Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Back in my hometown, I finally saw my younger sister, Hannah.

Her illness had reduced her to skin and bones, forcing her to defer her freshman year of college.

Her hair was thin, but her smile was as radiant as ever as she ran toward me in the breeze.

"Clara!"

I gently wrapped her in my arms, tears streaming down my face.

When I got my graduate school admission and Hannah was diagnosed with a rare condition, the System appeared and offered me a deal.

It promised that if I graduated as the top student, it would completely cure my sister.

Hannah was my only family, so I agreed without hesitation.

Later, Travis recommended that I join his father's lab.

I never imagined that decision would be my undoing.

I had never regretted anything more in my entire life.

If only I hadn't gone to grad school, if only I hadn't listened to Travis, if only...

The memories of handing over my seventeen papers to Melanie flashed in my mind.

Regrets were useless now.

My sister wouldn't get her treatment, and I was about to die.

After catching up, I transferred all the money I had earned over the past four years to a debit card and handed it to Hannah.

Hannah stared at it in confusion and didn't take it.

She started babbling something, but before I could answer, darkness engulfed my vision, and I collapsed.

When I opened my eyes again, I was staring at a hospital ceiling.

Hannah sat by the bed, softly weeping.

"Clara, why are you sick too?"

I pushed myself up and wiped away her tears.

"Don't cry, sweetie."

Thinking about the steep medical bills, I whispered.

"I'm fine. Let's go home, okay? I don't want to spend my last days in a hospital."

Hannah shook her head stubbornly.

"No! The doctor said it's just a minor cardiac issue and you can recover with treatment. I'm the only one with no hope left..."

"Even if I have to sell everything we own, I'm getting you cured!"

Hannah had no idea that in six days, my heart would stop permanently, and no doctor on Earth could save me.

I gently consoled her.

"I know my own body."

A nurse walked in, asking us to settle the bill.

I knew Hannah didn't have the funds, and I didn't want her using the savings card for me.

My eyes fell on the custom gold bracelet on my wrist.

Travis had spent a fortune making it for me back when we were happy.

I unclasped it and handed it to Hannah.

"Pawn it."

By the time Travis realized the bracelet had been sold, it was already my final day.

The System's robotic voice chimed.

"One hour remaining until cardiac arrest."

In a rare moment of clarity, I sat on a grassy hill in our small town, watching my phone light up with his custom ringtone.

I stared at it, assuming he had dialed by mistake.

After rejecting the call three times, I realized he was actually calling for me.

"Travis."

Travis paused before his irritated voice came through the speaker.

"It's been seven days. When the hell are you coming back?"

"And what's wrong with your voice? Have you not eaten?"

He hit the nail right on the head.

I couldn't keep any food down.

I tried eating just to comfort Hannah, but I threw it all up behind her back earlier today.

Before I could answer, Melanie's voice purred on the other end of the line.

"Travis, baby, are you coming over to my place tonight?"

I gripped the phone, gritting my teeth.

"Did you call me just so I could listen to you flirting with Melanie? I don't have time for this."

"That's not it!" Travis rushed to explain.

"I just want to know when you're returning. My dad is asking about you every day, saying a seven-day leave is ruining your academic progress."

"And why did you sell our bracelet? If you're broke, just ask me!"

His voice began to fade in my ears.

The System began its final countdown.

"Five minutes remaining."

A sudden surge of blood rose up, and I vomited crimson onto the grass.

Hannah, who had just walked out to sit with me, screamed when she saw the blood and bolted over.

"Clara!"

Using my absolute last ounce of strength, I spoke into the phone.

"Travis, I'm never coming back."

It was impossible not to hate him.

The phone slipped from my limp fingers.

I opened my arms toward Hannah and tumbled forward.

She caught me right before I hit the dirt, her tears pouring onto my face.

"Clara, don't die! Please don't die!"

I pressed an envelope into her trembling hands.

Inside was a letter detailing everything I had gone through, along with my final wishes for her life ahead.

I wanted her to live well in the days to come.

"I'm sorry, Hannah. I can't stay to fight this with you."

Hannah's wails tore through the quiet air as I slowly closed my eyes in her arms.

Faintly through the dropped phone, I could still hear Travis screaming my name at the top of his lungs.