Jessica was leaning on the door with her whole body, her breathing ragged and heavy. And then she hurried inside. Her shirt was drenched in her sweat, and her skin was covered in grime. Her hands and feet were covered in cuts.Her eyes were tearful as she raised the crumpled diagnosis. I was pale as a ghost, and she saw that. Hoarsely, she asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"She was crying. This was when I was supposed to feel vindicated and glad. I did not. I just felt empty.A smile curled my lips, and I said nothing. Nothing mattered at this point.The tears would not stop coming for Jessica. She was trying to hold them in, yet she bawled her heart out. "I'll get the best doctors money can buy. I'll tap into every single connection. I will get you that heart."Her eyes were bloodshot. I wanted to say so much to her. Instead, I replied, "Of course."Jessica got me discharged and took me back to my old place, but she did not leave. Instead, she took great care of me. As I watched h
The base of the mountains were dotted with black and white. People. From where I stood, the mountains were enormous, and the people were little more than specks.…The rumors about me should've died down, but a simple sharing of someone's daily life dragged me back into the spotlight.The salesperson who recommended good grave spots to me was sharing his job's moments.'A tall, handsome guy came to me, saying he wanted to get a grave. Good view, good lighting, he told me. First time I'd heard of that, so I asked him if he was buying the spot for his parents or something. He said no. Told me he was getting it for himself. Man, that was… something.'He paired the caption with a photo of my profile. Not too clear, but it was enough to figure out I was the guy.That went viral. The Internet called me a heartless gold-digger who abandoned Jessica. Now, they found out I had a big secret of my own.Some guys tried looking into my past and found out a lot of details. 'A lad came asking
"Do you really think Jessica loves you? She only gave you money out of pity. I need you to know your place. You're nothing but an ex-husband who abandoned her. Everything she has now, I helped her build. I'm the one she loves."He was looking at me like I was beneath him. The guy did not even hide the fact that he was gloating.A stab of pain pierced my chest. A moment of silence later, I met his eyes. "At least I saved her life."That made his expression change. He looked like I'd cracked the biggest joke around. And the man broke into laughter. It took a very long time before he calmed down."Then, tell her. Let's see if she believes you, the heartless ex, or me, the one who went through life's ups and downs. You make me laugh."And he left in a dramatic gesture. I kept quiet. Of course. To the world, I was nothing but a heartless man who abandoned Jessica.…When I got back home, I found out all the discussion and abuse online had been eradicated. I went through my phone only
Christian's yells rang around my ears.…I woke up only to find myself in a hospital. The white of the world around me nearly blinded my eyes. Christian was staying by my bed. As I woke up, my worried friend asked, "How are you feeling? Anywhere unwell?"I opened my mouth. My throat was drier than a desert.A while later, the doctor came to check on me. The checkup left him looking solemn. He said, "Your body's incompatible with the artificial heart anymore, Mr. Shawlesque. If you cannot find a match in three months, your life will be in danger."I said nothing. Christian teared up. Three months? It was nearly impossible to find a match in that short a time.In other words, my days were numbered. Ninety days. Perhaps that was why God reunited me with Jessica. He saw my end. Though in the face of death, I remained calm. Then, I smiled at Christian. "Stop crying. I still have three months, not three days."I'd rather not spend my final months in a hospital, so I told him to get
An invisible bolt of lightning slammed into Jessica's head, and it paralyzed her. The mockery and cold fury on her face melted away, replaced by shock and horror.Her eyes were wide as saucers, and they set themselves on me, the one lying on a pool of red. Her lips trembled. She wanted to say something, but her strength was all drained out of her body. Not a word came out of her lips.Eventually, she said, "You'd make up a whole story just for money, huh, Jonathan?"Though I was trembling and wobbling, I managed to stand up. She was sneering at me. Of course. I was the one who left her for the purported reason of money when she was in the worst phase of her life.Now that she was rich and successful, a lying man like me would stoop to any level just to get back in her life.I met her gaze of ice-cold disgust. Though I had no heart, my chest still felt pain."You made up a whole story just to lie to me, Jonathan."I slowly tore myself away from my friend's help, though my body wa
Christopher pretended he only recognized me then, and he pulled me up in a hurry. "John? What are you doing here? You're Jessica's ex-husband! You can't be a waiter!"A pregnant pause joined the hall. Not a single sound was heard. Everyone turned their eyes to me, and then ridicule began."Heard Ms. Goldenfold's ex-husband left her when she needed him most. And he did it for money.""Well, guess God is punishing him now.""He left Ms. Goldenfold, and now he's a waiter. He deserves it."Someone splashed red wine on me, and then the flood began. The glasses smashed against my skin and shattered into pieces. Alcohol and blood merged and covered the ground in a crimson deluge.These people were sycophants, and they were all trying to butter up Jessica. Blood trickled down my forehead, but I felt no pain. All I offered was silence.Jessica looked at me coldly. "Why aren't you saying anything? Talking to you is a paid service now?" She sneered. The derision continued."You're waiting