Chapter 2

Holly and I were in the same room, with only three meters separating our beds.

But the difference between us was worlds apart.

My husband Daniel, my mother, and even a few familiar nurses, all hovered around Holly as if she were the center of the universe.

"Holly, does it still hurt?" Daniel held her hand, his voice filled with tenderness.

"Daniel, I'm fine..." Holly's eyes were teary, but she forced a smile. "I just feel bad for Audrey, she must be in so much pain, right?"

"What pain could she be in?" My mother said without turning her head, as she spoon-fed Holly soup. "Audrey's always been healthy; losing a kidney is nothing. But you, you've always been weak since childhood. Now that you have a healthy kidney, you must take good care of yourself."

Holly saw that I was awake and suddenly burst into tears: "I'm sorry, it's all my fault... I shouldn't have accepted this kidney... but Daniel said if I didn't, he would never speak to me again..."

She struggled to get out of bed, pulling at her incision, and her face turned ghostly pale from the pain.

"Holly!" Daniel and my mother exclaimed in unison.

Daniel immediately pressed her back down. When he turned to look at me, his eyes were terrifyingly cold.

"Audrey, can you please stop making a scene?"

I turned my head away, not wanting to see any of them.

My mom brought over a plate of freshly baked cookies.

"Audrey, have some too. You used to love them when you were little."

I looked at the almonds on the cookies and suddenly burst out laughing.

I laughed until tears streamed down my face.

"Mom," I said softly, "I'm allergic to almonds. Have you forgotten?"

My mom's hand trembled slightly.

Daniel impatiently snatched the bowl. "If you're not going to eat it, then don't! Holly had good intentions, do you have to be so ungrateful?"

"Daniel," I looked up, at this man I had loved with all my heart for ten years. "If you love her so much, why don't you give her your own kidney?"

Slap—

A loud slap. I turned my head, a metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.

Daniel grabbed my hospital gown, dragged me off the bed, and pulled me towards the door of the ward.

"Go outside and clear your head!" He pulled open the ward door, and the cold wind rushed in.

"Daniel! Audrey just had surgery!" My mom finally cried out.

Daniel paused for a moment.

Holly's weak voice chimed in, perfectly timed: "Daniel... don't be like that to her... it's all my fault..."

Daniel's hand loosened. Then, he pushed me out the door.

Bang—

The door closed behind me.

I stood barefoot in the hallway, dressed in a thin hospital gown.

Outside the window at the end of the corridor, fireworks exploded one after another, illuminating the city's night sky.

New Year's Eve.

Families everywhere were gathered.

My husband was in the ward with another woman.

My mother was making cookies for that mistress.

And I, who had just had a healthy kidney removed and replaced with a failing one, was thrown into the hallway like a dog.