“Get lost. I don’t want to see you.”
In his weakened state, Steven still managed to cast cruel words toward me.
I was stunned momentarily as I thought he was the only one who would treat me fairly. Turns out, he was exactly the same as my other family members.
“Steven, I know you’re in a bad mood after your operation. But don’t worry. I’ll take good care of you.”
I responded to him with a faint smile as I tried to comfort myself that he only treated me like this because of his pain.
Even though we used to argue all the time, he was a patient right now, so I decided to look past his temper.
“I ask you to get lost! Didn’t you hear me? My legs almost got crippled because of you! What kind of sister are you? Useless wench!”
He stared at me, his eyes filled with resentment.
I froze on the spot, suddenly at a loss for words.
What else can I say at this point to lessen their resentment toward me? How did things end up like this?
“Steven, it’s not like what you think. If I had the money, there’s no way I wouldn’t have helped you. But I really didn’t have the money back then. My heart ached too, you know, seeing you hurt like this.”
Looking at his legs that were wrapped in a layer of thick plaster, tears started welling up in my eyes once again.
“Stop pretending. You never liked me. I guess you’re happy now to see me like this! It’ll be all your fault if I become a cripple!”
His face was pale and his voice was weak, but his words were chocked full of hostility, deeply wounding me.
Family should be united in times of trouble, but it seemed to me that my family had abandoned me thoroughly.
“Steven, you…”
“Leave now! I’ll give you three seconds!”
Right then, Steven pointed at the door rigidly.
“Steven, can you please just listen to me?”
“One… two… three! Mom, what’re you waiting for? Chase her out now!”
Seeing how I was reluctant to leave, Steven instructed my mother directly.
Needless to say, she was on his side. Without even an ounce of hesitation, she started pushing me toward the door.
“Mom… don’t. Please…”
I tried to break free from her grasp, but at the same time, I was worried about hurting her. In the end, I was pushed out of the ward.
“Leave now! None of us want to see you. I’ll just take it as I never had a daughter before!”
Upon saying that, she pushed me out forcefully and shut the door right in my face.
Losing my balance, I thought I would fall to the ground, but someone caught me from behind.
“I’m sorry…”
I pulled away from the stranger’s arms immediately as I apologized profusely. Wiping the tears off my face, I tried to make myself look less miserable.
“Miss, are you alright?”
A gentle male’s voice traveled into my ears, and it sounded somewhat comforting.
I lifted my head and saw a handsome face. Although he wasn’t as handsome as Michael, he did seem like a well-educated gentleman.
“I’m fine. Sorry for bumping into you.”
Trying to recollect myself, I looked into his gentle eyes and apologized once again.
“Don’t worry about it. It was an accident.” He flashed a casual smile.
“By the way. Did you just get pushed out from…”
He stopped in the middle of his sentence after probably realizing that it was rude to ask.
“It was nothing. Sorry again for bumping into you. I’ll take my leave, then.”
He did not seem to be a bad guy, but telling a stranger about my personal matter hardly seemed appropriate.
After I left, the man gazed at my retreating figure for quite a long while with a smile on his face.
Walking out of the hospital, I suddenly felt like an abandoned child. I felt like there was not a place in this world that I belonged. Although I could go to Natalie’s house, it was not my home after all.
My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an iron vice when I thought of how all my family members hated me.
In the end, I did not get to Natalie’s place. Instead, I headed for Birchwood. Right now, all I wanted was some quiet time alone, and I knew for a fact that Michael would not go to that place during the day.
If I went to Natalie’s place, I would only cause her to worry about my current condition. The last thing I wanted now was to become a burden to my friend.
After I arrived at Birchwood, I sat down on the balcony decadently, gazing at the scenery. My heart was filled with despair, but there was no one I could talk to alleviate my pain.
I had no idea how things became like this, and I was out of ways to make my family forgive me.
Without realizing it, I sat there for the whole afternoon. As the day began to darken, I felt reluctant to leave the seat. All I wanted was to sit there dazedly nary a thought going through my mind.
It was becoming dark in the room, but I had no intention to switch on the lights.
I did not know how much time had passed until I heard the door opening and footsteps approaching.
A few seconds later, someone switched on the lights in the house. The sudden brightness pierced through my eyes, and I responsively covered them with my hand.
Regaining my sight, I saw Michael staring at me in total befuddlement. “What are you doing in the balcony in complete darkness? You’re not thinking of suicide, are you?”
Michael put down his suitcase abruptly and walked toward me, his gaze filled with displeasure.
“Am I such a pathetic person in your eyes? I’m not the type that gives up easily, okay?”
I rose from the seat and stepped toward him. Why on earth would he think that I was thinking of suicide? What a joke. I still have great plans for my future. Why would I end my life?
Michael did not question me further. A moment later, He sat on the couch in the living room and pulled me toward him before making me sit on his lap.
He leaned close to my ears and asked gently, “Did you go to the hospital today?”
“Yes.”
I tried to answer calmly, but his question reminded me that my family chased me out and despair once again filled my heart.
