Chapter 6
Henry stood there in shock.
So… Rosie was never seriously ill?
Henry wanted to ask more, but Rosie’s current doctor rushed over.
“It’s a misunderstanding! Dr. Liao was Rosie’s former doctor, he doesn’t know her current condition.”
With that, the current doctor quickly led the other man away.
Henry wasn’t stupid. He instantly understood everything!
Henry stormed back to Rosie’s room, face dark with anger.
“Henry, you’re back!” Rosie tried to cozy up to him.
But the next second, Henry yanked open her hospital gown.
Her belly was smooth and unmarked, without even a scar!
So they had all been deceived!
Henry’s eyes blazed red with fury. He grabbed Rosie by the throat.
<
11:23 AM
If Rosie hadn’t claimed to be gravely ill, they would never have taken Zoe’s organs.
Rosie had exploited their concern to nearly kill Zoe!
All this time, Rosie had used the excuse of modesty to chase them out during dressing changes.
That’s why they never discovered the truth.
Exposed, Rosie’s face drained of color.
“Henry, let me explain.”
The hand on her throat tightened. Just as Rosie was about to suffocate, Henry released her.
Rosie gasped for air. There was no point in pretending anymore.
“Fine, I set this all up!”
“I wanted Zoe to suffer! You three were my childhood friends. She just took care of you for a few years – why do you all love her so much?!”
“Henry, love me again. Zoe was 17 when she found you guys. Who knows where she got the money to raise you? She was probably already impure.”
Henry’s expression was murderous.
He thought of how they had taken Zoe’s organs based on a lie.
He remembered how hard Zoe had worked to support them as teenagers.
“Don’t look at me like that. If you want to blame someone, blame Zoe for being so pathetic!”
“Oh right, I heard yesterday that she doesn’t have long to live. Good riddance!”
Henry snapped. He grabbed a fruit knife and stabbed Rosie repeatedly.
Rosie screamed in terror, but Henry covered her mouth.
He stabbed her over and over until she stopped breathing.
I knew none of this.
During this time, Quinn took me to many places.
We saw snow and the ocean together.
We had planned to go hiking too, but my body couldn’t handle it anymore.
We laughed together during the day. But late at night, Quinn would watch me with red–rimmed eyes.
I knew what she was grieving. Because I was dying.
“Zoe, tell me honestly. If you could go back in time, would you still take them in?” Quinn asked.
We were sitting on a mountaintop watching the stars. Fireflies glowed all around us.
I held out my hand. The little creatures landed on it, blinking like the stars above.
“I would.”
“I owed them that much.”
I spoke softly, lifting my hand. The fireflies flew away.
ID
ON
11:23 AM
<
Quinn knew the whole truth now. She was silent for a moment, eyes red.
Finally she sighed and tapped my forehead.
“You’re too kind–hearted.”
A few days later, my condition worsened rapidly. We put our travel plans on hold.
Quinn and I went straight to our final destination – a small, unnamed southern town.
Here, life moved slowly. Time seemed to stretch endlessly.
My days consisted of bantering with Quinn and letting my mind wander.
Until an unexpected visitor arrived in our little town.
Lucas.
Somehow he had found out where I was living and come straight here.
