Chapter 37

"Ugh...."

I was laying down in a white coloured bed. My head is aching like crazy as if my head is about to spilt into half. I notice that my clothes have changed into a blue striped pyjamas that always used by patient in hospitals.

"You are finally awaken."

Zachary was there next to me. He also changes his clothes into striped hospital pyjamas, if I may assume it was just like mine. He was sitting on his bed holding a book.

"Why are you here?" I asked in curiosity.

He just chuckle and his eyes seem very gentle as he look at the empty white coloured wall that cover this room.

"Well...I was just replacing her, my daughter Rue."

He turn and look at me.

"Do you want to hear a long story about her ? I hope by listening to her childhood background and her story, you could still be her best friend and hop you could take a good care of her."

Somehow his voice seems to become more sorrowful. It filled with regret, empathy and mostly I am sure that Zachary really care for her.

"Sure. Zachary could you tell me about her parents and how she ends up being your foster daughter?"

He take a deep breath. Then he told me everything. About how her mother died when she had an accident just because she wanted to buy her medicine for her fever.

He tell me that Rue also have a elder sister and her leg was paralyze. I didn't know that Rue have killed her own father when she was just 9 because she want to save him from being choke to death. I felt pity for her because she never have a peaceful childhood life.

"And she have signed a contract. One of the term is to be a volunteer for this experiment. At first I didn't care less if she die or alive. But slowly after this all years, I learn how to be a responsible father and she teach me a lot in life...."

I notice he keeps on looking his book.

"Zachary, may I ask what are you looking in your book that you hold?" I point at the book his hold to his heart dearly.

"Oh, these...."

He took out a picture of him and little Ruby. Ruby seems to be mad at him but in the picture Zachary pull her cheek gently to form a grumpy smile.

"This was the first picture we take together. I also have a picture of her sister. Here."

He show to me the picture where Ruby was cutting a cake and her sister sitting on the wheel chair with her legs cover with a light purple blanket. She seem to be happy as Zachary pets her head in the picture.

"It was Bella 12th birthday when this picture was taken. Both of them was like a blessing from heaven. I love them both from the very bottom of my heart."

Zachary smile as he recall all his beautiful memory that he spends with them.

"But what I don't understand was Xavier. He dosen't allow me to take them as my foster daughter. Xavier was afraid that I won't be able to focus in this genes evolution. So I have to agree to let Rue to be one of the 'lab rat' for these experiment."

Zachary close the book and look at me with a sad expression.

"And that's how I am here. I am replacing her for exchange of the agreement. So by the time now, she will be at the airport and fly to her sister that's now getting better after years of therapy. My only hope is to see her live in the life she always wanted...."

I hold his hand to comfort him.

"Maybe after this I might not able to take Rue and Bella in my arm and walk down the aisle to their future husband."

I was surprised to hear that.

"What do you mean by that?"

He just smile to me warmly.

"Don't you get it Fana? I am dying."