When There Is Nothing Left But Love

She drilled her gaze through me. “Are you showing concern for me now?”

“Not really. Who are you to me? I’m just reminding you of the possibility of things getting worse if you carry on with this,” I turned aside and replied.

She sat on her small bed and a pathetic smile played on her lips. “Isn’t life just ironic? You, of all people, are the one who came to my help when I’m in the deepest pit.”

I did not know what to say, so I kept quiet.

Kristina looked at the name card in her hand and said mockingly, “It’s not like I’ve never thought about going back. I don’t want to go back to J City like this. I told myself when I left that I’d only go back when I’m happy and accomplished. But what am I now? I’ve lost everything. How can I go back like this? I’d rather just die here.”

A pang of sadness ate away at me as she spoke. “Why are you so hard on yourself? There are so many options available, why do you have to choose the hardest one? Don’t you know your family is still waiting for you?”

“No one is waiting for me. I’m the only person who’s waiting for myself,” she said with her head low as tears rolled down her eyes. “My parents were gone when I was two, and my uncle sent me to the orphanage for ten years before he took me back again. He did that because his wife couldn’t bear a child herself. But they had a boy after that, and I became a burden to the family. Come to think of it, life is really a joke. I thought I could have a perfect family if I found someone I could spend forever with. I thought I could give my children the best if I could just find that right person, but I went a long way and ended up being all alone.”

I did not know how to comfort her. Looking at her crying her heart out, I could only pass her a tissue and listen to her. “Everyone has their own hopes and dreams.”

“I guess this is just my life. I should accept it,” she said derisively, pressing her hand against her chest.

matter?” I asked, looking at her

painkillers in the drawer,” she said,

the drawer open and started looking for painkillers among the many medications she had. I passed it to her and

taking

looked around the cramped room and then at her. “Have you been staying here all this while?” I

when it came to their women, they were never stingy. Take

she would spiral down to this state if she spent her money

else because I needed money. It’s cheaper to rent a small room here since it’s further

much chemotherapy would cost. Given the high cost, she must have

Kristina nor I slept that night. Camelia was the only one who slept through the night. When morning came, Kristina could not take it anymore

left my bank card in her room and left with Camelia to

the morning? What were

know where else to bring you, so I

about the bank card then? Is that for the night’s stay?”

I nodded.

probe any further, I beat