Chapter 4

I stumbled, rushing to block the door tightly. "I feel a little dizzy, I've already lain down."

My shirt was still stained with blood.

The love letters on the floor were scattered.

Luke knocked on the door twice more, asking if I needed medicine, but I brushed him off with an excuse.

I couldn't face him.

I didn't know if he was more worried about me being sick, or if he hoped to break up with me soon so he could openly pursue the girl he loved.

After a long time, silence finally fell outside.

Luke was probably asleep.

I put the room back in order, packed a few small bags, and checked myself into the city hospital alone.

The doctor frowned, trying to persuade me.

"Are you really not planning on chemotherapy? Even though it's stage four lung cancer, aggressive treatment could still buy you some more time."

"You're still... very young."

I smiled and shook my head.

"No, I'll only be staying a few days."

Originally, I planned to leave all my savings. Enough for Brooke to get a proper streaming studio, and some seed money for Luke's startup.

With the rest of the money, I booked my assisted suicide procedure abroad.

Seven more days, and I'd be free.

Ultimately, I was still a coward.

The next day, Luke called. I picked a random excuse and hung up.

For seven days straight, he called countless times. Each time, I found various reasons to refuse, until eventually, I couldn't even bear to hear his voice.

I still remembered the burning love in that eighteen-year-old boy beneath the fireworks.

So I couldn't accept his change of heart.

I wanted to beg him not to be so cruel. Just a few more days, and I wouldn't bother them anymore.

It felt like as long as he didn't break up with me, I would die still believing I was loved.

But the night before my assisted suicide, as I was counting my documents, Luke's anxious call came through, his voice a panicked shout.

"Lena! Brooke's live stream just cut out, and her phone's going straight to voicemail. Something's wrong. I'm on my way, but the meetup spot is too far. I might not get there in time. You have to go check on her, now!"

My eyes widened. I didn't have time to question why he was so worried about Brooke's live stream. I quickly said,

"Don't worry! I'm on my way!"

I ripped out my IV, forgot to grab a jacket, and got into the car, speeding through the night towards the place Brooke usually streamed from.

I couldn't remember how many red lights I ran.

But when I finally arrived.

Brooke's clothes were torn to shreds, and a unconscious thug lay nearby.

Luke had already arrived, clearly having fought someone; his face was bruised and swollen. He was holding the trembling Brooke, comforting her over and over again.

My knees buckled, and I stumbled over, trembling, trying to reach for her hand. "I'm too late, I'm so sorry."

"Get lost! Why are you still pretending to care!"

Luke's eyes were bloodshot. He fiercely slapped my hand away, in a protective stance. "You were so close, why didn't you rush over to save her? If you had gotten here sooner, Brooke wouldn't have..."

"You've always enjoyed her sacrifices, why couldn't you sacrifice for her just once? How could you be so selfish?!"

"Enough!" Brooke's voice was hoarse, and she forced a smile at me. "That animal didn't actually violate me, I'm fine."

My throat tightened, and my nose felt terribly blocked.

But he was still frantic. "Brooke! Stop pushing me away!"

Hearing this, Brooke's body trembled, and she lowered her head.

She finally accepted the jacket Luke draped over her.

Luke took a deep breath, then continued to scold me: "How can you say something like this is fine? This is a lifelong trauma! Lena, what have you been doing these past few days?"

I didn't know how to answer him.

I stared at the bruised needle marks on the back of my hand. I was only wearing a thin undershirt, and I couldn't help but shiver from the cold.

Guilt mingled with a deep sense of injustice.

Besides "I'm sorry," no other words would come.

"Lena, you wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for Brooke. Now that she's in trouble, this is how you repay her? You're utterly lazy. You've disappointed me beyond words."

Luke held her close, his expression icy as he turned to me, his gaze like that of a stranger facing an enemy.

"We need some time apart. You need to think carefully about everything that's happened recently."

I gasped in shock, wanting to explain, but then I violently vomited a pool of blood. The snow immediately stained a stark red.

Before I could even cover it, I saw Luke. He was already helping Brooke into the passenger seat. He pressed the gas pedal, and he never looked back.

I lowered my gaze to the blood on the ground.

I was such a mess, always ruining everything.

I wiped my mouth bitterly and went to the airport alone.

I remembered the wish I made on my fifteenth birthday:

"I wish my best friend would always be by my side, and the person I love most would always be across from me, forever and ever."

What a pity. It never came true.

I sent one last text:

"I wish you both a happy life together."

Then, I turned off my phone.

Goodbye, Luke. Goodbye, Brooke.