Seven Heartbeats to Forever

Ridiculous Request

Christopher pretended he only recognized me then, and he pulled me up in a hurry. "John? What are you doing here? You're Jessica's ex-husband! You can't be a waiter!"

A pregnant pause joined the hall. Not a single sound was heard. Everyone turned their eyes to me, and then ridicule began.

"Heard Ms. Goldenfold's ex-husband left her when she needed him most. And he did it for money."

"Well, guess God is punishing him now."

"He left Ms. Goldenfold, and now he's a waiter. He deserves it."

Someone splashed red wine on me, and then the flood began. The glasses smashed against my skin and shattered into pieces. Alcohol and blood merged and covered the ground in a crimson deluge.

These people were sycophants, and they were all trying to butter up Jessica. Blood trickled down my forehead, but I felt no pain. All I offered was silence.

Jessica looked at me coldly. "Why aren't you saying anything? Talking to you is a paid service now?" She sneered. The derision continued.

"You're waiting here just for money, eh? Well, wish granted." She swung her arm and told someone to bring a dozen bottles of expensive red wine. Then, she told them to open them up. "Finish all these, and I will pay you 45 grand!"

She slammed 45 grand, cash, onto the ground. The green did not go well with the red. And the blue of ice in her eyes nearly froze everything.

The guests had nothing but mockery for me. They were watching the drama unfold.

Since I went through with the transplant, my body's strength started to fail me, day by day. I could not even lift anything slightly heavy. Running and jumping were monumental tasks. Even walking took the wind out of me.

Most people would drown their sorrows in alcohol. If I so much as touched it, my heart would protest and stop working.

Still, I met her eyes and forced a smile. "So, I don't have to give the 30 grand back?"

She paused, caught by surprise. A flash of fury flared in her eyes. And then, through clenched teeth, she hissed, "You don't!"

"You have a deal." I smiled and grabbed a bottle. Then, I drained it.

My body was on the verge of collapse. My doctor told me not to even have a drop of alcohol.

Now the flame of alcohol was filling up my mouth. I was retching out of reflex, and I nearly hurled, but I held my unease in and swallowed the liquid.

Then, it was bottle after bottle.

Everyone only watched in brutish amusement. This was a joke to them. Jessica's expression, however, was getting stormier by the minute.

I drained another bottle and was about to get another one. That made her snap, and she grabbed my hand. "Are you that much of a gold-digger? Is money all you live for?"

I stared into her blood-red eyes, and I nodded. "Yes. I live for money."

She flung me away in fury. "Fine, then finish every last drop!"

Something crushing was weighing me down. The artificial heart in my chest was slowing down, threatening to stop.

I smiled and took a deep breath. Just when I was about to drain another bottle, she couldn't take it anymore. Jessica pulled the bottle away and let out a guttural roar. "Enough!"

That was the last straw for my body. I slumped to the ground. The shards of glass buried themselves in my flesh and drenched the ground further in crimson.

Christian heard the commotion and hurried over. The sight horrified him, and he held me up. To Jessica, he roared, "Jonathan gave his heart for you! He can't touch even a drop of alcohol, or his artificial heart stops beating! He'll die!"