Chapter 13
Chen Ju clenched his fists, lowering his head in shame as he stammered, “I-I’ll need a little more time.”
“Aw, it’s not easy for a kid like you. After all, five years’ worth of medical bills aren’t easy to scrape together.” The nurse patted Chen Ju’s shoulder reassuringly. “Do you want to see your mother? She just took her medicine, so she should be in pretty good shape now.”
“Mm.” Chen Ju nodded.
At the end of the hallway stood a row of small rooms sealed with iron doors, meant to keep patients from wandering off when their conditions flared up. The nurse stopped outside the room marked 405. Its iron door looked cold and harsh, with a rectangular window at eye level through which they could see inside.
The woman’s hair had been cut short, just reaching her ears. Wearing blue-and-white striped pajamas, she stared blankly at a spot in the room, her eyes utterly lifeless,
“Hospital rules say you can only visit from here. Stay and see her for a while. Call me if you need anything,” the nurse said.
Chen Ju looked away and took an envelope, warmed against his chest, from his backpack. He offered it with both hands, his face flushing. “Nurse, this is… this is the paycheck I just got. It’s not… not much. I’ll find a way to make up the rest later.”
The nurse took the envelope and sighed. “All right. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I’ll go pay this toward the bill. You talk with your mother for a while.”
“Okay. Thank you,” Chen Ju said gratefully.
After the nurse left, Chen Ju was alone in the quiet hallway. Through the narrow window, he looked at the woman in the room.
“Mom, I came to see you,” Chen Ju said softly, but the woman didn’t react at all. A thin pane of glass separated them, making even touching her a luxury.
The half hour passed quickly. Looking at the woman, still holding the same pose, Chen Ju squeezed the words from his dry throat in a hoarse voice. “Mom, could you look at me for a moment?”
The woman didn’t answer. She didn’t even glance in his direction, as if the person standing outside the door were nothing but air.
Chen Ju’s eyes grew hot, and an aching sadness welled in his chest. Hearing footsteps behind him, he quickly lowered his head and wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
“Head Nurse, please, that boy isn’t that kind of person!” the young nurse called out. She hurried along behind an older nurse, looking anxious.
Chen Ju straightened his back and nervously looked at the approaching head nurse. “H-hello, Head Nurse.”
The head nurse stopped in front of Chen Ju, her expression cold. “You look so innocent, but you can lie without even blinking. Didn’t you say you’d pay the rest of the medical bills today? Why did you only bring three thousand? Do you know how much your mother has cost our hospital? 150,000! And you show up with just three thousand? How can you even bring yourself to do that?”
Chen Ju’s face flushed as he lowered his head in shame. He stammered, “I-I’m sorry. Something unexpected happened. I’ve changed jobs now. Please give me a little more time.”
“Fine. How long do you need?” The head nurse looked Chen Ju up and down. “This is a private hospital, not a charity. You’re not the only one having a hard time. If you don’t pay soon, I don’t know where your mother will be sent.”
“Please don’t. I’m begging you, give me a little more time. J-just one more year. I’ll save enough to pay you!” Chen Ju pleaded, his eyes red.
“No. A year is too long. Six months at most. If you keep trying to bargain, then we have nothing more to discuss,” the head nurse said firmly.
A year was already a short time for Chen Ju, let alone six months. But he had no choice. If he wanted to take his mother out of there, he could only agree.
Before leaving, he looked through the window once more. The woman still wore the same blank, lifeless expression, untouched by any sound from outside.
A wave of sorrow stung his nose. Chen Ju lowered his head and blinked his aching eyes.