Stuck in you

Whatever it was the person on the line had said, it seemed to alarm Francis. He had make sure that he heard it correctly. "Can you repeat it again?"

Everyone glanced at one another. Francis had his back facing them, so they couldn't see his expression.

Finally, he spoke once again. "Which hospital? Okay... I'll be right there in a few minutes."

Hospital? Those in the meeting room wondered what could have happened.

Francis hung up the phone and turned around; he didn't look well. He silently closed his eyes, bowed his head and rubbed temples in frustration and anguish.

When he opened his eyes, they were bloodshot red. The others wondered what had transpired in the conversation and waited for him to speak.

But Francis staggered to the entrance of the conference room. He paused, remembering that there were other people in the room as well.

With caution, he stopped and turned around. "The meeting has been adjourned," he said in a hoarse voice.

They noticed his hesitation and secretly wondered what had caused his change in mood.

They got their answer a few days later, after finding out that his fiancee had committed suicide by jumping off a building.

Francis sped to the hospital. He arrived at the entrance, floating and pale-faced. The nurses mistook him for a patient who wanted to make an appointment for a doctor.

He began to pick up speed as he tried to search for what he was looking for. But like a headless chicken, Francis realized that he didn't even know where he was going, let alone which operating room his fiancee was in.

Standing in the corridor, he looked around blankly, as if he didn't even know where he was.

It was not until he encountered a nurse holding the medicine plate that he came back to his senses. He felt as if he wasn't himself at all.

He reached out and grabbed the nurse's arm. She shrieked in surprise, almost dropping the tray in her hand.

Francis held her up. He was panting and gulping for air like a dying fish on the bank of a river. "Miss, please help me. The one who just jumped off the building...which floor is she on?"

The nurse's frightened face contorted into a confused expression. She shook her head and said, "I'm so sorry, but I don't know. You can ask the receptionist."

Without waiting for another word, Francis ran towards the reception. Sweating, he anxiously asked, "Where is the female patient that arrived a few minutes ago? Which floor is she on? Please. I need to know."

The two receptionists looked at each other, not understanding who he was trying to look for. Out of courtesy, one of them carefully asked, "Which patient are you looking for?"

Francis replied with a pale face, "The one who jumped off a building."

expressions of the receptionists. Assuming that he was a family member,

is being operated there. It is on the first floor. Go straight and then turn right. You

towards the direction. From afar,

'Pity? For what? Wendy?

be pitiful? What

off the building?

must be out of her

jumped off the

the emergency department. He dryly asked,

is

a moment of silence, he

her hands and said, "Please have

didn't hear what

nurse felt sorry to see him out of his wits. When she saw the woman arrive at the hospital, she barely had a pulse. She was very

people at such a grave state, it was still different for their families to witness such situations. They were usually the ones who couldn't bear to see their loved ones like this. She helped Francis sit on the sofa and gave him a cup of water. "Drink it. Don't worry,"

accepted the water stiffly and whispered thanks. Instead of drinking, he asked blankly, "How was she when she

medics found her, bystanders had said that she jumped from a fifteen-story building. In

would be able to recover or not. And even if she could,

it easy. Sit down and wait for a while. You'll know the result

work after pacifying Francis. Left alone, he watched as the corridor bustled

in his ear that the operation had

heavy heart. A

was headed towards her direction. She stopped in surprise; she didn't expect him to come

was a ghost, Francis didn't notice her and didn't even see that the nurse

side and attempted to

is here..." The nurse tugged at his sleeve. Francis turned around and saw the doctor dressed in the light blue

His breath and heart rate quickened, and his pupils dilated. He walked towards her and asked in a trembling voice, "Doctor, where is she? How's she? Was it successful? Is she

recognize Rachel because of the mask on her face. She didn't want to tell him the truth, seeing that it might only hurt him. With a heavy sigh, she said, "You can

She didn't finish

half of her sentence, Francis understood what she meant to say. His face was as pale as

down from their place on the fifteenth floor. The rescue operation was unsuccessful. At twenty past ten this morning,

would end up like this. She had always spoken so softly and acted uneasy during her engagement day. Rather

her to tell her brother suddenly came

that all these signs had been pre-empted. Wendy had asked her for help, a very unnatural expression plastered on her face. Rachel groaned