Fan Fiction |
by Jazs
Finally, the lights of the operation theater were switched off. They’ve been waiting for a whole eight hours with each second, a torment for them. They waited anxiously for the doctors to come out, praying silently that everyone is safe. The operation is in fact a success. The doctors had seen instantaneous improvement, infected secretions were no longer coming up her breathing tube and Gillian’s airways are finally clear. Saturation monitors and blood tests quickly revealed immediate improvement in her blood oxygenation.
Char: *excitedly* Does that mean that everyone is okay? When can we visit them?
Doc: Unfortunately, not everyone is okay…
Char: *gasps* What do you mean? You said the operation was a success!
Vic: Char, calm down. Let the doctor explain.
Doc: One of them didn’t make it through; we lost him due to some complications during the operation. He loss too much blood. I’m sorry.
Mrs Chung: *cries* No! That can’t be! I didn’t want a life to be lost just to save my daughter! How is she going to live her life when she found out the truth?
Vic: Is it Edison Chen?
Doc: *nodded sadly* I’m sorry
Char: *yells* Your job is to save lives! How could you not save him? What kind of a doctor are you?
Vic: Char, please. It’s not the doctor’s fault.
Doc: I’m really sorry *walks away*
Charlene collapsed into Vic’s arms crying her heart out. Memories of the time they’ve spent together with Edison flashed before Charlene’s eyes. The fact that Edison is no longer with them burns a hole through her heart. Vic hugs her tightly as he felt his tears streaming down his cheeks. Not only had he lost his best friend but also his supporter and brother. He was angry with himself for not being able to protect Edison.
Mr Chung: *softly* We’ve got to tell the Chens
Char: *sobs* No! Ed’s not dead! You know how much he likes playing practical jokes on us! Yeah, probably he’s just hiding in the corner, waiting to jump on us!
Vic: *shakes her* Char, Ed’s no longer with us. The doctor wouldn’t play such a joke on us even if Ed begged them to.
Char: *tearfully* No! You’re lying! Ed is going to be okay! Have you forgotten? He got to live for Gill!
Just then the door of the operation room opened. The nurses first wheeled out Gillian and then Nic, who were both still unconscious. Their heart broke when they wheeled out Edison, his whole body covered with a white cloth.
Char: No! No! No! *runs over and open the cloth*
Edison looked so peaceful although his face is even paler that the sheet that is covering him. Charlene cried and hugged his lifeless body, unwilling to let go. She shook him violently, screaming for him to wake up. The sight of Charlene crying over Edison’s lifeless body brought tears to everyone’s eyes, including the nurses. It was the most painful moment for everyone especially Charlene. Slowly, Vic took her away and holds on to her as the nurses wheeled Edison away.
Char: *whispers* Ed is still alive. I felt his heart beating.
Vic: Shh…you’re in shock, Char.
Char: No! I’m telling you, he’s alive!
Vic: Charlene, I know you’re upset but so are we so stop making it harder than it already is!
Char: But….
Vic: *hugs her* We’ve got to face the reality, Char. Ed is no longer with us. As much as we love him, I guess God loves him even more.
Mrs Chung:*tearfully* I’m so sorry. I’m so, so, sorry.
Vic: It was no one’s fault, Aunty.
Mr Chung: How am I going to tell the Chens? I’m afraid they won’t be able to take it.
Vic: *softly* Let me tell them. Edison is after all, my best friend, I’m sure he would want me to break the news.
Mr Chung: Yeah, that would be better. If we’re the ones breaking it to them, they will probably kill us. Thank you, Vic.
Vic: No probs. Take care of Charlene for me okay?
Mrs Chung: We will, don’t worry. *hugs the crying Charlene*
Vic looked everywhere for the Chens as he believed that they would still be in the hospital, waiting for Edison’s news. He wanted them to hear from him personally before they found out from the doctor. Finally, he found them in the car park and they were about get into their car.
Vic: Aunty! Uncle!
Mr Chen: *irritated* What?
Vic: I don’t know how to tell you this…but….
Mrs Chen: *snaps* We already know.
Vic: Huh?
Mr Chen: Look we’re in a hurry.
Vic: But Ed…he
Mr Chen: I know already! You don’t have to repeat it to me
Vic: Aren’t you…
Mr Chen: * to Mrs Chen* Darling, quick get into the car. Goodbye, Vic.
Vic was surprised at the Chens’ reactions. He certainly didn’t predict for them to handle the news so calmly after how the reacted when they found out that Edison is in the operation room. He was left alone in the car park, looking shocked as the Chens drove away. What is wrong with them? Why are they in such a hurry to get away from him? Most importantly, why do they seem not to care that Ed is dead? There wasn’t even a single tear in Mrs Chen’s eyes. Slowly, he walked back to meet the Chungs and Charlene.
Mr Chung: How did they handle it?
Vic: I don’t know. They found out before I could get to them. In fact, they were quite calm. It was as if they’re hiding something.
Char: The fact that Ed is still alive! I heard his heart beat, Vic! I really did!
Vic: Please, Char. That’s impossible. We all saw him. There wasn’t any life in him. He’s gone, Char. Get a hold of yourself, okay?
Char: *whispers sadly* I’m sorry. It’s just so hard to believe that he’s gone.
Vic: I know. I know.
Mrs Chung: Probably they’re just too shock to react. Losing Ed would have a great impact on them. Maybe they just couldn’t accept his death yet.
Vic: Yeah, that should be it. They were just running away from the truth. As you’ve once said, losing a child is the worst nightmare anyone could face. They must be going through a tough time now.
Char: If they’re going through a tough time, imagine how Gill will react when she wakes up.
Everyone fell into silence as they thought about the possibility. How are they going to tell Gillian that Edison died for her? How will she react when she finds out that the love of her life is dead? At first, they wanted to keep it a secret from her until she gets better but that would be too cruel and unfair. Gillian deserves every right to know the truth.
Char: Ed left her an envelope. Probably, it’ll help her get through this. You know, he’s selfish. All he thought about was Gill, what about us?
Vic: Imagine how Gill will feel when she finds out that he died for her? Of course, the one who suffers the most would be Gill. Plus Ed knew we had each other.
Char: *sobs* I miss him already.
Vic: *hugs her* We’ve got to be strong, Char.
Mrs Chung: We’ll forever grateful to Ed for sacrificing his life for Gillian. How I wish things wouldn’t have to end this way. Probably this is all fate.
Vic: That’s Ed. Always putting others before himself. He’s my best friend, my brother.
Char: *smiles sadly* He’s truly an angel sent down from Heaven.
Mr Chung: Come on. Let’s visit Nic and Gillian. They need to know the truth.
Gillian was hooked on a respirator and lost in a maze of tubes, multiple IVs, monitors and beeping machines. She has already woken up but she was too weak to say anything. She could only flash them a smile before falling asleep again. When Nic finally emerged from anesthesia, he immediately asked for Gillian. They assured him that she was doing well and that she was just beside him. They’ve put them both together in the same room.
Nic: *groggily* Where’s my little bro, Ed?
Mrs Chung: *uneasily* He…errr….he didn’t make it.
Nic: What do you mean?
Mr Chung: Shhh…don’t wake your sister up.
Nic: *lowers down his voice* What happened?
Char: *sadly* The doctors couldn’t save him. He lost too much blood.
Nic: Oh no….Oh no….
Vic: We’ve lost a very good friend today….
Nic: How will Gill be able to handle this?
Char: Ed left her an envelope….
Nic: What? How did he….
Char: He knew that he was not going to make it. His body was too weak to go through such a major operation
Nic: I should’ve known better
Vic: What do you mean?
Nic: I was the one who operated on him last time….*cries* Why hadn’t this crossed my mind before? I was so happy that Gill finally found a donor that it didn’t strike my mind at all! How could I have forgotten about it?
Char: You knew about it? How could you? *shakes him violently*
Vic: Calm down, please.
Char: *sobs* You could’ve save him…You could’ve save him just like you could’ve save Joey…..
Vic: No, Char. It’s not his fault. Ed meant to keep it a secret from all of us. It would be no difference even if Nic had known, Ed would’ve went ahead with the operation. Don’t you forget that he would rather die than to see Gill die.
Nic: *sadly *I’m so sorry. Char, I…
Char: *cuts in* You killed Joey and now you kill Ed too.
Vic: Charlene!
Charlene looked at Nic angrily before running out of the room in tears. She still couldn’t accept Edison’s sudden death. It seems like only a minute ago that he was there with her. She is hurting so much inside that she could hardly catch her breath. Vic quickly apologized to Nic before running to get Charlene. He couldn’t explain it but he was really worried about her. He finally found her in a corner, crying.
Vic: Oh, Char…
Char: *sobs* This is the exact place where I found Ed, crying after he found out of Gill’s sickness. It all seem like it happened only yesterday. I can’t believe he’s gone…
Vic: *holds her close* I know, Char. It was still wrong of you to blame Nic. You and I both know it’s not his fault. Imagine the guilt he had been carrying over Joey’s death. It’s just wrong to blame him for Ed’s death too.
Char: *tearfully* I know, I’m sorry. But right now, I’m still not prepared to face him yet. You know, to know that he could’ve save Ed’s life. Please give me some more time? I’ll apologize when I’m ready.
Vic: Sure. I understand
Char: *sobs* Why? Why him? Why Ed?
Vic: I don’t know. *breaks down into tears* How I wish that it didn’t have to be him.
For a few minutes, the two of them just hugged each other and cried their heart out. Edison had left so many memories in their hearts and they couldn’t help but wished that his life were spared. They have so much that they wanted to tell him but it’s now all too late. Edison is gone. After a while, they decided to head back home. However, the sight of Edison’s car tortured them again. Edison had left his car with Vic so that he could drive to the hospital everyday. Neither of them could look at the car without shedding a tear so they decided to take the cab home instead. After Vic made sure that Charlene is safe, he took the longest journey home that night as he walked back to his house in tears.