Mystery Woman (Jia)

JIA POV

The view out my window is nothing special. In fact, the only thing I can see is the side of another hospital. But I have been looking out my window a lot lately, because while it is boring at least it isn't the same white walls I have been staring at for what feels like an eternity.

I pull my blanket tighter around my frail shoulders. I can't seem to ever get warm now and I know it's because my time is coming soon. Each day I grow weaker, and angrier. My siblings and my mom have never come to say goodbye. Even after hearing the news that I only had six months left to live. Dad says they are grieving and upset, but I think he says that to make me feel better. I know they are just out there living their lives and pretending I don't exist. Maybe they are pretending I am off at college and not suffering here alone. But I am alone. I am alone and scared.

Another tear slips down my face, but I ignore it. The tears I cry every day don't bring me any relief. They don't make me feel less afraid or less lonely. They are a nuisance that my body produces.

I sigh and look away from the sad brick building. I can't distract myself any longer. I have counted every brick and picked out which ones I like the best a hundred times. It is time for me to lie down for a nap and close my eyes. I take a deep breath and prepare myself.

Going to sleep is terrifying. I never know if this will be my last time to close my eyes. I never know if this will be the last time I sit next to the window. Every day could be my last and even though my body is ready my mind is not.

As I sit up and put weight on the armrests of my chair a nurse knocks on my door. I immediately sit back and tell her to come in. At least I will have help getting back to bed now. But when the door opens, I don't see a nurse here to help me; I see a woman dressed in a pantsuit with a briefcase.

"Who are you," I question immediately sounding harsh and unwelcoming.

She smiles despite my rudeness and I feel like a jerk. My irritation with my family and my existence in general has erased all politeness from my vocabulary. Being crabby and short with everyone is all I seem to do nowadays.

"I am sorry to disturb you, Ms. Wang. My name is Samantha Little. I work with the United States government. I have been asked by my superior to visit you today in order to ask you a very important question. This question is personal, and you might not want to answer, but I must insist," she says quickly as she approaches my chair and I lean away from her.

Her fast approach and speedy speech have my brain whirling. Why would anyone who works for the government need to speak with me at all?

"Excuse me," I say after a long moment of silence.

"It is my job to ask you a life-changing question. I must insist that you answer honestly. I am unable to provide you with any other information at this time, but if your answer is correct I can then transport you to my superior who will explain completely," she says and my eyebrows scrunch.

She is being so cryptic and weird. Does she know who I am and where she is? Maybe she is mentally ill... but she knew my name.

"Ma'am, are you alright? I am a patient here," I ask and she smiles again.

"Yes. I am quite alright. Jia Wang, are you a virgin," she asks without batting an eyelash and I laugh.

I laugh like I haven't in over a year.

"What," I ask when I can breathe again and she repeats her question as if my response to it the first time was normal.

"Are you a virgin?"

"Yeah," I say while chuckling still and her face blossoms into complete excitement.

"Excellent. There is a helicopter waiting for us on the roof. I have provided your nurses with your discharge paperwork. I will be taking you to meet with my superior immediately. I left a wheelchair right outside your door. Let me go grab that for you and we will leave," she says and I grab her free hand before she can walk off.

"What," I ask with a "are you stupid" look on my face and she sets her briefcase down before covering my hand with hers.

"I can not disclose any information. I can only ask you that question... but, I will say... If you come with me right now there is a chance you could be cured. Before you say that it is impossible and shoot down this life-saving opportunity, come with me. Listen to my superior's proposition and decide for yourself," she says in a sincere tone that instantly has me believing her.

All I can do is nod.

This is what I have dreamed about every day since my diagnosis. I have dreamed that someone would come in and save me or that the doctors were wrong and my file was mixed up with someone else's. I can't turn her down. It doesn't matter if she is crazy or a complete hallucination that my mind has invented as it dies. I have to believe her. This is all I have left. She is my only hope.

She smiles and pats my hand before scurrying out the door to grab the wheelchair. When she returns we work wordlessly together to get my sickly body situated in the chair and disconnected from my drip pole. When I am situated she covers my lap with a blanket from my bed, and picks up her briefcase.

"Do you mind holding this while I push," she asks and I just shake my head before taking it from her.

I can't seem to wrap my head around what's happening. It is like I am in shock. Everything seems surreal. I feel like I am a star in an action film and she is some secret agent sent to save me from a terrible villain. 

"Is this really happening," I finally whisper as she pushes me down the quiet hallway.

  "It is. I promise you will not regret trusting me, Jia. Just sit back and relax. I will have you there soon," she replies with nothing but hope in her voice.