"Mother, mother... What happened to you? Why do you look this pale? When I left in the morning, you were a little bit better..." Yun Luo who had just gotten back to the Hospital from her working place paled seeing her mother's condition had deteriorated and she wasn't looking any better.
She was looking paler and some parts of her skin had turned purple compared to yesterday... What could have transpired while she was away working? Her back stiffened as her body trembled violently.
More machines were attached to her just as her chest rocked up and down.
With heavy steps, she rushed over to the hospital bed approaching her mother as she hastily held her cold left hand in her palm gently rubbing it and blowing the warm breath trying to warm them up.
"I'm fine my dear... Nothing to worry about... " Yun Ning felt heartache, not only did she know she wasn't getting any better but also dragging her daughter down with the huge medical bills she had to pay to sustain her medication.
They have been in the hospital for two years now without any change apart from the fact that her heart condition was no longer getting better but worse. This huge burden had dug deeper into Yun Luo's life.
This disease depleted her savings and made Yun Luo drop out of the University so that she could work pay for her medical bills and take care of her.
"Dear, I'm sorry... Have you gotten married? You told me that you have a boyfriend... I want to see him... I want him to promise me that he will treat you better... And take care of you " her low rough voice murmured as she tried to sit up but Yun Luo didn't let her and she nudged her back to the bed.
Yun Ning had tried convincing her to go home for several months but Yun Luo was so adamant in letting her be hospitalized and stay in the hospital no matter what.
"Mother, we will get through this... I promise... You will get better.. " her eyes watered but didn't have the guts to spill even a drop, she wouldn't break down in front of her mother. She was her strongest pillar and motivation to fight head-on.
She didn't know if she was comforting herself with those words or her mother, it's been so long, and couldn't count how many times she had made promises and spoken out those words, was the situation getting any better?
"Dear, you haven't answered me what I asked, didn't you say you have a boyfriend? I want to see him, all right? I want to meet him tomorrow if possible...." she warmly eyed her daughter who had thinned out and looked exhausted. From the dark circles around her eyes, you could tell how rough it had been for her.
No matter how positive she thought of life, she knew she couldn't have an eternity with her, she had a few days or a month at maximum.
She could feel her body waning away bit by bit and she had accepted that this could be her end soon, but she wanted to know the man and let him promise her that he would be good to her.
"Mother, you will be fine all right... You will be fine, I promise.." she held her hands and leaned on her chest listening to her heartbeat, it was still there and drumming heavily and she was assured her mother was doing just fine.
She must be worried for no reason...
"Dear.." Yun Ning pecked her forehead before feeling like her tummy was churning and she suddenly vomited blood it gushed out onto the floor as she turned her face to the left side but still some droplets stained the sheets.
"Mother, mother.." Yun Luo panicked as she pressed the emergency button bell while supporting her mother to sit up so that she wouldn't choke while vomiting.
Apart from having a heart problem, a year ago, one of her kidneys had stopped working and all she did was survive on the machines that assisted her with the dialysis, and partially her liver wasn't working too.
With all these medical conditions and trying to treat her with chemotherapy, not only had it taken a toll on them but it had gotten more expensive and the bills shot up after recurring from one session to another.
"You don't need to worry, I'm fine... Mommy is fine.. " she was holding on hoping to find a suitable man to accompany her daughter, but she was losing herself along the way, she couldn't keep her company for more years ahead and felt sad leaving her all alone and lonely.
The doctor and the nurses rushed in before they began tending to her while Yun Luo took a few steps back and stood aside gazing at her mother who was withering away at an alarming speed.