Twelve years had passed, and Taronia was experiencing an exceptionally harsh and unforgiving winter.

The doctor had come to give the old woman an injection, but her skin no longer allowed him to find her veins.

He shook his head at Irene before leaving.

Tears rolled down Irene's face as she watched the doctor leave.

"Irene..." murmured the old woman weakly.

Irene swiftly wiped her tears away and calmed herself before turning around and heading back to bed.

"Don't be afraid, Grandma. The doctor forgot to bring the medicine. He is heading back to the clinic to take it." Irene did not want the old woman to worry.

The old woman had been bedridden and ill ever since she had tripped and fallen a year ago. Had Irene not tended to her carefully, she would have passed away a long time ago. After a year of fighting to survive, the old lady felt weak and weary. She had no energy left to continue the fight. She had been unable to eat for three months and had wasted away. She had become a living skeleton because of the lack of nutrition. A sharp pain lanced through her chest with every breath she took.

leaving now... Don't... Don't cry..." the old woman held onto Irene's hands with tears in her eyes. "I- I

don't want you to go. Please!" Irene sobbed as she clutched the old woman's frail hand in her own. "What should I do if you are gone? I want you to stay with me forever. I haven't had the chance

as though the pain

purpose when Irene walked into her

she whispered,

choked on her tears,

remove... the mask... Not until...

old woman had repeated those words to her many times over the years, and Irene nodded. "I will do

always

any money on me... Sigh..." The old woman looked back on the past year of her life. Though she had refused to be treated at a hospital, Irene had spent a small fortune getting doctors to

student without a penny to her name, so the old woman realized that she must

heart sank when she heard the old woman sigh. Unable to utter a single

wiped her tears away and looked up at the

look for him. I promise. I'm just

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255