Chapter 3 - Preincarnation(Part 3)

"Is he here yet?" I inquired with an impatient frown, as I walked into the office of the charity group.

"Good morning to you too, kid."

"Come on, tell me, has the doctor arrived yet?" I repeated myself, feeling anxious and restless.

A couple of weeks have passed, and as of three days ago, I'd finally earned enough money to pay for my aunt's treatment. But on the same day, the doctor working for the charity had to leave the city for some emergency in another state.

I was given a medicine that'd further slow the spread of my aunt's disease, but it hasn't worked, and last night, she took a turn for the worse. She's running a high fever, even stepping out like this for a short while is making me feel uneasy, I don't want to leave her alone right now.

"We told you, kid, he'll be back tonight. We have your address, we'll be there as soon as he returns, okay? Be patient, it'll just be a few more hours and this'll be over."

Damn it, I can't wait a few hours, who knows what might happen by th-...!?

N-no, I...I need to calm down. There's no point fussing about something that's out of my control, losing my cool here won't accomplish anything.

"My aunt's condition got a lot worse all of a sudden, I don't know if she'll-...," I began.

"Here, take this medicine. It should at least buy your aunt some time. It's on the house, no need to pay. Well, not that you can pay with no money, so just take it."

Huh? That's strange, they've never even given me a discount before...but I'm not gonna question it right now. If it'll help my aunt, that's all that matters. I took the medicine from him and then rushed back home as fast as I could, feeling more and more worried as I began to overthink things.

I sprinted through the streets, my chest pounding and sweat pouring down my face and body as I ran back at top speed. I shot into the building as I reached the apartment and hurried up to our room, opening the door and bursting in.

"Sorry I was gone so long," I greeted her, as she glanced up from her mattress with a weak smile.

"Hey, kiddo, welcome back...," She replied, her voice hoarse and her skin pale, her eyes dim.

I felt my chest tighten, as I struggled to hold back my tears at the sight of her...her shoulders are lightly trembling, her breathing is heavy and ragged, and it looks like she can barely keep her eyes open.

"How are you feeling?" I asked her worriedly, as I kneeled down beside her and held her hand.

"I'm...I'm okay. I'm feeling a lot better now, just sleepy. I'm sure the medicine is working, I'll be as good as new after some sleep," She responded with an assured smile.

She's lying. Her fever has gone up, and she's sweating more profusely.

"Here, take this medicine, it should help," I replied, as I took out the medicine I'd been given and pouring it out into the cap.

"Thank you, dear, I'm sure it will," She nodded, as I helped her sit up and drink the medicine.

"Let me know if you want or need anything, okay?" I smiled at her.

"Sure, I'll do that," I responded, before adding after a brief pause, as an anguished, remorseful look appeared on her face, "I...I've wasted your youth, haven't I? You've been spending all these years focused almost entirely on taking of me instead of living your life the way you want, I'm...I'm so sorry, I-..."

"Please, don't say things like that...you raised me when you had just lost everything, so this is the least I can do. I haven't even repaid a fraction of everything you've done for me. So don't ever say that you've wasted even a second of my life...I need you more than anything," I remarked, as I felt my eyes growing watery, a lump in my throat as my voice cracked.

"I really am incredibly blessed to have you...I love you, kiddo," She smiled, looking like she was barely conscious.

And after a couple of minutes, she dozed off, her eyelids fluttering shut. Must be the medicine working, hope her condition is better once she improves. This is so frustrating...is there really nothing more I can do but hope?

...

...

I sat up with a start as the bell rang, several hours later. I quickly got onto my feet, my knees wobbling as I'd been sitting this whole time. I rushed towards the door and opened it, a sense of hope welling up inside me as I saw the doctor and a couple of others standing outside.

"Please, come in! My aunt, she's...she's in a really bad way, please help her!" I cried in desperation.

"Oh, she's still alive, is she?" Inquired one of the men.

I felt a surge of anger at his tone, but bottled it in...I can't afford to say something that might make them decide against helping her.

"Don't worry, kid, I'll take care of it," Responded the doctor, as they all stepped inside.

He then walked over towards my aunt, kneeling down and examining her, taking out a stethoscope and pressing it against her chest.

"How is she?" I inquired with a sense of dread and hope.

"Give me some room, I need silence to properly assess her situation," He replied, as he continued listening to her heartbeat.

"O-okay," I nodded, stepping away and heading towards the window, opening it up to take a breath and calm myself down.

Hm? There's a large truck parked outside the building...I think I've seen it around the area a few times, why is it here? Maybe they brought it in case they need to take her to a hospital for proper treatment?

I hope it won't have to come to that, and that they'll be able to cure her right here and now. Please...please, let this work-...

"Sorry, kid, I did everything I could...but we got here too late. She's already dead."

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