I Gave Up Treatment Not Them Chapter 04
When I came to sense again, I had already been taken to the hospital.
There was no one by my side.
I dragged my weak body out of bed, intending to leave the hospital.
But as I passed the adjacent ward, I saw Mom, Dad, Jacob, and Julian.
They were all crowded around Victoria, showering her with concern.
Victoria spoke with feigned thoughtfulness, “You’ve been looking after me this whole time and haven’t even checked on Sarah. I saw her coughing up blood earlier; surely it must be serious?”
“Don’t waste your worry on her. I’ve already had someone send her to the hospital. With doctors there, she’ll be fine. If she hadn’t discharged herself just to pressure you, you wouldn’t have been so terrified that you tried to take your own life. She brought this on herself.”
Dad dismissed the idea without a second thought, and Mom nodded along in agreement.
Jacob carefully examined the wound on her hand. “She’s always been obsessed with self-preservation, terrified she won’t be cured—she’ll be fine. You’re hurt so badly; why are you still worrying about her?”
Victoria leaned against Julian. When she noticed me, her eyes filled with undisguised malice.
Then, she spoke with fake sweetness, “You’re all so good to me. Before the surgery, could you grant me one wish? I want you all to come with me to see the ocean…”
I didn’t stay to hear the rest; I just turned and left.
That very night, Mom, Dad, and the others took Victoria abroad. Throughout their trip, I kept seeing Victoria’s updates on Instagram.
Mom and Dad ran freely with her along the beach; Julian took her surfing, the two of them embracing tightly before sharing a kiss.
I stared at the photo of their kiss, a sharp pain twisting in my chest.
Just as I was about to close the app, Jacob called me.
“Have you spent these past few days reflecting on yourself? Do you realize your mistake?”
Reflecting?
What did I do wrong?
I suddenly laughed, my voice dripping with irony. “Jacob, will you all only love me again once I’m dead?”
Jacob paused on the other end of the line. “What?”
Then came Mom and Dad’s impatient voices. “Just because we took Victoria on vacation, you’re threatening us with suicide? Then go ahead and die.”
My heart broke, and I finally gave up all hope.
After hanging up, I suddenly began to cough violently, the metallic taste of blood surging up my throat.
I rushed into the bathroom, vomiting blood violently.
Before my consciousness faded completely, I dialed the number for the funeral home.
***
Abroad.
Mom and Dad didn’t seem to take my words to heart.
After hanging up, the four of them continued to enjoy themselves with Victoria for several more days.
On the day they were preparing to return home, Dad’s phone suddenly rang.
He looked at the unknown number on the screen and put it on speaker.
“Is this the family of Sarah? She has passed away. Please come to the police station as soon as possible to process her death certificate.”