All Chapters of While My Mother Died: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

Six years ago, my mother was diagnosed with a rare condition. She had weeks at most.There was one doctor in the country who could treat it. Her name was Diana Crane.I called every contact I had just to get a meeting. The first sentence out of her mouth was,"I'll treat her, but I have one condition."I said the obvious thing. "Money is not a problem."My father had died when I was three. My mother had raised me alone. I was finally established in business when she got sick. For her, I would have spent every cent I had.Diana shook her head. "Not money. I need a husband."I clenched my teeth and agreed.For her to live, I would have done anything.It was not a bad trade on paper. Diana was three years older, a medical doctor, and attractive.At the start, we kept up appearances. I handled her family obligations. She treated my mother.Then I started to notice.The supplementary card on my account was being used for hundred-thousand-dollar spending sprees. Within six months,

Marco was at the door. He was on his way out.He had not left.I held my breath. I didn't speak.A voice came from inside the apartment behind him."Who's at the door? Hurry up and go buy condoms. I can't hold it anymore!"The room came into view.Four or five men I had never seen were sitting around on the couch. Diana was in the middle of them. One shoulder bare. Her clothes rising and falling in a way that shouldn't have been happening.Marco gave me a sideways look and grinned."Look who came back. The ATM."Diana said it wasn't exciting enough, so I brought a few friends over. You don't mind, do you?"Every nerve in me caught fire.The marital home was something we bought after the wedding. She said we needed a place in a good school district for the future. I had emptied my savings to get it.She was always busy, so I handled the renovation myself. Every piece of furniture, every appliance, I picked them all out.Even the couch those men were sitting on, I went to ov

The world stopped.Through the gap in the OR door, I saw my mother on the table–open, alone. The surgical team in their gowns–they were soaked through.A monitor was beeping rapidly."Where is Dr. Crane? Pressure is dropping! We need to close!""Get someone–anyone on rotation. Cover the closure!"The nurses ran past me. They knocked into me. I didn't move.Then…"I'm sorry. The patient is brain-dead. We could not bring her back."The relief surgeon stood in front of me, his head lowered.I came back into my body. I grabbed his collar."Where is Diana? She left in the middle of my mother's surgery to go to a birthday party?"He did not answer.A nurse showed me her phone–Diana's social media post. The background was my apartment. Marco, and four other men, were around her.I turned and ran out of the hospital.The image of my mother lying open on the table stayed in my mind.Why?Why had Diana done this?She had humiliated me–I endured it.She took my house–I endured t

I crossed the room slowly and picked it up.The hospital.Diana's face lit up. She thought she was being saved.She let her voice crack. "Pick it up. It's about your mother. They want me back."I let one corner of my mouth move. "All right."I tapped accept.The nurse's voice came through, urgent."Dr. Crane, I'm sorry. The patient–the patient is gone."Her husband is on his way home. Get out–"I cut the call before the nurse finished.I had not had my fun yet.Let her hear the news.The color drained from Diana's face. The fearless look she had before vanished in an instant."Dead? She… she is not."That's not possible. That's not possible."She muttered to herself.I lifted the phone and smashed it against the corner of the table.The other phones, set out together, went the same way."You hear that? Your protection just expired."I dragged Diana to the middle of the living room. I looked at the men in the corner."Come here."They shuffled over.I pointed at he