Chapter 30: The Countdown of Life

"I'm not a kid anymore!"
Eric puffed up and argued with me, and his pale little face finally possessed the redness that a normal person should have.
"Eric is not a child anymore, so he should think about his sister's thoughts when he speaks, right?"
William stroked the curly blonde hair on top of Eric's head and said tenderly to Eric.
"Selena I'm sorry, I shouldn't comment on your feelings, I just want you to be able to find a boyfriend who can make you happy and can take care of you."
I have to say that William is really good at teaching children, just two words, let Eric become so obedient.
"It's okay, I can take care of myself alone, and don't I have Eric to take care of me?"
I reached out and hugged Eric into my arms, the tears I was holding back just now eventually dripped down, and I quickly wiped the tears off my eyes while Eric wasn't looking.
"Sister, I will grow up healthy and become a man that you can rely on!"
Eric said as he got out of my arms and looked at me very seriously with big eyes.
This child is too understanding, not at all like a child of only 10 years old, he knows he is sick and never makes any excessive demands, he has always learned to take care of himself and not let me worry.
"Okay, I'll wait for Eric to grow up and for you to take care of me later."
I looked at him with a smile and couldn't resist rubbing his already messy slightly curly blonde hair again.
"Eric take a break, my sister and I have some things to talk about."
William said to Eric, his look as gentle as ever.
I felt weak throughout after hearing this, and my gut told me that what William brought me must not be good news.
Obviously, Eric also felt it, and he looked at me with somewhat darker eyes; he must have sensed that his condition was beginning to deteriorate as well.
But Eric would never show any pain in front of me, nor would he mention the matter of his own condition, he was afraid that I would worry.
Every time I think of Eric going through all this painful treatment, I have to blame God for putting a child through so much.
I walked into William's office, and William closed the door very carefully.
He sat in his office chair, his thin lips pursed into a tight line, his two hands constantly crossed, and hesitated for a long time before speaking, "I think you need to prepare your heart first."
I was frightened by William's serious expression, and the tears that had just dried up began to flood again.
I looked at William with great unease, and the tears on my face could not be wiped away. The oppressive atmosphere in this office made it impossible for me to breathe, and I was about to die of suffocation because of this painful atmosphere.
I opened my mouth, but could not make a sound.
"Eric's body organs have begun to fail, leaving us with little time."
William's tone was very heavy, and I was very clear about what William really meant by this statement.
The countdown to Eric's life had begun, and there was nothing I could do about it.
I felt like it took almost all of my strength to get myself back to having the ability to speak.
"William I still have $100,000 here, see how much you need to pay for the surgery, I can get it all together."
I carefully pulled out the check that Damon had given me from my bag and handed it to William with both hands.
William's gray pupils were filled with doubt, he didn't understand how I managed to come up with so much money in just a few days, but he respected everyone's privacy and didn't ask too much about where the money came from.
"Keep this check for now, Eric currently has enough money pre-saved for medical expenses to cover the recent medical expenses, until it is determined if the surgery is to be confirmed."
William handed me the check again, only his expression wasn't eased by the fact that I had gotten enough money together.
"Right now we don't have any bone marrow that can be replaced for him, and that's what's most urgent."
I understood what William meant by this statement, even if I had gotten enough money together for the surgery, but without the right bone marrow, Eric would have no way to be saved just the same.
"Moreover, the operation is not able to be 100% successful, the success rate is only 50% at most, you need to be prepared for the worst."
What William said later, I did not hear, I do not even know how I walked out of the hospital.
The cold wind had already dried my tears, I just felt my heart was about to be torn apart, I could not understand Eric such a good and lovely child to suffer this kind of pain.
He was like an angel to me, always shining a happy light in my life, bringing more carefree joy.
I don't think I have ever resented my parents as much as I do today. If they hadn't abandoned Eric, if they hadn't hidden Eric's condition, if they could have opened up treatment for Eric earlier, all of this would not have come to this.
Eric could have received the most advanced treatment when his condition was first discovered.
I believe that with my father's ability, he could have helped Eric find the best doctors to treat him.
"Hey, I'm in a meeting."
A familiar voice came to my ears, Damon's voice.
I looked at the phone somewhat bewildered that I had called Damon at a time when my mind was very confused.
Hearing this voice, the tears that had just dried up flowed out again, and I opened my mouth still unable to make any sound.
"There's nothing going on, I'll hang up."
Damon's voice was very low, and at the same time full of indifference, and this morning, and last night, and before I had seen Damon all look different, like a complete stranger.
"I, now in a bad mood, want to ......"
I don't know where I got the strength to struggle to make a raspy voice that I could hardly believe was coming from me.
"I'm busy, if it's okay I'll hang up."
Damon didn't wait for my answer, but simply hung up the phone.
I clearly heard the charming female voice on the other side of the phone calling for Damon.
I covered my mouth and slowly squatted to the ground, I don't know how to describe the feeling I was in, the painful feeling.
Damon is a high superior, and I'm just a lowly stripper.
There was only a deal between Damon and I. Other than that, there was no relationship between us.
I should have realized this long ago, this predestined ending, now I am so sad and sad is just a self-torture.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Just as I was crouching sadly on the ground, immersed in my own world of pain, I was tapped on the shoulder.
"I remember you, you're Jenny's friend, right-!"
I looked up, my eyes already covered with tears, unable to see who the person standing in the sunlight was.