Chapter 141: Artificial
It had been over two weeks since that fight. Brad had lost weight taking care of Daniel, but he kept going. Hugh and Emma were getting older, so most of the chores fell on Brad.
But when he was with me, he'd still smile and stare at me.
He'd gently ask if I'd eaten well, why I looked tired, and then feed me the porridge Helen made.
He said, "Baby, I've been neglecting you. Once Daniel gets better, I'll make it up to you."
I just smiled and agreed.
His great performance earned him some praise, bringing him closer to being my real boyfriend.
One night at dinner, Helen mentioned she visited Daniel that afternoon. He wouldn't talk, just lay there quietly. No one knew what was wrong; he wouldn't eat or drink all day, and Emma was worried sick and losing weight.
I didn't say anything, but I had a bad feeling.
After dinner, Emma came to my house crying, grabbing my hand and begging me to see Daniel.
Brad followed, trying to stop her. He said this had nothing to do with me and they should just take Daniel to the hospital.
But Emma wouldn't listen, pulling me towards their house.
Helen, seeing Emma cry, asked what happened.
Turns out Daniel hadn't been eating much since he came back. In the past few days, he had wasted away, ignoring everyone, and was close to death.
In this day and age, it was hard to believe someone could be this close to dying without a serious illness.
Emma cried, "Jane, don't blame me for being selfish. Daniel always calls your name in his sleep. I just want you to see him and persuade him to eat. Please, Jane, help me."
Brad disagreed, "Mom, Daniel is an adult. He knows the consequences of not eating. It's his choice. Why should Jane persuade him? If he doesn't want to live, no one can make him."
Emma wouldn't listen, sitting on my couch, crying about her pain and fear, making Helen want to cry too.
Brad held my hand, firmly refusing Emma's request.
Helen, soft-hearted and unable to bear Emma's crying, asked me to go and try to persuade Daniel. Whether he listened or not was his business; we just had to try. "Brad, go with Jane."
I had no choice; I had to go.
Brad, looking unhappy but helpless, held my hand. It was about his younger brother, and there were some things he couldn't help. I understood him.
I hadn't been in Daniel's room for three or four years. Everything was the same, even the little ornaments on the windowsill. Four little tigers lay on the computer desk.
Daniel lay there, looking like a ghost. In just over a week, he had become skin and bones, his eye sockets sunken, his skin pale. If it weren't for the slight rise and fall of his chest, he'd look dead.
Seeing him like this shocked me.
He was out of it, with so many people in his room, yet no reaction.
A bowl of porridge sat untouched on the small cabinet by the bed.
I glanced at Brad, who led me to sit on the small stool by Daniel's bed.
I nudged Daniel's arm and said, "Daniel, wake up, it's time to eat."
No response.
"Daniel, it's Jane. Can you hear me? Get up and eat before it gets cold."
I called several times, but still nothing.
Emma, covering her mouth, leaned on Hugh and cried. Helen sighed deeply, and Brad's eyes turned red.
Just when everyone was about to give up hope, Daniel slowly opened his eyes!
"Honey, Daniel woke up," Hugh shouted, and everyone looked at Daniel.
Daniel blinked, struggling to move his eyes to look at everyone, finally resting his gaze on me. "Jane, is that you?" His voice was hoarse.
"Yes, it's me, I'm Jane."
"Jane, I'm a bit hungry. Can you feed me?"
In that moment, I understood. Daniel was conscious; he had heard us talking. He made himself lifeless just to get me to stay with him.
His goal was so clear that Brad's face immediately darkened, pulling me to leave.
Emma hugged me, crying, and put the bowl of porridge in my hand. "Jane, help me, just this once. You can't just watch Daniel starve to death. I'm begging you. Feeding him won't take much of your time."
"Mom, what are you doing? Just take Daniel to the hospital. An IV drip can keep him alive for a long time. Why do you have to trouble Jane?" Brad growled, holding my hand tightly.
"What do you know? He's your brother. Don't you feel sorry for him being this sick?"
Facing Emma's hysteria, even Brad was powerless.
I couldn't bear Emma's pleading eyes. I understood a mother's love for her son and didn't want to see Brad being blamed. So I reluctantly took the bowl of porridge, sat back on the small stool, and fed Daniel spoon by spoon.
Daniel, having not eaten for days, had difficulty swallowing, but he still managed, staring at my face the whole time, as if afraid I would suddenly disappear.
I had never been looked at like that by him, feeling uncomfortable, wanting to get away, but unable to ignore Emma's request. So I patiently ignored his gaze that annoyed me.
"Tasty, Jane," Daniel's eyes lit up.
"If it's tasty, have some more," Emma said, touching his forehead with loving sadness.
It took over twenty minutes for Daniel to finish the bowl of porridge, and Emma cried tears of joy several times.
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