Crisis and Survival: After Accidentally Contracting the Virus

At the family dinner, my whole family was infected with prions after eating wild kangaroo meat.

Fortunately, the only company that produces the specific for prion infection was owned by my husband.

He readily agreed to give me the specific medicine but told me that he had forgotten this while I was waiting happily.

I lost my senses when I watched helplessly as my family vomited blood uncontrollably.

The light on the emergency room's door was finally off, and doctors only pushed out eleven corpses.

When my three-year-old brother was in critical condition, I finally got through to Zachary, only to hear a reproach in a coquettish voice on the other end of the line.

"Look at how late at night it is now. Why are you still bothering Zachary?"

I said in a quivering voice, "Where is the specific I need?

"Didn't you promise to bring it to me today?"

After a while, I only heard Zachary's nonchalant voice.

"Oh, I've been too busy to remember it. I'll arrange for someone to give it to you later."

At the same moment, the electrocardiogram monitor in the emergency room screeched.

I lost my whole family that night.

"Where's the specific? Why haven't you got it yet? Ms. Yates, we can't save the patient without the specific!"

A doctor pushed open the door of the emergency room and urged me in deep anxiety.

"Hurry! Your brother only has extremely weak vital signs left now!"

I knew the doctor was not lying.

This virus infection was indeed deadly, for my family who had celebrated my birthday with me last week were now cold corpses in the morgue.

My mother, who had personally made a cake for me last week, and my father, who had turned down an important meeting for my birthday, were among them.

Now, my younger brother was still lying in the emergency room.

A week ago, he happily told me he was looking forward to kindergarten life, holding my hand.

Abruptly stung by the memory, I awakened from the overwhelming sadness.

I mechanically murmured, "I'll receive it. I'll receive it. I'll receive the specific. It will be delivered here soon."

I kept repeating it, cheering myself up.

But as time went by, I still couldn't get through to my husband, Zachary Farrell.

He owned the only company that produced the specific.

He had promised to deliver the specific to me this morning.

However, it was already late at night. Why did he fail to keep his promise?

I numbly called Zachary again and again, but all I got was the cold busy signal.

I had no choice but to call his assistant.

The assistant said impatiently after a cold snort, "I've told you so many times that Mr. Farrell is busy! Can you stop troubling him?

"What specific? Mr. Farrell never told me about that. I have no idea what you are talking about."

I begged humbly for help but was hung up on countless times.

I could do nothing but keep calling Zachary like mad, wishing he would answer.

From dawn to night, I had watched helplessly as my family vomited blood and were declared dead after all vain attempts at resuscitation.

These were eleven lives! They were all my beloved family!

The specific was right in Zachary's company. But why had things ended up this way?

I didn't have time to wipe away my tears when the light on the emergency room door was turned on again.

The buzz of the medical apparatus reminded me that my brother was still undergoing resuscitation.

I kept pressing my phone screen hard, wishing I could get through to Zachary and question him where he was by doing this.

Just when I was on the verge of a breakdown, the call was finally connected.

A coquettish reproach came from the other end of the line. "Look at how late at night it is now. Why are you still bothering Zachary?"

It was from Charlotte, who used to be an orphan but had been adopted by the Farrell family and had henceforth become Zachary's younger sister.

"Why is she with Zachary so late at night?"

I wondered, but this was not what I cared much about at present.

I cut to the chase. "Where's the medicine? Where's the medicine Zachary has promised me?"

Charlotte replied with heavy impatience, "He's at my place. What do you want to do?"

Suddenly, I heard someone take away the phone, and Zachary's voice sounded.

"I forgot about the medicine because I was too busy. I'll have someone deliver it to you later."

I couldn't believe he could have forgotten about such a matter of urgency.

I tried my best to ignore my splitting headache and softened my voice.

"Zachary, doctors are trying to resuscitate my brother. They told me the specific is indispensable. I beg you, can you please..."

Zachary interrupted me impatiently halfway through my plea.

"Okay, I got it."

In fear that he would hang up the phone, I hurriedly added, "Send it to me now, please.

"Send it now.

"My brother is still in the emergency room..."

Zachary snapped, "Is what I said so difficult for you to understand?

"Sharon Yates, I've already promised to deliver it to you, but why are you still being unreasonable?

"If you nag again, you can only come and get it yourself."

I quickly covered my mouth, suppressing my helpless cries.

"Zach, I feel so bad. Am I going to die?"

A burst of crying sounded on the other end of the line, and then it was Zachary's panicked but extremely gentle voice of comfort.

"Lottie, you silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about? Take your medicine as the doctor said.

"Don't worry, these pills are not bitter. Just take them."

I had never heard such indulgent coaxing words from him.

Zachary seemed to have forgotten that the call was still connected. Through the phone, I heard him comfort Charlotte softly with great patience and feed her the medicine personally.

My face was already covered with tears of sadness and pain.

"Zachary, the medicine I need..."

With a beep, I was rudely hung up.