I was appalled to see Felix in this state.Only love could reduce someone to this worrying state, though I wonder who he loved.He was sound asleep. The crowd in his room failed to rouse him.A bowl of chicken soup lay dormant on the cabinet next to the headboard. Felix never even touched it. I glanced at Colin. He led me to the stool next to Felix's bed.I poked Felix's bare arm, which was resting on top of his blanket. "Felix, wake up. It's time to eat."There was no response."Felix, it's me, Luna. Can you hear me? Wake up now. Eat while the food is still warm."I called out several times, but there was no reaction.Melinda covered her mouth and sobbed on her husband's chest. Mom sighed deeply, and Colin's eyes turned glossy.Just when everyone thought all hope was lost, Felix's eyes fluttered open."Honey, Felix is awake!" exclaimed Austin. Everyone turned to look at Felix.He blinked his eyes and scanned the room with great difficulty. Then, his gaze fell on me. "Lulu
It took Felix more than 20 minutes to finish the bowl of chicken soup. During the feeding, Melinda cried several times out of joy.After the bowl became empty, I was relieved that the whole ordeal was over. I wanted to go home, but Felix called out my name. "Lulu, will you come back again tomorrow? I want to see you."His voice was meek and faint. A strong gust of wind could have overpowered it easily.It was a simple request, yet it filled me with disgust.I had already cut ties with him that day and told him my love for Colin. To my dismay, he still wanted me to stay in my life. It annoyed me, truth be told.Colin was mad. He hollered loudly, "Felix, you're testing my limit here!"Felix did not react or look at Colin. In fact, he looked at no one except for me.It made me think that he was living inside his shell, oblivious to his surroundings.The annoyance I felt earlier deepened.What was happening? Why was he bothering me after Lilac broke his heart? If what he said was
For the next four days, Felix did not bother me.On the morning of the fifth day, before dawn broke, I heard faint screams and crying noises. They were both near and far. I couldn't hear them clearly. I thought I was dreaming, so I pulled the blanket over my head to continue my sleep.Mom suddenly barged into my room and unburied me from the blanket. "Wake up, Lulu."Mom had always been elegant and composed. But her hair was now messy, and she wore a face of shock as if something tragic had just happened."What happened, Mom?" My heart was pounding."Felix, he… he might be gone. Melinda called an ambulance. Come with us. We'll see if we can help with anything."My mind went blank. My hands were already putting on clothes as I struggled to process the whole thing.I did not like Felix. In fact, oftentimes, I wanted to avoid him. But I couldn't believe that one day, he would take his own life.The ambulance rushed to the neighborhood. After administering emergency aid, the medics
Colin was silent when we made our way back to the ward. I was feeling anxious as well.I had heard about depression. It was a mental illness, triggered by a traumatizing event. In some serious cases, the patients might turn violent or take their own lives.When I was studying at university, the sister of one of my coursemates had postpartum depression and jumped off a building, leaving behind a one-month-old baby.If Felix took his life too, I…I was too afraid to imagine further."Calm down, Colin. Maybe the diagnosis is wrong. The doctor only suspects it, doesn't he? Perhaps Felix will return to normal tomorrow morning."Colin patted my head and pulled me into his embrace. He leaned in and whispered into my ear, "Yes… Thank you, Lulu."…The next afternoon, I came to the ward with the dinner Mom had prepared.The ward door was ajar. I heard movement from the bed. Felix was sitting against the pillow with a stoic face.Colin sat on a stool in front of him. They were having a
It was Colin. As soon as I answered the phone, I could hear his trembling voice."Lulu, Felix fell into the lake... He almost drowned. He's under rescue now, but his vital signs are weak..."Before I hung up the call, I heard loud knockings on my door. I could also hear Aunt Mel's cries through the door.Wasn't Felix so sick that he couldn't even walk? How did he get out? He learned to swim in the gym and even won swimming competitions in the district. How could he have almost drowned? Why was there a lake in the hospital?It had only been a night, so how did he become like this? How could this happen?My thoughts were so messy that I felt like I had a splitting headache.Felix remained unconscious for the next two days, relying on an IV drip to keep his vital signs stable.Colin and Dad visited the doctor several times to inquire about Felix's condition. The results were surprisingly consistent."The patient has no significant physical issues, but we suspect that he has a seri
My sensitive heart, the time we spent growing up together, my elders' tears and pleadings, Colin's sorrowful back—they controlled me like chains, with no way out.When I entered the ward on the fifth day, Aunt Mel hurried over to me with reddened eyes. She grabbed my hand and began crying."Lulu, please save Felix. I know he's done ridiculous things to you, but he still likes you. Can you forgive him? Please be with Felix. Only you can help him!"Everything I had feared was now coming true.However, I didn't want to. Why should I bear the consequences of Felix's own choices? Why should I live a life dominated by others?I had Colin. I only wanted to be with him.What about Colin and me? What would happen to the love we'd just started? I couldn't bear to part with him."Aunt Mel, there is nothing between me and Felix at all. Colin is the one I love. Even without Colin, I won't be with Felix. You're aware of what occurred back then. I'm also my mom's precious daughter. Why should
Dad and Mom were back. They were making dinner in the kitchen. When they heard me open the door, they came to greet me."Dad, Mom." I collapsed on the sofa, exhausted. The sense of powerlessness in my heart grew stronger."What's wrong, baby? Tell us. We can find a solution together. Don't worry." Mom embraced me and patted my back gently to comfort me.Her arms were so warm. I wanted to lie in her arms forever, forgetting about the trouble outside and the problems I couldn't fix."Mom, Felix hasn't woken up yet. Aunt Mel said that only I could save him. She wanted me to break up with Colin and be with Felix.""How could Mel say that? Lulu, tell us. What do you want?""I don't want to. Mom, I want to be with Colin."Dad patted my hand lovingly and declared they would support whatever decision I made. However, I was so uncomfortable that even the warmth of his hand couldn't soothe me."Lulu, you're our only daughter. What we want most in this life is your happiness. What happene
Indeed, they were right. I understood it better than them, but things were not that simple.If it were that easy, Felix wouldn't make himself so miserable.After seven days, on a Saturday, my parents were resting at home in the morning when the phone rang.Aunt Mel was unexpectedly calling Mom. She cried and stated that Felix had respiratory failure. He had been brought to the emergency room again.Even though I was unwilling to think that way, I guessed he did it purposefully to force me to be with him. His life was at stake, and we had no choice but to go to the hospital.It took three hours for Felix to leave the emergency room, and we felt horrible the entire time.Colin leaned against the wall. He took a cigarette from his pocket, but his hands were shaking so badly he couldn't light it for a long time.I held his hand and helped him steady the lighter's flame beneath the cigarette.Colin took a drag, leaving only half the cigarette. He then puffed smoke into the air, foll