Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 10

"Mr. Wilford, your blood cancer was already at a mid-stage. The kidney surgery has accelerated its spread. We're looking at ten days, at best. You need to keep your spirits up and…"The rest of the doctor's words faded into silence.I forced myself out of bed, crossed to the window, and lit a cigarette. The long-forgotten sharp, acrid taste hit me, and my eyes watered before I could stop them.Ever since my rare blood type came to light, my girlfriend, Winona Elstein, had kept me away from cigarettes and alcohol. She feared I would fall ill, that there would be no compatible donor when I needed one, and that I would die and leave her to grow old alone. I had not minded the rules. I quit both without much resistance.Now, at the end of my life, none of that mattered.Through the curl of smoke, I thought back to the car accident. The blood cancer diagnosis had followed soon after, and I had not found the right moment to tell Winona. Then she walked in with Daniel Lowe's test results

I pulled my mouth into something that did not resemble a smile. "Doctor, my only request is that you write me a ten-day prescription for painkillers."I would not spend my last ten days in a hospital. Both of my parents had died in one, and I had never shaken the dread the place left behind.I had barely cleared the front entrance when Winona called."Why did you check yourself out?" she asked."I'm bored. I hate lying around," I replied.She started to argue. "That's not acceptable…"Then Daniel's voice cut in, close enough to her ear that he had to be standing beside her. "Winnie, this couple's ring is gorgeous…""Then we'll go all in!" she told him, before speaking to me again. "Jordan, you're an adult. Take care of yourself."She tossed out a few hollow words and hung up without waiting for a response.I remembered how it used to be, before Daniel. A work dinner had landed me in the hospital with a stomach bleed. When the doctors told her my blood type was rare and that I

I had told myself that I was past caring. Dying men didn't pick fights.But when I looked at the four broken pieces on the floor, something in me flared. I had given ground again and again, and each time he pushed harder.I crossed the room and punched him.He did not even try to move. He took the blow clean to the face and dropped straight to the floor.At the same moment, a sharp cry cut in from the kitchen. "Stop!"Winona burst through the doorway and kicked me aside. The pill bottle flew from my pocket and skidded across the floor.Her heel came down on the surgical wound at my side. I couldn't get up. The pain pinned me in place.The doctor had warned me that blood cancer patients didn't heal cleanly. The wound soaked through in seconds.She stood over me, looking down with open disgust. "Jordan. I actually thought you had changed. I see now you were just playing along. I asked you to sign those documents. If you have a problem with me, take it up with me. There was no rea

Winona stopped. Her expression darkened, and she snapped."What are you talking about? 65 ounces of blood, and he's dead? That's absurd. And that blood isn't even his."Colby trembled. "But Mr. Wilford has been through back-to-back surgeries. His body was already compromised. His veins collapsed at 27 ounces, and we kept drawing until 65…""Enough!" Winona cut him off, her voice rising. "Colby, the longer you talk, the more ridiculous you sound. You've worked for me for five years. Don't you dare take his side and lie to my face. And don't you dare curse him like that."She pushed the door open and found the blood draw room empty.That was when I came back. I opened my eyes and saw Winona walking toward me.I flinched on instinct, but her hand passed straight through my shoulder. She was staring at the bloody needle she had picked up from the floor.She said my name under her breath. "Jordan?"At that moment, I understood. I was floating, hovering somewhere above the floor."S

The antique specialist studied the photo in silence for a long moment, his expression carefully uneasy.Winona turned to Colby, her voice deliberately loud. "Tell Jordan that if he doesn't show up tonight, the bracelet goes unsold, and I won't give him a single cent to buy it back."…That evening, Winona arrived at the charity gala with Daniel at her side.Her gaze swept the room again and again, searching for a face that never appeared. Her expression remained flat, edged with displeasure.Someone in the crowd could not hold back. "Miss Elstein, I see you've brought Danny again tonight. Where's Jordan?"Winona kept her tone light. "He's unwell. Resting at the hospital."The guests exchanged glances, then rushed to praise her."Of course. We heard about the accident. You stayed by his side for two days straight. You love that man with everything you have. We're all so envious. When's the wedding? You have to let us celebrate with you."Something shifted in Winona's face, a sm