Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
“There is something. Do you know who saved you?”
Yelena shook her head with a look of confusion. “I asked Hank earlier, but he told me the person wanted to do a good deed while remaining anonymous. He said they didn’t want anyone to know about this, and he had given them a lot of money. He also said that I shouldn’t worry about it.”
Elspeth’s thoughts of telling her of Max’s death were immediately locked within the confines of her mind and tossed away.
“What’s the matter? Do you know them?”
Elspeth shook her head as she answered, “I don’t. I just wanted to know if you knew.”
There should be a reason behind Hank’s decision to keep this a secret from Yelena.
Since that was the case, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Elspeth to get involved in this for the time being. Instead, she thought it would be better to tell Yelena about it when the time was right.
“Really, this really is such a happy coincidence. I just got diagnosed with leukemia but received a bone marrow donation within a few days! So, this just means that I’m fated to live well.”
Elspeth squeezed out a stiff smile. “Yes, as they say, as long as you survive a disaster, future blessings await you soon enough.”
“Why are you acting so strange? Actually, you and Hank are acting so weird today. You guys aren’t hiding any secrets from me, are you? It really does seem like you have something to say, but you just don’t want to tell me.”
Yelena sensed that something was off. How could she not? Still, she didn’t want to press if it was something personal. Besides, these two wouldn’t say it even if she made a fuss about it.
“No, you’re just overthinking. You need to rest, and an overactive imagination would get in the way of your road to full recovery. So, focus on resting well.” Elspeth stood up. “I’m going to the washroom, and I’ll be back soon. Call for the nurse if you need anything.”
Yelena nodded obediently.
After Elspeth left, Yelena lay bored on the hospital bed alone. She stared at the ceiling, dazed.
Just then, a doctor came in to make some rounds and saw Yelena awake. He had a smile on his face as he asked, “Miss Sullivan, how are you feeling?”
Yelena knew that this was her primary doctor, so she smiled sweetly. “Thank you, doctor. I feel a lot better now. I hope to be discharged from the hospital soon.”
The doctor nodded and asked a few more routine questions. Then, just as he was about to turn and leave, she called out to him, “Wait for a second, doctor. I have a question.”
The doctor turned back to her with a puzzled tilt of his head. “What is it?”
“Do you know who donated their bone marrow to me?” Yelena blinked and looked at the doctor with a pitiful expression, making it highly difficult for anyone to reject her request.
Naturally, the doctor couldn’t resist her puppy eyes and answered truthfully, “It was a young man called Winthrop. I think it was… Max Winthrop.”
Yelena froze as her facial expression stiffened at the reveal. She suddenly recalled when they were together and had done a bone marrow test before. They never expected that the two of them would be a match.
At the time, she told Max that if one of them had a terminal illness one day, they would give the other their bone marrow.
It was just that she didn’t expect her words to come true. She actually got leukemia.
What was even more ridiculous was that the person who donated bone marrow to her was Max.
“Then, which ward is he in now?”
People who donated bone marrow would be weak for quite a while and would definitely have to remain in observation at the hospital.
That meant that Max should be in the same hospital as her.
“Ah, this… That young man… He passed away.”
He died?! Yelena immediately jerked up from bed. The sudden movement made her really dizzy. So, she held her head briefly before asking weakly, “Are you sure? He passed away?”
She couldn’t explain the feeling in her heart, but it ached and went numb for a second.
The pain lasted for a few minutes, with no relief in sight.
When the news of Max’s death set in, an overwhelming sadness came over her.
Eventually, wave after wave of grief crashed against her aching heart.
“Yes, that young man was really quite young. He was already on the verge of death after the operation because of an accident during a car race. But, before he died, he wanted to donate his bone marrow to you. It was a saddening sight to see.”
The doctor sighed and shook his head. Then, as he got ready to leave, Yelena yanked out the IV needle in her hand.
The doctor hurried over when he saw her putting on her shoes. “Miss Sullivan, what are you doing?!”
“Doctor, please let me see him, please!”
The doctor shook his head. “Miss Sullivan, you’ve slept more than ten hours. It’s already too late. His body was taken away by his brother to be cremated.”
Cremated… She couldn’t even see Max for the last time.
Yelena slumped back down against the bed as her eyes stared blankly at the wall.
Max had left. He was gone from this world.
How was that possible? How could the bright, cheerful boy disappear?
“I don’t believe it. You’re lying to me.”
Yelena shook her head and was about to run out and find him, but her body was too weak, and she fell to the ground after two steps.
“Miss Sullivan, you really shouldn’t get agitated, especially with your poor health. I understand you are distraught about his passing, but please remember that no one can resurrect the dead. Plus, you just woke up, and your physical condition isn’t the best. So, if you get depressed, it will only hinder your recovery.”
Unfortunately, the doctor’s words didn’t sway her as she took a deep breath and said, “I don’t care if my body can recover. I just want to see him.”
“My condolences, Miss Sullivan. I know he may be very important to you, but since he donated his bone marrow… Well, he definitely wanted you to live well, right?”
His words made Yelena freeze mid-action.
He was right. Since Max donated his bone marrow to her, he would be upset if he knew that she was sabotaging her recovery.
When she arrived on that train of thought, she slowly curled into herself on the ground as she covered her face. Finally, she couldn’t restrain her grief any longer and immediately burst into tears.
When Elspeth came back out, she saw Yelena crouching on the ground. Panicked, she asked the doctor, “What happened to her?”
“I told her who the donor was, and then this happened.” The doctor sighed. Guiltily, he said, “I didn’t know he was important to her.”
Elspeth didn’t lecture the doctor. It wasn’t his fault that Yelena was depressed. “I’ll take over, doctor. You may leave now.”
The doctor nodded and left the ladies alone. Elspeth crouched as well, and she wrapped her arm around Yelena’s shoulder. “Yelena,” she whispered.
Yelena said nothing. Her head remained buried in her chest, her shoulders trembling.
“I know it’s hard to accept the truth.”
Yelena still said nothing, but Elspeth could hear her sobbing.
“It’s sad. His death is. Sorrowful. And it’s not just affecting you and me. Callum, Hank… Everyone’s affected.” Elspeth pulled Yelena into her embrace and patted the back of her hand. “But we can’t bring back the dead. Accidents happen. Nobody could have seen that coming. We need to embrace that fact. At least… At least his memories will live on in us.”
Yelena raised her head. Her eyes were as puffy as peaches. “I just can’t believe he’s gone. And he gave me a part of himself before he left us forever. I… I can’t live with that.” They were no longer a couple, but still, the memories of their past remained. Max had always been a kind lad, yet that same young man left her forever-all while she was unconscious. She didn’t even get the chance to see him one last time.
“I know he cared about you. That’s why he was worried. That’s why he gave you his marrow. And there’s a reason for that. He wanted you to live. To be free of pain. He had high hopes for you, and you’re wasting them by crying meaninglessly. You’re ruining yourself. Is that how you wanna repay him? This will only disappoint him.”
Yelena froze. Yes, right. What am I even doing? This is stupid. She stood up and wiped her tears away. “Thank you, Elsie. Hook me up to the IV infusion, please.” She pulled the needle out in a hurry just now, so she couldn’t even stand after losing the infusion.
Elspeth nodded and helped her lie down. Then, she hooked Yelena up to the IV infusion, and then she pressed her hand against Yelena’s forehead. “No fever. Good. Remember to rest up and don’t do anything rash. Take care of yourself. That’s what Max would have wanted.”
Yelena nodded. Her tears had run dry, and all she could do was shiver. “Elspeth,” Yelena croaked. “Why did his car crash all of a sudden?”
Elspeth froze. If she told Yelena the truth, the guilt would wreck her, but if she didn’t…
“I see. You don’t have to tell me anymore.” Yelena stared down, conflicting emotions welling in her heart. “It was me, wasn’t it? He knew I got sick, and it affected him.”
Yelena was smart enough to figure things out on her own, but that only tormented her more. Max died because of me. I killed him. “He wouldn’t have died if I weren’t sick, right?”
