Free Web NovelChapter 628: You Can Only Save One
To check for bone marrow compatibility, both parties need to undergo a checkup.
Michael returned to the ward and saw Leah fast asleep. He didn’t want to interrupt her rest but he was eager to quickly finish the checkup so that he could get the result sooner. If his bone marrow was compatible with hers, they could then complete the transplant procedure sooner.
As long as Leah remained unwell, Michael would stay worried.
Michael quietly approached Leah’s bedside. Gently, he shook her tiny frame and in a gentle voice, "Leah, wake up... Leah!"
Awakened by his voice, Leah rubbed her eyes and struggled to keep her eyes open.
Seeing that it was her father, her face lit up and she exclaimed, "Daddy!"
"Shall we go for a checkup?" Michael asked warmly.
"Sure," Leah nodded instinctively before asking, "What are we checking for, Daddy?"
"We’re checking if our bone marrows are a match," Michael was upfront, no longer hiding the truth from Leah.
"Okay," Leah nodded once more.
When Michael carried Leah out of the ward, a doctor was waiting for them at the door. "Mr. Lucas, I’ll be leading the way for the both of you to get the examination done."
"Got it," Michael nodded as he carried Leah and followed the doctor’s lead.
When blood was drawn from them, Michael watched as Leah’s brows were knitted tightly, but she did not complain about the pain.
He asked Leah gently, "Leah, does it hurt? Don’t be afraid, it’ll be over in a jiffy."
Leah gently shook her head and said, "No, it doesn’t hurt. I’m not scared either."
Michael suddenly recalled that in the past, when they were about to take an injection, Leah had mentioned that she used to often get injections and had long overcome her fear of needles.
At that time, Michael even found it odd that Leah said such a thing. At such a tender age, it was not possible for her to often have injections.
He now realized that she had been in the hospital for a long time due to her frail constitution. At this point, Michael’s eyes welled up in tears.
As he blinked, he heard a cautious doctor informing him, "Mr. Lucas, it’s your turn to have your blood drawn."
Michael realized what was happening and smiled before tugging at his sleeve to allow the doctor to draw blood from him.
When the needle hit his skin, it clearly hurt. The pain caused the tears that had formed in his eyes to roll down his cheeks.
"Daddy, does it hurt?" Seeing the tears in Michael’s eyes, Leah reached over and wiped his tears away with her small hands, before continuing, "It’s almost over, don’t be afraid, Daddy..."
Hearing how his daughter heaped words of comfort to soothe him, Michael grew even more emotional, causing tears to fall uncontrollably.
He inhaled sharply and said, "Daddy isn’t afraid, don’t worry..."
But as he spoke, streams of tears continued to pour down his cheeks.
Believing that Michael was in pain, Leah comforted him even more profusely, "Don’t cry, Daddy, it really is almost over..."
Turning to look at the person helping to draw blood from Michael, Leah pleaded, "Doctor, can you be more gentle?" freewёbnoνel.com
As Leah finished speaking, sufficient blood had been drawn. Seeing the tube of blood, Leah hurriedly dried Michael’s tear-stained face. "It’s done, Daddy, they’re done drawing our blood."
Instead of calming down, Michael pulled Leah into a tight embrace and began sobbing harder. Seeing Michael cry so hard took Leah by surprise. She began crying as well.
At that moment, both father and daughter sat right in the middle of the doctor’s office in a huddle, wailing louder and louder.
The doctor prepared the drawn blood for the tests that he would have to run and scratched his head, perplexed by the sight. He was simply drawing blood. It should not warrant such a dramatic response.
In the numerous instances where he had to draw blood, there had not been more than a handful who cried so hard. On top of that, it was an even more unlikely sight for adults to cry after having their blood drawn.
At this point, Jake walked in. Tugging on Michael’s sleeve, he spoke with exasperation, "Oh, stop crying, it’s embarrassing..."
Only at Jake’s words did Michael calm down.
...
After following several other procedures, Michael and Leah completed the checkup.
The doctor informed them, "I will inform you of the results as soon as I get them. It will take about three days."
"Thank you," Michael nodded in gratitude.
Returning to the ward, Michael got Leah and Jake to continue resting for the night.
He lay in bed himself, but tossed restlessly, unable to fall asleep. This continued to the wee hours of the morning, when Michael was finally able to fall asleep. He began to have a nightmare.
In his dream, Leah was struggling in the sea, calling out for him to save her. Michael saw that Leah was on the verge of of drowning. He jumped into the water. But and before he could reach Leah, Jake’s voice could be heard calling for help as well.
"Daddy, save me! Save me!"
Instinctively, Michael looked over and saw that Jake was in the sea as well. He was right in the middle while each child was on opposite ends.
"Daddy, save Leah! Hurry, save her! If you don’t, she’ll die..."
"Daddy, I’ve always been weak. Even if you saved me, I might not survive... Save Jake! Save Jake first!"
Both children’s cries resounded in Michael’s ears. He swam slightly closer to Leah and looked back at Jake.
Unknowingly, he swam closer to Jake this time.
"Hahaha! Michael, you can only save one of them! Who do you choose?" Another voice rang in Michael’s ears.
He looked around but did not see the person who had said that. He yelled while in the midst of the water, "Who’s that? Who are you?"
"Michael, it’s me..." Yvonne Taylor had appeared by Leah’s side.
With one hand on Leah’s shoulder, she threatened, "Michael, if you choose Jake, I’ll push her under. She won’t have a chance..."
"No!" Michael swam towards Leah.
As Michael was about to reach Leah, he heard Yvonne’s voice behind him, "Michael, turn around..."
Michael turned as she asked him to.
Now, Yvonne’s hand was on Jake’s shoulder.
"If you save Leah, Jake will be in trouble..." Yvonne laughed menacingly, "Michael, so who will you choose?"
"Ah!" Michael screamed in frustration, on the verge of a breakdown.
"Save Leah, save Leah first!"
"No, save Jake! Daddy, you must save Jake first!"
"Remember, Michael, you can only save one..."
All three voices echoed in Michael’s ears. He did not know who to save first.
How was he to choose? At this point, Leah was closest to him. He swam towards Leah and saved her.
But as he turned to save Jake, he watched in horror as Jake was pushed under the sea by Yvonne. Michael watched helplessly as Jake flailed in the water before vanishing underwater.
"No!" Michael gave a heart wrenching scream as he hurried to swim towards where he last saw Jake.
"Like I said, Michael, you can only save one of them..." Yvonne now floated from the sea and hovered in the sky.
The sea was now calm and no trace of Jake could be seen. Michael maniacally swam towards where he last saw Jake, but no matter how deep he dived in that area or how far he swam, he could not see even a hint of Jake. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Remember, Michael, you can only save one of them..." replayed over and over in Michael’s mind.
...
"No! Don’t!" Michael let out a heart wrenching cry "Daddy, Daddy..."
"Mr. Lucas..."
Michael heard a voice by his ear calling out to him. Prying his eyes open, Jake and Leah came into view. Even Zess was by his bedside, wearing a look of deep concern.
Seeing Jake, Michael sat up. Pulling him into a tight embrace, he exclaimed, "You’re alive..."
Jake was perplexed. After a moment’s hesitation, he patted Michael on his back comfortingly before asking, "Did you have a nightmare?"
Sensing the actual warmth that radiated from Jake in his arms, Michael let out a heavy sigh in relief. Releasing Jake, he nodded.
Leah noticed the sweat on Michael’s forehead and used a napkin to dry him off.
"What did you dream of?" Jake asked.
"I dreamt that you and Leah had fallen into the sea together, but I could only save one of you," Michael replied honestly.
"After I saved Leah, you disappeared and I thought... I thought that... I would never see you again."
Michael inhaled deeply. He covered his face with his hands after he struggled to describe the dream.
When there was only one dose of the antidote, Michael had given it to Leah. If the research team could not replicate the antidote in time and something were to happen to Jake, Michael would not know how to deal with it.
"It’s only a dream," Jake comforted Michael. "It’s okay, we have to believe in Uncle Milo’s team. They will be able to replicate the antidote soon."
Jake was trying to assure Michael. He knew what Michael feared.
"Yes, they surely will," Michael swallowed and responded with certainty.
"Since you didn’t rest well, why don’t you sleep some more?" Jake suggested.
Michael looked at the clock that showed it was a few minutes past seven o’clock. He was indeed worn out and had not rested well recently. But he could not fall asleep.
In fact, he did not dare fall asleep for fear that he would have another nightmare once he shut his eyes.
Zess chimed in as well, "Mr. Lucas, rest for a bit while I get some food for all of you."
"Yeah, Daddy, don’t worry about us, there are doctors and nurses here.
"If there’s anything we need help with we’ll wake you up," Leah chirped. "Rest up, Daddy. When you’re refreshed, you can take better care of me too!"
Michael looked upon their worried gazes and gave in, nodding. Although he could not sleep, he lay down and closed his eyes. He must not collapse. Otherwise, he would not be able to look out for his two children.
Wendy’s whereabouts were still unknown, so he could not leave the children without their father. With this in mind, Michael dozed off.
He had another nightmare. This time was no different from the last, Jake and Leah had fallen into the sea and he could only save one. Michael woke up in horror once more.
Seeing Michael in this state, Leah and Jake’s heart ached for their father. They worried for his well-being. If this continued, he would soon reach breaking point.
"I’ll call Uncle Milo over," Jake suggested after much thought. With that, he left the ward. Milo hurried over with Jake soon after. He had already been filled in by Jake along the way about Michael’s condition.
The constant worrying had etched lines across Michael’s worn out face. Milo spoke, "Michael, in your current state, you’d better see a psychiatrist.
"To experience prolonged insomnia accompanied by nightmares just won’t do..."
Although Michael resisted the thought of seeing a psychiatrist, he knew that there was no better option.
Nodding reluctantly, he agreed to Milo’s recommendation.
