Chapter 1

Jessica woke up, blinking her eyes to adjust to the sudden light. The room's fluorescent glow felt harsh, causing her to squint as she gazed around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. She could feel pain all over her body, and the smell of antiseptic was heavy in the air. It dawned on her; she was in the hospital!

She attempted to move her right hand.

"Arggh," she screamed in pain; it was intense. Her mother, Rebecca, who had been with her for the past two days, jolted up from the chair she had been resting on after hearing her scream. She couldn't believe her eyes. Her daughter was finally awake after two days of unconsciousness.

With eyes filled with tears, she rushed to her bedside. "You are finally awake, my child! Thank goodness! Doctor! Doctor!" she shouted as she rushed out of the room in search of the doctor. Jessica stared at her mother's retreating figure blankly.

She gradually recalled all that had happened, tears flowed freely down the corner of her eyes onto the bedsheet.

She had been involved in a terrible accident on her way to her wedding ceremony. She was supposed to get married to the love of her life, Nicholas, on that day.

Rebecca returned with the doctor. "How are you feeling now, Miss Jessica?" he asked while checking her heartbeat with a stethoscope.

"I...I am lightheaded and weak, and I also feel pain all over my body, especially on my right hand."

The doctor sighed heavily. "The pain will be gone in a few days, but I am afraid I have bad news for you."

Her eyes lit up in shock as she gazed at the doctor. "Tell me, Doctor, what is the bad news?" She was desperate to hear it.

Her mother held onto her left hand, her demeanor showed she was already aware of the bad news the doctor wanted to deliver; she looked gloomy, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. At that moment, the seconds it took for the doctor to speak felt like a million years to Jessica.

"In the file I gave your mum to fill, she wrote that you are a surgeon," he looked at Rebecca and then at Jessica, "I'm afraid the damage done to your right hand is irreparable. You won't be able to perform surgery again."

Jessica was shocked. She stared at the doctor in disbelief. "No, Doctor, it can't be possible. This can't be happening... Being a medical doctor is my life; I am as good as dead without it. I…"

"Dr. Jessica, it is a miracle that you are alive, and for that, you should be grateful. The driver who was in the accident with you died on arrival at the hospital."

Jessica's heart tightened with pain. She wanted to lift her hand to clutch at it, but she couldn't.

She remembered the driver, how he had told her about his three beautiful daughters, a son, and a lovely wife. He had shared the story of their blissful 15-year marriage and the upcoming graduation ceremony of his daughter. He was still very young; why did he have to die? "Why is life so cruel?" Jessica thought.

She looked at her mother, who was visibly shaken, with tears streaming down her eyes. Rebecca shook her head. "I am just happy that you are alive, Jessica. You are everything I have got right now."

Indeed, she was everything her mother had. She had lost her father at the tender age of seven due to poor medical treatment of his brain injury. Her father's death had fueled her passion to become a medical doctor and save lives. Now she couldn't perform surgery anymore? Jessica looked up at the ceiling, her mind filled with a million thoughts.

She looked at her mother. "Where is Nicholas, Mum?"

Her mother's eyes were filled with anger as she stared at her. "That bastard that you almost got married to hasn't even come to check up on you! That wicked son of…"

"Oh, Nicholas? He already came," the doctor interjected. "He came here and asked to see me. He explained who he was and asked about the condition of his fiancée." The doctor looked at Jessica as if bracing himself before continuing. "I told him about your condition, and he rammed his fist into the wall and left in fury."

"Oh, he did come? But he didn't think it necessary to come to the ward and see his fiancée who was in an accident?" Rebecca snapped, becoming infuriated. The doctor excused himself and left the ward to attend to other patients.

Rebecca had never liked Nicholas; she had always told Jessica how he wasn't a good fit for her. But Jessica had been insistent about continuing her relationship with him due to her love for him.

"Calm down, Mum. He must have his reasons," Jessica defended Nicholas. "I can only imagine the pain it would have caused him if he saw me in this terrible state. He must have left without coming here to avoid breaking down." She sighed.

"I can't believe you are still making excuses for that man, Jessica! When will you learn? He doesn't love you as he claims to! Buying you expensive gifts is not love. Wake up, my child!" Rebecca was already getting so tensed up.

"Enough, Mother! He loves me. None of what you are saying is true. Call his number for me. I need to speak with him. I need him to know that I am awake. Watch and see how he would come running to see me."

"Please, Mother, call my fiancé," Jessica pleaded, her voice faint. Her words pierced through her mother's heart. She picked up Jessica's phone and dialed Nicholas' number.

After the third ring, Nicholas answered the call. "Hello," his deep voice came through the phone.

"Nicholas, it's me, Jessica. I am awake," her voice held so much enthusiasm as she spoke. She was finally happy to hear from the love of her life, the man she had devoted her love life and time to for the past three years. She waited to hear him speak, but he remained silent. He was probably still stunned, trying to take in the great news, Jessica thought, as a weak smile crossed her lips.

"When will you come and see me? I have missed you," she sighed, "I am in so much pain, Nicholas. I…"

"Look, Jessica, I came to the hospital and heard everything from the doctor. It actually helped me make up my mind," he paused for a moment before continuing, "I was thinking of waiting until you are back from the hospital to tell you this, but I think it is best I tell you now. We are done."

"Nicholas, I don't understand a word you are saying. What do you mean by—"

"What I mean is that I cannot marry you anymore. I am sorry I have to break it to you this way, but that's just how it is. I have fallen out of love with you!" His voice was so cold it sent chills down Jessica's spine. He heaved a sigh of relief as if a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders with the revelation he just made.

"You are breaking up with me over the phone? We have been together for three years, we almost got married two days ago, and you want to break up with me?" She asked, her heart tightening with immense pain.

"It is for the best, Jessica. Forget about me!"

"Nicholas, we can work this out. I know we can. This is not you talking. I can't live without you." She sobbed, her voice quavering.

"Goodbye, Jessica." Nicholas ended the call.

"Wait, Nicholas! Nicholas!" He was already long gone. Jessica stared at the ceiling in disbelief as fresh, hot tears trickled down the corner of her eyes.

"This can't be happening!" She tilted her head toward her mother. "Mum, please call him again. Please," she begged.

Her phone rang at that moment, interrupting them. Hope stirred up inside her; it must be Nicholas, he must be calling back to tell her it was all a joke. Jessica looked at the screen and saw that it wasn't Nicholas. She let out a sigh of despair. It was a call from the hospital where she worked.

 They were probably calling to ask how she was doing; she thought. They must have heard the news of what happened from her cousin, Sonia, who also worked at the same hospital. She wanted to get updated on her condition; Jessica was their best surgeon, after all.

 She didn't want to pick up the call at that moment because she hadn't yet recovered from the shock of the conversation she just had with Nicholas. But the phone kept ringing persistently; she knew it had to be urgent. She looked at her mother wearily and nodded. Rebecca picked up the call.

"Hello, Dr. Jessica. One of your patients died after suffering from some serious complications following a surgery you performed. Your medical license has been revoked. Please come here as soon as you can to complete the paperwork. Also, your insurance doesn't cover this; you need to personally compensate the family of the patient." Jessica was petrified as the news flooded over her; she felt as if she had fallen into a bottomless pit.

First, she lost her ability to perform surgery; then her fiancé broke up with her. Now her medical license was being revoked for a complication that could happen to any surgeon, no matter how careful they were.

"Dr. Jessica, are you there?" the voice said. Jessica could hear it faintly. She was slowly drifting away. It was best this way. She was no good alive. Her life wasn't worth much anymore. It was best to die and leave this cruel world, she thought as she shut her eyes.

The ECG monitor connected to her heart flatlined. Her mother panicked.

"No, no, Jessica!" she screamed as she shook her daughter's body, wailing with a loud voice. Jessica lay lifeless without moving.