Chapter 3

Seeing how pale and haggard my dad, mom, and brother looked, the car owner took a deep breath in frustration.

The police also chimed in, "Go and see if there's any major damage. If not, just claim insurance and fix it yourself. Besides, you're at fault too. You can't make them pay thousands of dollars."

The car owner was exasperated and muttered under his breath, "Curse my luck!"

He snatched the few hundred dollars from Alan, got into his car, and drove away.

Dad stared in his direction longingly, his eyes teary. Mom put on a strong face and said, "Stop staring. Money spent to avoid disaster is money well spent. Let's go home!"

"You two go ahead. I still have deliveries to make!"

"What deliveries? Your arm is injured, go home!"

Mom insisted and dragged Dad home. She applied medicine to his arm and mended his clothes.

She warmed up the grilled meat and made Dad eat it all.

"Has Jack had dinner yet?" Dad asked, wiping his mouth.

Mom muttered while tidying up, "He's still sleeping."

"Wake him. By the way, Alan, I talked to your high school teacher today. He also thinks you should continue studying. This year, the top-tier hospital in our town is recruiting, and even the logistics department staff requires a master's degree. It would be a pity for you not to pursue postgraduate studies, considering your grades."

"Dad, I've made up my mind. I can pursue postgraduate studies anytime, but we need money for Jack's treatment now."

My brother lowered his head. "I asked my supervisor about it. Jack's illness is chronic and will relapse, and it's not something he can control. Plus, there will be aftereffects. He'll probably be in this condition his entire life. I don't want him to live like this. I want to make more money so that he can have a better life."

Dad slammed his fork down!

"That's his life, not yours! Even if he dies right now, it's his life that has ended. Your life has just begun!"

Mom cried. "Your grades are so good. Don't let him become your burden, you silly child!"

I also tried my best to dissuade my brother, "Alan, you should spread your wings and fly high. Don't go down the wrong path for my sake! Keep studying! I'm already dead!"

Alan fell silent.

Mom kept hitting him in anger. Finally, she couldn't hold back anymore and cursed, "That troublemaker! He's nothing but a burden to us! He should just..."

"Mom!" My brother yelled sharply, "He'll hear you!"

"Let him hear me! It's been three years! We've gone all over the country with him, seeking famous doctors and trying every method possible. We don't owe him anything!"

Hearing Mom say that, I felt a swell of emotions.

Indeed, looking back at the last three years, my parents had sacrificed a lot for me.

Whenever an episode struck, my whole body would be in unbearable pain. Even swallowing was difficult. I often hugged the trash can, vomiting until my face was pale.

My parents would anxiously wait by my bed. They took me everywhere to seek medical treatment, get blood transfusions, and get various injections.

They tried almost every treatment method possible, but my condition still didn't improve.

Anyone in their shoes would find it hard to accept.

Whenever I had an attack, they would have to drop everything they were doing. After a while, no company would hire them anymore.

In those three years, their lives went from heaven to hell. If it were me, I would probably grow frustrated too.

I could understand them, so I didn't blame them.

A heavy silence fell in the house.

Just then, there was an urgent knocking at the door.

Mom opened it and found it was the downstairs neighbor.

"Mary, this is terrible! Jack killed himself jumping into the pond!"

Hearing this, Mom froze. "That's impossible! He's sleeping in his room!"

"Go and see for yourself. Someone saw Jack walking to the park this afternoon. And earlier, a person was fishing at the pond in the park and pulled out a corpse. It was your son, Jack!"

Mom immediately turned around and rushed into my room. After she pushed the door open, she saw no trace of me. She instantly broke down.

"Jack! Jack!"

The whole family rushed to the pond.

The area was already crowded with onlookers. Seeing my family, the crowd parted to make a path.

When Mom saw my wet corpse on the ground, she screamed and pounced on me.

"Jack!"