Chapter 3

Silas POV

I looked at the IV bag still more than half full overhead.

It was antibiotics, life sustaining for my current condition.

But I said nothing.

I reached out and directly pulled the needle from the back of my hand.

Blood immediately gushed out, dripping along my fingertips onto the white sheets.

"I'll go buy it." I pressed the still-bleeding back of my hand and shakily stood up, gripping the bed frame.

Everything went black again.

I leaned against the wall, shuffling out step by step.

Behind me came the sound of Leah peeling an orange, and her gentle murmur to Zane. "Eat slowly, don't choke."

As I reached the door, I couldn't help looking back.

Leah was feeding a segment of orange into Zane's mouth, smiling warmly.

That smile I'd once dreamed of protecting.

I turned and walked into the bustling hospital corridor.

I leaned against the wall corner, gasping for breath, pressing hard on the old scar over my chest.

Soon.

Ethan, wait a little longer for me.

Once I return this life to the Williams family, I'll come to heaven and keep you company.

On the anniversary of Ethan's death.

The sky was overcast and the cemetery very quiet.

Leah held a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, standing before the headstone.

I stood three steps behind her.

This weather made my body ache more and more. I could only keep my back rigidly straight to keep from collapsing.

Zane stood at Leah's side.

"Ethan, Leah and I came to see you."

Zane crouched down, his fingers brushing over the young face in the photo on the headstone, his voice choking. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of Leah for you."

Leah's eyes reddened slightly as she reached out to pat Zane's shoulder, as if comforting him.

I looked at the photo of Ethan smiling brilliantly.

Three years ago, also on a rainy day like this, he'd gradually grown cold in my arms, calling out before he died, "Silas, run..."

"Silas, you come kneel before Ethan too." Leah suddenly spoke, her voice cold.

"Make him kneel? As if he's worthy?" Zane suddenly grew agitated, turning to glare at me. "If he hadn't been such a coward, how would Ethan have died!"

"Zane." Leah stopped him, though her tone held no reproach. "Let him kneel. This is what he owes Ethan."

I said nothing and silently walked forward.

My knees bent, falling heavily onto the hard stone pavement.

I lowered my head deeply before the headstone.

Ethan, I came to see you.

Just as I was about to stand up, Zane suddenly cried out, "Ah! My foot!"

He fell backward.

Zane's head hit the steps beside him, blood immediately flowing down.

"Zane!"

Leah's face changed dramatically. She shoved me aside and rushed over to hold Zane.

"What happened? Are you okay?"

"Leah... I'm fine... Silas, I know you're resentful. But how could you push me?"

"I didn't push him." I knelt there, feeling only absurd.

"Didn't push him? So he fell on his own?"

Leah whipped around, her eyes blazing with hatred.

"Silas, you used to just be a coward, but now you've become this despicable! Attacking someone in front of Ethan. What kind of person are you?"

"I really didn't-"

Slap!

Another slap struck hard across my face.

This one was especially heavy, making my ears ring and everything go black before my eyes.

"Apologize!"

Leah pointed at the blood-covered Zane and shouted, "Kneel and apologize to Zane! Until he forgives you!"

I froze.

Kneel to Zane?

"No."

This was the first time in three years I'd defied her orders.

"What did you say?" Leah looked at me incredulously.

"I can kneel to Ethan. I'll even kneel here until I die."

I raised my head, looking directly into Leah's eyes filled with fury, my voice hoarse but firm.

"But I will never kneel to Zane."

Because he didn't deserve it.

"Good. Very good."

Leah laughed in extreme anger. She stood up, her high heel grinding hard into my kneeling shin bone, crushing it with force. "Silas, since your bones are so hard, then keep kneeling here until you've thought things through!"

She helped Zane up and walked down the mountain without looking back.

"Leah, Silas he..." Zane was still pretending to plead for me.

"Shut up! Don't plead for this ungrateful dog!"

Their figures gradually disappeared into the rain.

In the vast cemetery, only I remained.

The rain fell harder and harder, soaking through my clothes and chilling my heart.

The excruciating pain in my spine mixed with the pain in my crushed shin, making everything go black before my eyes.

I turned my head to look at Ethan's smiling face on the headstone.

I don't know how long passed before the wound on my forehead split open, blood mixing with rain flowing into my eyes.

I still didn't kneel to Zane.

I faced Ethan's photo and once again lowered my head deeply.

This time, it was for myself.

When the time comes, I'll repay you with this life and return the truth to you.