On the Verge of Death


    The man lying on the hospital bed before me was frail and weak. He was nothing but skin and bones.


    He resembled a skeleton. His hair was gray, his cheeks were sunken, and only his cheekbones remained prominent, making him look much older than his actual age. But it was clear that he had been handsome. You could see it amidst his pallidplexion.


    His condition made it clear that he had been confined underground for a long time. Coupled with malnutrition, he basically looked half-dead.


    I couldn''t imagine how he had survived these past twenty years.


    He still hadn''t regained consciousness. If it weren''t for his faint breaths, I wouldn''t have believed he was still alive.


    I stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do, my emotions running high.


    As embraced me and gently guided me forward. "This is your father. The examination results aren''t out yet. Let''s wait."


    I turned to As. "Is this really my father?"


    "Yes, it''s your father who loves you deeply." As''s gaze was serious.


    After staring at him for a long while, I timidly reached out and held his hand. His bones were prominent, covered only by a thinyer of translucent skin, revealing the bones and delicate blood vessels underneath.


    "Dad," I called out softly, choking up instantly.


    He remained silent and deeply asleep.


    Suddenly, a doctor hurried in, holding a stack of reports. He spoke to As in detail, then handed him a sheet of paper.


    At that moment, Tristan rushed over. "Mrs. Chloe, Mird has woken up! But he doesn''t look good, and he wants to see you."


    I immediately let go of my father''s hand, stood up, and followed Tristan out, heading straight for the emergency room.


    In the emergency room, I saw Mird lying on the stretcher. He was covered in blood, struggling to breathe. I hurried over.


    "Mird..." I called out to him, and his unfocused eyes turned toward me, his face devoid of color.


    "Mrs. Chloe," he said weakly.


    I grabbed his hand. "Hold on, Mird. You can do it. I believe in you. I need to take you back to the Huffman family. You''ll be very valuable to them." A faint smile appeared on his pale face.


    "Can''t go back... I just want to... say sorry to him..." Mird didn''t seem to be in good condition.


    Blood still trickled from the corner of his mouth, and I looked at the doctor next to me.


    The doctor understood my silent request and gently shook his head.


    At that moment, Ipletely forgot about Mird''s past wrongdoings. After all, we had managed to evacuate safely because of his. efforts. In the end, he sacrificed himself to save us all, allowing us to escape unscathed.


    He was using his life to express his remorse.


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    "Don''t give up. You can do it. I''ll call Anson right away." I turned to Tristan, who had entered with me. "Tristan, give me your phone."


    "No, he won''t... forgive me..." Mird''s eyes were fixed on the phone in my hand, his gaze showing a strong desire.


    Tristan quickly took out his phone and handed it to me. I quickly dialed Anson''s number. It waste, and he must be resting by now.


    The phone rang a few times before it was picked up. I spoke quickly to Anson. "Dad, it''s me, Chloe. I''m sorry to disturb you, but there''s something I need to do. I found Mird, and he saved us. Dad, he... wants to talk to you."


    е


    I phrased it this way preemptively, putting Mird''s good deed first, fearing that Anson might not catch on. After rall, I didn''t know about the grudges between them, and what I had said to Mird was just a strategy at the time. I hadn''t had time tomunicate with Anson, so I just made things up on the spot.


    But right now, Mird was on the verge of death. He had saved us all, and I needed to fulfill hisst wish.