The hospital doors slid open with a quiet hiss, and I stepped out into the night. The cold hit me harder this time, like the world was punishing me for hoping. I wrapped my arms around myself, but it didn't stop the shiver crawling through my spine.
The moon was still hanging above, the same as it was before—bright, round, and indifferent to the ache in my chest.
I started walking. I didn't know where I was going, not really. My legs just moved, needing something to do so I wouldn't fall apart right there on the concrete. Cars passed. Lights blinked. The city carried on, uncaring.
I reached into my bag with trembling hands and pulled out my phone.
There was only one person I could call.
Aunt Clara.
My mother's sister. The only relative we had left who hadn't vanished after the funeral. She didn't visit. She didn't call. But she answered when I reached out—sometimes. And right now, that was all I needed.
I found her name and tapped the screen.
The phone rang once. Twice. Then a click.
"Hello?" came her voice, distant and cold.
"Aunt Clara," I breathed out, trying not to sound as broken as I felt.
"Liana? It's late."
"I know. I'm sorry. I wouldn't call if it wasn't important."
There was a pause on the other end. Then a sigh. "What is it now?"
I clutched the phone tighter. My throat burned. "It's Ezra. He collapsed at school. They rushed him to Saint Elora's. The doctor said there's a tumor in his heart. He needs surgery—soon—or he won't make it."
Silence.
My heart pounded.
"I'm begging you," I whispered. "Please. They said it'll cost eight million. I don't have that kind of money. I'm trying, but I can't do it alone. Please, Aunt Clara. He's all I have left."
Another pause.
Then her voice returned—sharp and unforgiving. "Liana, you know I can't help with that. Times are hard for everyone. I've got my own family to look after. You think money just grows on trees?"
I blinked, stunned.
"But he's your nephew," I said, voice cracking. "He's fifteen. He's—he's dying."
"I'm sorry," she said, but she didn't sound sorry at all. "I truly am. But I can't help you, that money is huge. I won't put my family at risk over something I have no control over."
No control.
Like his life wasn't worth saving.
My hand tightened until the phone nearly slipped from my grip.
"Goodnight, Liana," she said quietly, and just like that—click.
She hung up.
I stared at the screen until it dimmed. Then I stood there on the sidewalk, under the weight of everything, unable to move.
I wanted to scream. To curse. To cry. But all I did was stand still, frozen in place while people passed by like I didn't even exist.
I should've known better than to expect help. People only cared when it was convenient. Ezra didn't matter to her. I didn't matter. Not to anyone.
That night, I realized something. Hope was a beautiful lie.
And maybe... maybe it was time to start looking elsewhere.
Even if it meant walking into the arms of the unknown.
--------
It was almost approaching dawn and I was yet to arrive home. Still wandering around the streets like a hopeless lady. Or perhaps I was indeed hopeless.
At the age of twenty, I had nothing. No relationship, no perfect job, no much friends, not even a future expectations. I was just there... Working harder than I should, and in the end... gaining nothing.
sigh.
Life is harsh. Treating me like it deems fit.
I was still wallowing in my pain when someone passed me by. The same smell — Peppermint mixed with strawberry flavor.
I turned around, I saw him. The same guy I saw under the full bright moon months ago. Someone I could never stop thinking about no matter how hard I try.
I have been wanting and hoping to see him ever since then but it seems as though he vanished completely, leaving no traces. I didn't see his face clearly but I remembered the scent of his body. Now, he was before me... I had to do something... to move or I will miss him again.
"He—"
Before I could call out to him, my phone rang. I glanced at it and the caller was the same number that called me from the hospital.
"Hello," I said, placing the phone on my ear.
"Your brother is dying, where are you?"
"What! I'll be right there, please save him. Don't let him die, please!" I yelled and abruptly ended the call.
I glanced at the spot the man stood but he had vanished again. I lost him again.
I would have love to search for him but my brother needed me. I turned and began to run back to the hospital. Fortunately, I was still within the surroundings so I hurried, running as my legs could carry me.
When I arrived at the hospital, I quickly rushed to the ward where my brother was kept but on getting there, he was no longer there. Thankfully, a nurse was there.
"Please Nurse, where is my brother? The patient who was here?" I asked her.
"He has been taken to the operation room," the nurse replied and I left and rushed over to the operation room. As soon as I got there, the doctor was coming out from there. "Doctor, my brother."
"He would have died but luckily, someone came and paid the bills. So we will begin the operation now, pray it becomes successful," the doctor replied.
"Someone paid the bills?" I asked him.
"Yes," the doctor replied. "Unfortunately, he didn't drop anything but I think he might still be within the hospital building since it hasn't been long he made the transaction. So I guess, you can find him..."
Before he finished speaking, I had already ran off... In search of the person. Who was he, how did he know, and why would he help someone he knows nothing about?
I went to the reception, he wasn't there then I made for the exit. As I stepped out of the door, I saw the silhouette of a person fading into the darkness.
"Please wait!" I yelled and ran after them. Whether it was a person, or a ghost, I didn't care. "Wait please!" I yelled, still running after them.
The person had no plans of stopping and I... I had no plan of returning empty-handed. I increased my pace and ran faster until finally, I grabbed his hand and pulled him.
"Excuse me," I mumbled, my heart pounding against my chest.
When the person turned around, I gasped in shock.