Chapter 3

It was time for my follow-up appointment at the hospital.

Daniel was at work, so Martha accompanied me.

"Oh, a taxi is so expensive, why don't we walk instead and get some exercise?"

An hour's walk completely delayed my scheduled appointment with the doctor.

There was no choice but to register and queue again.

The doctor said I was recovering well. Martha, listening nearby, seemed uninterested.

It was only when she heard that it wouldn't affect my ability to have children in the future that a small smile appeared on her face.

The doctor prescribed some medication and told me to pick it up.

When paying, I suddenly heard an "Insufficient funds" alert.

The alert was loud, and I felt everyone staring at me, their gazes like needles in my back.

I gave an embarrassed smile and said, "Please wait a moment."

Then I quickly opened my banking app to check my balance.

My hand trembled, and I entered the password incorrectly several times.

Finally, I got in, only to see a massive "0.00." For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

Yesterday, I had given Daniel my bank card password. He said his company was tight on funds recently and cash flow was difficult. Since I'd spent a lot on my hospital stay a few days ago, could I advance some of the medical fees?

I thought, "Of course," and gave him my bank card password.

But I never expected him to transfer all my money away.

Eight thousand dollars, including my savings, salary, and living expenses.

My teeth ground together, making a clacking sound, as I dialed Daniel's number.

"You transferred all the money out of my bank account?"

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you."

I couldn't be bothered to argue with him about the reasons; the people in line behind me were already getting impatient.

"Transfer three hundred and fifty dollars right now. I'm at the hospital queuing to pay for my medication."

"Got it."

He hung up.

I smiled apologetically at the people behind me and said, "Sorry about that."

A SnapChat notification came through. I sighed in relief, but then I looked at the transfer amount and saw it was only three hundred.

I froze.

"It's three hundred and fifty. You sent too little."

I sent a message, but there was no reply.

I had to turn to Martha for help. She looked down her nose at me.

"I'm old, can't figure out your mobile payments. I only have a little cash."

She fumbled in her pants pocket and pulled out a few crumpled bills, tossing them onto the floor. They were a few ones and fives, not enough to cover the medication.

"Hurry up! What are you doing up there? There are so many people waiting, how many people's time are you going to waste?"

I took a deep breath, my eyes gradually misting over.

I had no choice but to call Daniel again.

"Oh, it's just fifty dollars, I know, I know. I'm in a meeting here, gotta go."

I endured the most difficult five minutes of my life before those fifty dollars finally appeared on my phone.

After I finally paid, Martha was still rambling on beside me.

"Ah, just a few small boxes of medicine, and it costs hundreds of dollars."

"Ellie, let me tell you, you can't be so foolish, listening to everything the doctors say. They're just tricking you, making you buy expensive medicine so they get a commission, they're terrible!"

I was exhausted and didn't respond, only thinking to myself that I would go back to work tomorrow.