Bound and Broken: A Life Given, A Heart Shattered

I knew very well that everything Francis said was just empty words. He always put on this weak, "sensitive" act; only Queenie would fall for it.

"Don't worry about him. Stop overthinking it. Our marriage had issues long before you came along. I'm just so tired. Honestly, I get irritated every time I'm around Niels. I know I shouldn't feel that way since he saved me... Sometimes, I even wish he hadn't—"

Before Queenie could finish, Francis interrupted her. "Queenie, don't think like that. You're a good woman. You haven't done anything wrong. Everyone has the right to pursue happiness. You've done more than enough."

He then let out a cough, which prompted Queenie to rush for the doctor.

The doctor checked Francis and reassured Queenie. "Miss, rest assured, your husband is fine now." He then added to Francis, "Mr. Show, I envy you for having such a chance."

My soul stood by Queenie, watching as she remained silent, not denying a thing. The look she exchanged with Francis was full of affection.

At that moment, a nurse entered. "Ms. Jorian, there's a call for you at the nurse's station."

My soul followed Queenie out to the nurse's station, where she picked up the phone.

Leroy's small, trembling voice, choked with sobs, came through. "Mom, please come back. Daddy won't wake up no matter how I try. I'm so scared."

Queenie reassured him impatiently, likely thinking the anesthesia was still wearing off. "If he doesn't wake up, then just let him sleep more, alright? He'll wake up when he's rested enough."

"No, Mom, but… the doctor said Dad went to heaven and won't ever wake up again. Mom, come save him!"

Leroy's voice broke into sobs, and then Timothy's voice came through the phone.

"Ms. Jorian, please come back. I'm not lying; your husband has passed away—"

"Enough. Niels is really regressing. He must have become mentally twisted from being homebound. Why else would he get you to help him fabricate something so ridiculous?"

Hearing her words stung painfully. I realized then that, at some point, I had become such a useless person in her eyes.

Queenie even sneered.

"That's not it, Ms. Jorian. Your husband's body—"

Timothy hadn't finished speaking when Queenie hung up.

…

One month after my death, Queenie and Francis rode together to the hospital where I had had the surgery. As soon as she entered the ward where I had donated my kidney, she began handing out candy to everyone.

"Here. My friend, Francis, has recovered. Have some candy and share the good news."

The doctors looked at her with complicated expressions, hesitating and clearly not taking the candy.

Francis followed her with a wide smile.

Just then, a nurse came by, holding Leroy's hand. Queenie spotted them and immediately tried to hand the nurse a fistful of candy. But the nurse ignored her, even clicking her tongue in disdain.

Queenie was about to get angry when suddenly someone grabbed her hair roughly. Right when she was ready to fight back, she realized it was my mom.

"Mom, why are you here?" she exclaimed.

Devastated, Mom replied, "You heartless woman! My son is dead! How could I not be here? Unlike you, I didn't abandon my husband after he died to be with another man."

Queenie laughed upon hearing that. "Mom, are you joining in on these lies too? Niels can't possibly be dead. He can't be dead just because he's missing a kidney."

"He can't be dead, you say? As a mother, I'd give anything for my son to be alive. You don't believe my son is dead, do you? I'll show you what you've done to him!"

Grief-stricken, Mom dragged Queenie by the hair to a covered body in the morgue.

Queenie was about to lash out. However, when Mom lifted the white sheet, revealing my cold, decayed face, I saw Queenie's pupils contract in panic, her eyes gradually reddening.