Short, Light, Free Chapter 77

Chapter 77: All-seeing Eye II

Tears flowed down endlessly .

Dad stopped me when I tried to prop myself up . "Stay down, kid . I have already informed your school about what happened . I took half a month's leave to settle this all, okay? I'm here to take care of you so talk to me if you need me . "

I wanted to raise my head but Dad pressed it down onto the pillow insistently .

"What are you trying to do? What if you fall? Are you planning to go over to her bed and cry? You're injured . Lie down and hold it in . There's nothing your tears can do . Endure that little bit of sadness, she just left . . . that's . . . all . . . " he broke down in tears, turning around to hide his face .

I didn't move again . The doctor's warning not to exert myself too much and risk reopening the wound also came to mind .

After a short silence, Dad spoke up again, "Wait here while I settle some paperwork . I'll get you dinner later . "

Before I could agree, he left the ward .

I stared at the ceiling, my mind a complete mess .

I felt no pain whatsoever, unlike the night before where my eye was still hurting badly .

I reached a hand up to touch the gauze . It wasn't painful at all .

This made me curious . I wanted to remove the bandage but I don't want to go against the doctor's orders .

He said I could only get the st.i.tches removed a week later or there would be a scar .

The severity of the scar would depend on these seven days . Other than to re-apply medication, I wasn't allowed to remove the gauze . I was to eat light food and avoid oil and spice .

I put my head down and continued staring at the ceiling .

A meow rang in my ears .

I turned to the sound but I saw nothing .

I s.h.i.+fted back around and it rang again .

I could tell that it was Oscar's voice . Plus, there wasn't any other cat in the hospital apart from him .

I looked over at the old man on the next bed . "Excuse me, sir . Do you hear a cat?"

"What are you talking about?" he responded .

"Excuse me, do you hear a cat?" I raised my voice a notch .

"Cat? I'm old and my ears aren't working well," he replied .

A small girl on the opposite side added, "Think I heard it . "

I gritted my teeth . I was right .

It was nearby .

"What's your name, little girl?" I asked .

"Yinuo," she answered with a friendly smile .

Silence resumed in the ward .

After a short moment, there were soft sounds at the door .

I looked over at Yinuo again and requested, "There seems to be something outside, Yinuo . Could you help me open the door and have a look, please?"

She nodded . "Alright, brother one-eyed dragon . I'll go now . "

She got off the bed and opened the door .

"What is it?" I asked, drawing a breath .

"A cat . Come in, kitty," she said faintly .

I shot up subconsciously and looked at the old man . He looked well and was laughing happily at the television screen .

"What are you sick with, Yinuo?"

She answered, "Asthma . I'll have to rest for a month . "

I looked over at the fourth patient, who was also the last person in the ward . It was a pregnant lady . She lay on the bed and was covered in a blanket .

"Are you sick, aunty?" I asked hesitantly .

"You're the one who is sick . I'm nine months pregnant, can't you see? There are not enough beds there so I got allocated here instead," she responded .

A few seconds later, Oscar appeared within my field of vision .

He jumped up and meowed once before resting at a corner of my bed .

The three other patients looked at me as I looked at Oscar .

"Is that the death kitty? Your question makes sense now," the pregnant lady commented .

The old man sighed . "Wasn't expecting you to leave this world before me . "

"What's a death kitty, brother one-eyed dragon?" She walked over slowly and reached her hand out to touch Oscar .

I stopped her unconsciously . "Don't touch it, Yinuo . He's very fierce . My eye's like this because of him . "

She retracted her hand and moved a few steps back .

Thoughts flooded my mind .

Am I going to die tonight?

How could I die? It's just a wound infection .

I touched the gauze over my left eye and hopped off the bed .

"This cat scratches, aunty . Don't let her touch it," I told the pregnant lady .

She nodded . "Got it . Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find the doctor and ask why I'm going to die tonight . "

I walked out of the ward with careful steps since I was afraid of getting into an accident .

I arrived at the doctor's office and thankfully, he was on duty .

He had just finished a consultation with another patient and had three more waiting .

I cut over and said, "Oscar came over to my bed earlier and rested on it . "

"What?" the doctor asked, confused .

"That death kitty . Have I been infected? Will I not live past tonight?"

The doctor waved his hand . "Wait here, everyone, and you, come over here . Let me have a closer look . "

I walked over and he removed my gauze .

"Your wound is about to recover . There isn't any problem, it seems . I've also given you the Rabies vaccine so it's impossible that you die tonight . Perhaps you've been traumatized by that incident?" the doctor suggested .

"But the other four patients saw the same thing…"

"Bring me there . Those waiting for me, please consult the other doctor . Sorry to have wasted your time," he informed the other patients before following me over to the ward .

Oscar was still in my bed when we entered .

The doctor exhaled . "This is my first time seeing it . So the rumors were true…"

"So I'm really going to die, Doc?" I asked anxiously .

He stepped forward and prodded Oscar a little but it remained motionless .

The doctor flipped him over and discovered that it seemed lifeless .

He put on his stethoscope and looked for a pulse over the cat's stomach . "I'm not a veterinarian but it seems like he's dead . How about you get a doctor from the animal hospital just around the corner?" the doctor suggested .

Just as I was about to leave, he called, "Wait . I'll go with you since the doctor might not come if you have no money . "

He carried Oscar out .

15 minutes later, we arrived at the animal hospital .

After a brief examination, the vet declared Oscar dead .

"Cause of death?" the doctor asked .

The vet sighed, "This cat is well over ten years old . It's only natural . He died of old age . There's a funeral parlor for animals in here . "

The doctor smiled . "It's alright . Our hospital has a morgue . "

The vet returned the smile . "Are you s.n.a.t.c.hing our business?"

"This cat's been with us for a few years . Because it could predict death, some liked it while others hated it . Let's hand it over to the hospital . It's what we should do for him," the doctor said .

"So this is that death kitty?" the vet asked .

The doctor paid the fees and carried Oscar out . I followed closely behind .

"Will I die tonight, Doc?"

"Don't think so much . It's just a rumor after all," he smiled .

"But I've seen him predict correctly the death of two patients, and one of them is my mom . "

"My condolences . We shouldn't be so superst.i.tious . Your wound is healing fine, I guarantee you . "

The doctor brought the cat to the morgue while I returned to my ward .

The pregnant lady and the old man started questioning me and I shared everything I knew .

At night, Dad came over with dinner and I did not bring Oscar's death up .

After dinner, he went home while I lay on my bed, tensed and apprehensive .

The night was deepening and I wasn't able to sleep at all .

Time pa.s.sed and soon it was midnight .

Then one in the morning .

Two, three, four . . .

At five, I looked out at the light s.h.i.+ning through the gaps between the curtains .

I slowly relaxed my body and fell into a deep sleep .

I woke up in the afternoon and nothing happened .

Somehow, the news of Oscar's death spread across the whole hospital .

Oscar received a splendid burial . There were even reporters present . I chose not to answer when they interviewed me .

Oscar's name appeared in the newspapers, on television, and even on Baidu .

Six days later, I got my st.i.tches removed . There was a tiny scar and my left eye was significantly redder than my right . I couldn't see things clearly yet .

Upon informing the doctor of that, he said, "The slight redness and blurriness are normal effects . You'll be alright in a few days' time . Your eyeball is perfectly undamaged . "

A few days later, not only did my eye not improve, I began to notice other things .

Tears flowed down endlessly . Dad stopped me when I tried to prop myself up . Stay down, kid . I have already informed your school about what happened . I took half a month 39 s leave to settle this all, okay I 39 m here to take care of you so talk to me if you need me . I wanted to raise my head but Dad pressed it down onto the pillow insistently . What are you trying to do What if you fall Are you planning to go over to her bed and cry You 39 re injured . Lie down and hold it in . There 39 s nothing your tears can do . Endure that little bit of sadness, she just left . . . that 39 s . . . all . . . he broke down in tears, turning around to hide his face . I didn 39 t move again . The doctor 39 s warning not to exert myself too much and risk reopening the wound also came to mind . After a short silence, Dad spoke up again, Wait here while I settle some paperwork . I 39 ll get you dinner later . Before I could agree, he left the ward . I stared at the ceiling, my mind a complete mess . I felt no pain whatsoever, unlike the night before where my eye was still hurting badly . I reached a hand up to touch the gauze . It wasn 39 t painful at all . This made me curious . I wanted to remove the bandage but I don 39 t want to go against the doctor 39 s orders . He said I could only get the st.i.tches removed a week later or there would be a scar . The severity of the scar would depend on these seven days . Other than to re apply medication, I wasn 39 t allowed to remove the gauze . I was to eat light food and avoid oil and spice . I put my head down and continued staring at the ceiling . A meow rang in my ears . I turned to the sound but I saw nothing . I s.h.i.+fted back around and it rang again . I could tell that it was Oscar 39 s voice . Plus, there wasn 39 t any other cat in the hospital apart from him . I looked over at the old man on the next bed . Excuse me, sir . Do you hear a cat What are you talking about he responded . Excuse me, do you hear a cat I raised my voice a notch . Cat I 39 m old and my ears aren 39 t working well, he replied . A small girl on the opposite side added, Think I heard it . I gritted my teeth . I was right . It was nearby . What 39 s your name, little girl I asked . Yinuo, she answered with a friendly smile . Silence resumed in the ward . After a short moment, there were soft sounds at the door . I looked over at Yinuo again and requested, There seems to be something outside, Yinuo . Could you help me open the door and have a look, please She nodded . Alright, brother one eyed dragon . I 39 ll go now . She got off the bed and opened the door . What is it I asked, drawing a breath . A cat . Come in, kitty, she said faintly . I shot up subconsciously and looked at the old man . He looked well and was laughing happily at the television screen . What are you sick with, Yinuo She answered, Asthma . I 39 ll have to rest for a month . I looked over at the fourth patient, who was also the last person in the ward . It was a pregnant lady . She lay on the bed and was covered in a blanket . Are you sick, aunty I asked hesitantly . You 39 re the one who is sick . I 39 m nine months pregnant, can 39 t you see There are not enough beds there so I got allocated here instead, she responded . A few seconds later, Oscar appeared within my field of vision . He jumped up and meowed once before resting at a corner of my bed . The three other patients looked at me as I looked at Oscar . Is that the death kitty Your question makes sense now, the pregnant lady commented . The old man sighed . Wasn 39 t expecting you to leave this world before me . What 39 s a death kitty, brother one eyed dragon She walked over slowly and reached her hand out to touch Oscar . I stopped her unconsciously . Don 39 t touch it, Yinuo . He 39 s very fierce . My eye 39 s like this because of him . She retracted her hand and moved a few steps back . Thoughts flooded my mind . Am I going to die tonight How could I die It 39 s just a wound infection . I touched the gauze over my left eye and hopped off the bed . This cat scratches, aunty . Don 39 t let her touch it, I told the pregnant lady . She nodded . Got it . Where are you going I 39 m going to find the doctor and ask why I 39 m going to die tonight . I walked out of the ward with careful steps since I was afraid of getting into an accident . I arrived at the doctor 39 s office and thankfully, he was on duty . He had just finished a consultation with another patient and had three more waiting . I cut over and said, Oscar came over to my bed earlier and rested on it . What the doctor asked, confused . That death kitty . Have I been infected Will I not live past tonight The doctor waved his hand . Wait here, everyone, and you, come over here . Let me have a closer look . I walked over and he removed my gauze . Your wound is about to recover . There isn 39 t any problem, it seems . I 39 ve also given you the Rabies vaccine so it 39 s impossible that you die tonight . Perhaps you 39 ve been traumatized by that incident the doctor suggested . But the other four patients saw the same thing Bring me there . Those waiting for me, please consult the other doctor . Sorry to have wasted your time, he informed the other patients before following me over to the ward . Oscar was still in my bed when we entered . The doctor exhaled . This is my first time seeing it . So the rumors were true So I 39 m really going to die, Doc I asked anxiously . He stepped forward and prodded Oscar a little but it remained motionless . The doctor flipped him over and discovered that it seemed lifeless . He put on his stethoscope and looked for a pulse over the cat 39 s stomach . I 39 m not a veterinarian but it seems like he 39 s dead . How about you get a doctor from the animal hospital just around the corner the doctor suggested . Just as I was about to leave, he called, Wait . I 39 ll go with you since the doctor might not come if you have no money . He carried Oscar out . 15 minutes later, we arrived at the animal hospital . After a brief examination, the vet declared Oscar dead . Cause of death the doctor asked . The vet sighed, This cat is well over ten years old . It 39 s only natural . He died of old age . There 39 s a funeral parlor for animals in here . The doctor smiled . It 39 s alright . Our hospital has a morgue . The vet returned the smile . Are you s.n.a.t.c.hing our business This cat 39 s been with us for a few years . Because it could predict death, some liked it while others hated it . Let 39 s hand it over to the hospital . It 39 s what we should do for him, the doctor said . So this is that death kitty the vet asked . The doctor paid the fees and carried Oscar out . I followed closely behind . Will I die tonight, Doc Don 39 t think so much . It 39 s just a rumor after all, he smiled . But I 39 ve seen him predict correctly the death of two patients, and one of them is my mom . My condolences . We shouldn 39 t be so superst.i.tious . Your wound is healing fine, I guarantee you . The doctor brought the cat to the morgue while I returned to my ward . The pregnant lady and the old man started questioning me and I shared everything I knew . At night, Dad came over with dinner and I did not bring Oscar 39 s death up . After dinner, he went home while I lay on my bed, tensed and apprehensive . The night was deepening and I wasn 39 t able to sleep at all . Time pa.s.sed and soon it was midnight . Then one in the morning . Two, three, four . . . At five, I looked out at the light s.h.i.+ning through the gaps between the curtains . I slowly relaxed my body and fell into a deep sleep . I woke up in the afternoon and nothing happened . Somehow, the news of Oscar 39 s death spread across the whole hospital . Oscar received a splendid burial . There were even reporters present . I chose not to answer when they interviewed me . Oscar 39 s name appeared in the newspapers, on television, and even on Baidu . Six days later, I got my st.i.tches removed . There was a tiny scar and my left eye was significantly redder than my right . I couldn 39 t see things clearly yet . Upon informing the doctor of that, he said, The slight redness and blurriness are normal effects . You 39 ll be alright in a few days 39 time . Your eyeball is perfectly undamaged . A few days later, not only did my eye not improve, I began to notice other things .