Love's Withering, Life's Countdown

It had been ten years since then, but even thinking about it now still hurt.

I was preparing to visit Mom's grave one last time. I had only five days left to live, and I needed to tell her that I wouldn't be able to visit her anymore.

But before that, I had to stop by Elton's office.

Mom had always liked Elton. Back when she was still healthy, and Elton and I were deeply in love, she had made a pair of pottery figurines for us by hand. One was a puppy for Elton, and the other was a kitten for me.

The puppy and kitten fit together perfectly, as if they were hugging each other. It symbolized that Elton and I would never be apart.

I gave the puppy figurine to Elton, but he preferred the kitten one because it reminded him of me—playful and proud. Just looking at it made him think of me, so he wanted to keep it with him at all times.

He truly kept his word. Even now, the kitten figurine still sat in his office.

I was afraid that after I died, Elton would just toss it away like trash. So I had to take it back and place it in front of Mom's headstone, so it could stay with her in my place.

When I arrived at Elton's office, I found him watching my interview, right at the moment when my nose started to bleed. When he saw me enter, he didn't say a single word. He simply tossed his phone aside.

I noticed that the spot where the ceramic kitten figurine used to sit was now empty. My heart sank, and I asked anxiously, "Where's my kitten figurine?"

Yvette spoke up, her smile smug. "Oh, you mean that kitten figurine? A few days ago, I said that it looked kind of cute, so Elton gave it to me. He even said I looked just like it—playful and proud.

"Honestly, what nonsense. I'm way prettier than that kitten. How could we possibly look alike?"

I ignored Yvette and turned my glare on Elton, fury burning in my chest. "How could you give away something that belonged to me? My mom made that with her own hands, and you gave it to your mistress?"

Elton gave a bastardous smile and shrugged. "That cat was yours? Sorry, I forgot. It's been sitting here for so long, I figured that it was just some worthless trinket."

Before he could finish speaking, my rage took over. I grabbed the crystal ashtray from his desk and hurled it at him.

Elton didn't even try to dodge it. The ashtray hit him square on the forehead, and blood began to run down immediately.

Yvette screamed in shock. "Are you insane? You hit him over some stupid decoration!"

Elton stared at me coldly and ordered, "Yvette, give it back to her."

Yvette stomped her foot in anger and stormed out of the office. When she returned, she was clutching the ceramic kitten figurine in her hand.

She hurled it at me, yelling, "Here! Take it! Who wants your stupid junk anyway? No one would pick it up even if it were tossed in the trash. Take your trash and get lost!"

The ceramic kitten figurine hit the floor and shattered into pieces. My heart felt like it had broken right along with it.

The kitten figurine was gone, just like my life soon would be. At that moment, I felt like I was that kitten. My life was truly ending.

A sharp buzzing filled my head, and I slapped Yvette hard across the face. "That was my mom's keepsake! How dare you break it!"

I grabbed her, ready to hit her again, but Elton stepped in and held me back. I watched him stand there, protecting someone else, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

I cried, "Elton, you've read the news. You know I'm dying. Why are you still hurting me? You're a bastard!"

Seeing me cry, Elton sighed. He softened and wiped away my tears. "First, it was the cake. Now, you're saying that you're dying.

"Hedy, do you enjoy messing with me? You don't need to act all pitiful. I'm not falling for your tears anymore…"

Before Elton could finish speaking, a drop of blood suddenly fell onto the back of his hand.

I was having another nosebleed. But it was worse than ever this time. My vision went dark, and I collapsed without warning.

Elton caught me in his arms, panic overwhelming his expression as he shouted, "Call an ambulance! Now!"

He had never panicked like this before—not even in gunfire or when enemies pointed weapons at him. He had never flinched.

But now, all he could do was watch as my blood soaked through his shirt.

I was dying. If there was still a chance...

Before he hated me one last time, I hoped he would know that I had genuinely loved him for a long time.