I Gave Up My Life To My Brother

Ever since I was born, my parents bound me to a Pain Transfer System. My body was covered in scars.

My older brother, Dylan Jeater, had albinism and Hydroa Vacciniforme. His condition was so severe that he could not be exposed to any light. Doctors determined that he would only live to be sixteen years old.

However, Dylan had always been playful. He often snuck outside. Eventually, his body was covered in sores.

My father, Robert Jeater, worked day and night to earn money. He finally bought two Pain Transfer System wristbands at a high price for Dylan and me.

For six years, the pain Dylan felt from every sun exposure had been transferred to me.

My mother, May Jeater, always held me gently and treated my wounds.

She said, “Chester, I’m sorry. I just want Dylan to be happy in the time he has left. I hope you understand.”

On New Year’s Eve, my parents took Dylan out. It was very sunny that day.

As soon as we left the house, my whole body broke out in blisters. I could not help but cry out in pain.

Dylan tore off his wristband and broke down sobbing.

“Does it hurt? Fine, if you think it hurts so much, then turn off the transfer! Let me just die of the pain!

“I’ll only live up to sixteen anyway. I’m going to die sooner or later.”

His body became severely sunburned, and he lost consciousness.

Mom shoved me to the ground.

“Dylan never complained once in all those years of pain! After only six years of it being passed to you, you’re already breaking down?!

“He’s only going to live to be sixteen! Is it wrong to want him to be happy in his last few years?”

Dad picked up Dylan.

“I don’t want you getting hurt either, but the pain can only be transferred between biological brothers.”

They then rushed him to the hospital.

I picked up the wristband from the ground. A message popped up on the screen.

[Do you want to transfer your remaining lifespan to the linked user?]

Without any hesitation, I pressed confirm.

I stood outside the door for two hours.

Blisters burst and formed on my body continuously until they stuck to my clothes. Every breath I took hurt.

My parents finally came back.

My older brother, Dylan Jeater, was bandaged tightly. My father, Robert Jeater, carefully carried him to bed.

My mother, May Jeater, walked straight up to me and slapped me hard across the face. It stung.

“Are you happy now?!

“The doctor said Dylan’s condition just took a turn for the worse. He might not even make it to sixteen now!”

My ears rang, and my face swelled up.

I was stunned. I instinctively wanted to say that this was not true. Dylan was going to live to be a hundred. I had given my life to him!

Before I could say anything, Dylan struggled to sit up.

He grabbed the family photo from the bedside table and tore away the half with his image on it.

“Are you happy now?” he said hoarsely. Tears streamed down his face and mixed with the ointment.

“Great! Once I’m dead, you’ll be Mom and Dad’s only son. Then, they’ll just indulge you forever, won’t they?!”

“No, Dylan, that’s not what I meant…”

I tried to get closer to him to hand him the wristband. “Dylan, please put it on. I’m sorry… I’m not afraid of the pain anymore…”

“Don’t come near me!”

He grabbed the torn photo and threw it at me. “I hate you! I hate all of you! Why did it have to be me with this disease?! Why me?!”

Mom held him tightly. Her voice broke as she tried to comfort him.

“It’s okay, sweetie. I’m right here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you…”

Dad took the wristband. He wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Ches, go stay at Mrs. Lance’s place for a while. Dylan is emotionally unstable right now. You need to leave.”

He left no room for argument.

Lily Lance was my neighbor.

I knocked on her door like I had done many times before. I had lost count of how many times I had done this.

The first time it had happened, my parents learned that an expert had come from the capital, so they took Dylan there overnight.

After school, I waited by the door until dark. I caught a high fever from the cold. In the end, Lily found me. That was how I had narrowly survived.

The last time I went to her place was when my kindergarten had a parent-teacher meeting. I told my parents that they did not need to go, and I could handle it myself.

Dylan broke down crying. “Are you trying to rub it in just because I can’t go to school?”

After that, I ended up knocking on Lily’s door again.

The door opened. Lily looked at me and sighed. Then, she took me inside. “Joy, bring the medical kit!”

Joy was Lily’s daughter. When she came out of her room and saw me, her eyes widened.

“Ches? Why are you here? Did they kick you out again?!”

She clenched her fist. “How can your parents do that? They only care about Dylan! That’s so unfair!”

I retorted, “No, it’s not! Dylan’s sick! We all have to take care of him. Besides…”

I pulled up my dirty sleeve to reveal the layered scars of burst blisters.

“See? Dylan’s injuries get transferred to me. Mom personally treats every single one for me!

“She’s not being unfair at all! It doesn’t matter if I’m in a little pain as long as Dylan’s happy. That’s all that counts!”

Joy looked at my wounds and shook her head.

Lily came over with the medicine. Her hands were warm and gentle. They were similar to Mom’s hands, yet were a little different.

Mom’s hands were also warm, but they always felt hurried.