A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

Victor kissed her affectionately, tears threatening to blur his vision, when Anne reached out and held his hands. Her hands were soft and warm, reassuring almost, as if she had sensed his desperation. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close, gently kissing his trembling lips. The kiss made the room warmer somehow, her future within its walls seeming a little less bleak.

Victor tasted mixed flavors of salt and bitterness, but he didn't care because all he could focus on was the liquid warmth that was quickly spreading through his body. He looked at Anne's sorrowful eyes, and kissed away her tears tenderly. His heartache was like a hungry beast eating his bleeding heart. It threatened to devour him, eat him whole and leave nothing but scraps behind.

"Hang on for a bit longer. For my sake, just hang on, please... I need you to live longer..." Victor whispered.

At that moment, Victor had abandoned all his confidence, arrogance and superiority. Humbled by desperation, he was just a common man pleading for his beloved to stay with him.

His loneliness swallowed every one of hope he had yet to spare. As a desperate cry for help, he implored,"Anne, I love you with all my heart. So, please..."

After a while, Anne silently closed her eyes and drifted off.

She could not give him the answer he wanted.

What difference would it make even if she had gone through with the heart transplant? She could not live without medicine ever since she was a little girl. Therefore, Anne knew better than anyone else about her own physical strength and limitations.

Anne remembered the wish she had made near the wishing pool when she sneaked out with Emily. She made the wish again silently in her heart, as she lay in her bed with her eyes shut.

'I wish that Victor would find a good girl to be with him and then... then forget about me.'

...

In another ward, Emily let out two sneezes before wrapping herself tightly with the quilt.

For the sake of Anne's health, Victor originally want to have the operation when both Anne and Emily were in their best physical conditions, but he changed his mind and decided to let go through with the operation as soon as possible to avoid any further deviation to his plans.

Victor knew it well, that, even though he had hid Emily in a secret place, he could not ensure that Jacob would not catch up to them, eventually.

Unfortunately, as a consequence, Emily could not keep on delaying the date of the operation on the pretext of having a cold and fever.

Anne could never bring herself to go on with the operation without Emily's consent. In defiance to Victor's insistence, she threatened to go on a hunger strike, as she refused to eat even her favourite strawberry cakes to show her determination.

he ordered the doctors to infuse nutrition solution into

between them was

the operation, Emily and Anne were forbidden to eat and drink, and they were

the operation drew closer, Victor seemed to be in a good mood, as he spent the whole day with Anne, even though she kept ignoring him all day. With not a care in the world, Victor kept telling her stories with a mild smile on

end, the Princess and the Prince lived happily ever after..." he

original ending of the story was actually tragic, but Victor changed

felt so upset by the story that she covered her ears with her hands to insulate herself from Victor's deep, loving voice. "I don't want to hear it,"

fondled her hair and

are so tiresome," Anne retorted, deliberately in an impatient tone. She

lips. Once again

deliberately, but she was not one to make a concession so easily,

saw him slowly lowering his eyes. Victor's long eyelashes covered up all his exposed feelings. Victor said mildly and firmly,"I feel sad if you hate me because of Emily, but I don't regret

want to do this," said Anne. Anne looked mournfully at Victor. She didn't know who she pitied more:

don't think that Emily's life is important, but what if it was me in her place?"

to listen to her incessant, yet rational reasoning. The more Anne spoke, the harder it

change your mind?" She repeated his words

turned away

her chest rose and fell lightly. Then,

man was driving her up the wall!

her, hesitantly and said,"You can't drink

WANT TO DRINK

her health, so instead of giving her the chance to get stressed out, he got up to get

if she weren't so angry. "Get out. Leave me alone,"

troubled Victor. He preferred it more when Anne argued with him, than when

room at her request. However, he didn't leave her alone. He stood at the door while still paying close attention

he was dreading happened not long after he left the room.

minute later, Victor heard the sound

into