—I said damaged womb. Louis had always forced me to take abortion pills whenever I got pregnant. The last one was so strong, it landed me in the hospital.

The doctors saved my life… but not my womb. My womb was gone.

So why on earth was this doctor telling me I was pregnant? It made no sense. It was maddening.

“I’ll need your blood again,” the doctor said, pulling me from my swirling thoughts.

“Take as much as you want,” I said bitterly. He nodded and gently inserted the syringe into my arm.

Once he had enough, he gave a small smile. “I’ll be back,” he said, leaving Eva and me alone in the room.

“There must be an error,” Eva whispered. “You don’t have to worry.”

I couldn’t reply. I was too angry to speak.

After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open and the doctor stepped in. I stared at him, trying to read his face, but his expression was blank—completely unreadable.

“Here,” he said, handing me another envelope.

I tore it open without hesitation. This wasn’t the time to be gentle.

“I’m sorry for the confusion,” the doctor began, his voice low and remorseful. “The test results were switched, just like you suspected.”

But I wasn’t listening to him anymore. A pregnancy would have been easier to handle than what I was seeing now. My eyes widened, my expression froze, and my mind went numb.

“What is it?” Eva asked, snatching the paper from my hand.

“What!? Jesus!” she screamed, and the paper slipped from her fingers, falling to the floor like a feather. The weight of the news was too much to bear.

The urge to live… to fight… to seek revenge… all of it vanished. I was empty. This was how it was supposed to end.

“I’m so sorry about the sad news,” the doctor said softly, but I couldn’t respond. What was there to say?

“So… you’re saying my friend has only a year to live? Because of an incurable heart disease?” Eva asked, her voice icy and sharp. She sounded like she was hoping he’d say it was another mistake.

“Yes,” the doctor replied, sorrow heavy in his tone. “I wish I could offer hope, but I’ve been a doctor for 35 years, and I’ve never seen anyone survive this kind of heart disease.”

His words made the pain even deeper.

“So then, what is left of me? Just end it now before this sickness does, because if you don’t, I will.”vThe words escaped me before I could stop them.

I was already violent, ripping off every support system—drips, monitors, everything. I didn’t need them anymore. They were useless now.

Maybe this was the universe’s way of telling me that my existence was a curse—that I no longer had a place here. A sign that my family didn’t want me to avenge their deaths because they were still angry with me. Now, I could die and go to hell where I belonged.

Eva and the doctor tried to restrain me, but I was too strong. “Call for backup immediately!” Eva screamed in horror.

“I already did. They’ll be here soon,” the doctor replied calmly. And just as he said, nurses rushed into the ward. Together, they managed to hold me down.

“Let me go! I don’t want to live!” Tears drenched my face as I screamed.

“Can any of you live like me? Can any of you live in this nightmare I’m trapped in?” I shouted, more tears pouring from my eyes.

“Huh? Can any of you? Do you know what it means to live a painful and meaningless life? I hate all of you so much. Leave me, please!” I tried to pull away, but their grip was stronger than mine.

“Eva, please, tell them to leave me alone,” I turned to her, only then realizing she was crying too.

“No, you don’t have to cry. You won’t be the one living this wrecked life. I promise. Please, don’t cry for me,” I said through my tears, and Eva hugged me tightly.

“Please stop. Please,” her soft voice pleaded, and my pain deepened, more tears flooding my eyes.

“Please, just stop,” she sobbed into my shoulder.

“I…” I wanted to speak, but I couldn’t. I felt the doctor injecting something into me, and soon, everything faded to black.