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Relieved,I exhaled.
Since I could remember,my parents,aside from being with me,devoted themselves to charity. Given my fragile health,Mom often said that their good deeds might bring me some comfort and ease my suffering.
Now that they were gone, I would often pray for them.
Ethan was a surprise—the first person I helped in this life,but not the last.
The next morning,yawning,I opened the door to find Ethan leaning against the railing.
“How long have you been here?Why didn’t you text?”
“Not long.”
I glanced at the empty breakfast bag,pursing my lips.
“Let’s go to the hospital.”
“Okay.”
“I can’t eat this morning.”
After Ethan had finished his second breakfast,he drove me to the hospital.
I was preparing for surgery.
Despite my past experiences, the memory of the pain I had endured during my previous death still made me shiver.
Even with a perfect heart match,I’d never be fully healthy.I could only eat well,stay happy.
This life,I’d never love Zach again.
“Don’t be scared.”
I pursed my lips.Ethan raised his arm, gently placing my hand on it.
His warmth gave me strength.
“Okay,I’m not scared.”
I entered the operating room.When I emerged,my blurry vision caught Ethan in a black tank top,leaning against the wall.He’d waited five hours.
Not waking up alone felt good.
Once I was fully awake, my body felt a bit better. However, when I saw Zach’s messages on my phone, I gripped it tightly, suppressing the strong urge to confide in him.
Zach texted,“Rachel,how are you?My buddy said you went home.I’m coming over.”
Zach texted again,“I’ve got great news.You’ll be thrilled for me.”
Zach texted worriedly,“Rachel,no one’s home.Where are you?I’m worried.”
I replied,“I’m in the hospital.”
Zach replied instantly:“Wait for me.”
I’d decided how to face him.
I didn’t want to carry the resentment from my previous life with me any longer. I vowed to treat him purely as a friend from now on.
A regular friend,nothing more.
Ethan sat by my bed,carefully feeding me porridge spoonful by spoonful. I instinctively licked my lips, feeling a sudden urge to ask him to wipe my mouth.
But I realized we weren’t that close.
When I was lost in thought, Ethan wiped the porridge from my lips.
“You…”
A glint of amusement flashed in his eyes as he asked,“Is this okay for caregiving?”
“…Yeah.”
For some reason, I felt that although he didn’t seem naturally familiar with me, he treated me with more care than just an employer would.
Maybe I was overthinking.
Zach’s cheerful voice broke through my thoughts.He pushed open the door,and his smile immediately froze when he saw Ethan.
“Rachel,who’s he?”
Ethan spoke first,intercepting Zach’s hand reaching to pinch my cheek.
“I’m Rachel’s caregiver.”
I added,“Yeah,Ethan’s my hired nurse.”
Zach glanced at Ethan,then turned away with a frown.“Rachel,I promised to care for you.Why hire someone else?Strangers aren’t reliable.”
I flashed Zach a bright smile, trying to feign ease.“Zach,you don’t need to take care of me anymore.I’ve been a burden on you for too long.”
Pointing to my chart:“Look,I had surgery.My health’s fine now.”
His voice rose:“Rachel,surgery’s huge!Why didn’t you tell me?Do you still see me as family?”
