My heartbeat became erratic as I stood next to my son’s lifeless body. Tears formed in my eyes and slowly streamed down my pale face. I wanted to scream, calling out for his name but no sound came out of my trembling lips. There was nothing more painful for a mother than seeing their precious child’s dead body. It felt like the end of everything for me, and I couldn’t stop asking why it had to be my son.

Jeremy was supposed to take the SAT exam. So, how did he end up in a mortuary like this?

Who should I blame for what happened?

My mind flashed the memories that happened an hour ago. I held Jeremy’s cold hand and closed my eyes to reminisce about the last hour I spent with him. It all started when David, a jerk husband of mine, drove someone other than his son and wife, who was hurrying to the test center.

I remembered asking David why he would drop us off, but his only reply was the common ‘none of your business’ phrase.

“I promised Karen that I’ll keep her company today. You can get a taxi if you’re in a hurry,” David mumbled after forcing us to get out of the car.

“David! This isn’t funny. We’re running out of time and Jeremy needs to be there before the exam starts—Ugh!” I didn’t even finish my sentence when the demon’s spawn David sped off, leaving us with nothing but smoke.

“I’m sorry about that, sweetheart. Don’t worry, we’ll get a taxi to get us there,” I assured my son and patted his back. I was close to crying but I needed to be strong for him. As much as possible, I didn’t want Jeremy to worry about anything else but the test.

Two minutes passed and there was no sign of a taxi or any other possible transportation. David could have dropped us off somewhere close to a station but he decided to leave us on the highway.

“Mom, what if we try walking our way there? We might be able to find a taxi as we walk instead of waiting here,” Jeremy suggested. He was sweating cold and I knew why.

Jeremy prepared for this exam and I believed that he could make it. It would be a total shame if he missed this opportunity he had been waiting for.

“Okay. Let’s do that,” I agreed, taking his bag from him and carrying it on my back. “Let me do this for you, sweetheart. This is the least I can do at this moment.” I smiled as he nodded.

Almost half an hour passed and we could already see the test center ahead. There was still no taxi so we decided to continue walking, Nah, we were running toward the test center.

“Mom, hurry!” Jeremy cried as he ran ahead while fixing his gaze at the gate that was about to close.

“Don’t mind me, sweetheart. Run! You can make it!” I replied while catching my breath.

Jeremy ran as fast as he could but before he could reach the gate, it was already shut.

“No! Please, let me in. Please!” Jeremy begged the guards who nonchalantly shook their heads at my son’s plea.

I rushed toward Jeremy to comfort him. My heart ached watching him pained and disappointed. If only David had driven us here earlier before tending to his other business, Jeremy wouldn’t have been late.

“I was so close, Mom. Why did this happen? I’ve been waiting for this day!” Jeremy cried with his hands covering his face as he kneel on the ground.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. You did your best to get here. We’ll make it next time, I promise. I will make sure you won’t be late like this again,” I whispered, bending down to hug Jeremy.

I didn’t care even though people were watching us. My son needed me so I have to be by his side. However, I couldn’t understand why there were people who had the ball to judge our situation while we were in despair.

“This wouldn’t happen if they came on time. It’s a SAT! You have to be early to avoid this kind of situation,” a passerby commented.

“Indeed. Who comes late to take the SAT? I don’t want to spoil it for her son but I could already guess his result if he ever managed to take the exam. Coming late shows a lot about his character. People like that wouldn’t succeed in life,” another added.

I covered Jeremy’s ears as I glared at them. They didn’t know what happened and we didn’t need their opinion.

“It’s all his fault, Mom… It’s Dad’s fault! He always does whatever he wants without thinking about us! If he didn’t leave us in the middle of nowhere, we could have made it here on time!” Jeremy blurted out with a shaking voice. Clenching his fists, he stood up and looked at me with his tear-filled eyes.

“It’s all because of him. This is too much! He never cared for us, Mom! I cannot forgive him! I cannot—Ah! M-Mom… Ugh! M-My chest hurts…” Jeremy fell on his back while clutching his chest. His eyes were wide open as he groaned and asked for help.

“Oh no! Jeremy! H-Help! Help my son! Please, help us!” I cried, begging everyone around.

I was thankful when a few people came forward to help while others called for an ambulance. My heart was pounding so hard as they put Jeremy on the stretcher and carried him to the ambulance.

I was biting my lower lip while fishing my phone out of my purse to call David. He owned the best hospital in the city and his son needed urgent treatment from that hospital so I dialed his number.

“David! Thank goodness, you answered—”

“What do you want? David is currently busy. Can you not disturb him at work?” Karen’s voice exploded in my head.

I pursed my lips when I heard Karen’s voice. It was for Jeremy’s sake so I’m willing to swallow my pride as David’s wife. Asking another woman to let me talk to my husband was humiliating but I thought it didn’t matter as long as Jeremy’s life was out of danger.

“Karen… I need to talk to David. Can you give him the phone? It will be quick,” I said, holding back my anger.

“Oh? Is it important? Maybe you can tell me about it then I’ll let David know,” Karen replied, following a mocking laugh from the other line.

“This is important, Karen. Just give the phone to David. I really need to talk to him,” I begged, biting my lip harder until it bled.

“Then tell me. What is it? Do you need money for shopping or what? David, your wife is calling!” Karen yelled then laughed.

“I don’t have time to talk to her. Just hang up and come back here,” I heard David reply.

“No, don’t! I need you here, David! Jeremy is in a critical—” I didn’t finish what I needed to say when the call hung up. With a heavy heart, I tried calling again but I can no longer connect.

“He must have blocked my number,” I sobbed. “Damn it, David!”

I was wiping my tears while headed to the ICU where they brought Jeremy when a nurse came to me with a worried look on her face.

“Mrs. Brown? The doctors are looking for you. They need to talk to you about something important,” she informed.

Nodding my head, I followed the nurse as she guided me to the doctors who were discussing my son’s condition.

“Mrs. Brown, you’re here. We’re going to be frank with you. Unfortunately, the patient is in a critical condition. We couldn’t start doing anything without permission from his doctor, Dr. Morris. He knows about the patient’s condition best and would be able to provide proper treatment for him right now. We’re afraid we might put the patient’s life in danger if we try something without Dr. Morris,” one of the doctors there, explained.

“Then what are you waiting for? Call Dr. Morris to help my son!” I replied, failing to hide my frustration. If it were David and not me, they would do it as fast as they could.

“Well… about that. Mr. Brown called for Dr. Morris just a few minutes ago. He just left the hospital before you came here,” the nurse muttered.

“Ah, it’s him again!” I screamed inside my head. Taking a deep breath, I asked the doctors to do what they could for the moment while I tried to get Dr. Morris back to the hospital.

I was pacing back and forth while dialing David’s number. I already called him dozens of times but it wasn’t ringing at all.

“Right! I should try calling Lewis,” I mumbled to myself as I dialed David’s secretary’s phone number. My eyes lit up when my call was answered after a ring.

“Lewis! Oh god, thanks! I need your help,” I cried, hoping he wouldn’t hang up on me.

“Mrs. Brown. I-Is there something I can help you with?” Lewis asked quietly. He knew about my husband’s treatment toward me but he was never rude to me before which I was thankful for.

“Jeremy’s in the ICU and I need Dr. Morris to operate on him. But David called Dr. Morris before he could check on my son. Can you please tell me where David is? I need to bring Dr. Morris back to the hospital before it’s too late,” I explained in between sobs.

“Please, Lewis. I will take all the blame from David, just tell me where he is right now,” I continued when Lewis said nothing.

“I-I understand, Mrs. Brown. I will send you the address now,” Lewis said after a minute of silence.

“Thank you so much, Lewis! Thank you,” I exclaimed while wiping my tears before hanging up.

Not long after, I received a message from Lewis containing David’s location. I was no longer surprised when I saw the address. So, he was staying in our vacation house together with Karen. Why would he call for Dr. Morris though?

I rushed outside and took a cab to bring me to the address. I was praying on my way there while clutching my phone in case I received any update from the hospital. It took me almost an hour to get to the address. I was only hoping that nothing bad had happened to Jeremy yet.

“Please wait here. I will be back soon. Don’t worry about the money, I will pay you later,” I told the driver before jumping off the car.

I ran to the gate and stormed inside the house.

“David!” I called as soon as I stepped inside. “Where are you, David?”

I halted when I found my son-of-the-devil husband in the living room, caring for another woman.

“Dr. Morris, you’re here,” I muttered and rushed toward the doctor who was treating Karen’s bruises and wounds on her knee.

“You must be careful not to wet this area for now. It will be bad if your wounds get infected,” Dr. Morris explained after putting medicine on Karen’s knee. “And make sure to carefully use the stairs. You’re lucky since it's just your knee and not your head that got injured from falling.”

It turned out David called for Dr. Morris to check on Karen after she fell on the stairs. It wasn’t as serious as Jeremy’s condition so I wasted no time and asked Dr. Morris to come back to the hospital with me.

“Cynthia! What do you think you’re doing? I called Dr. Morris here!” David yelled as he glared at me. “How did you even find this place? You’re not supposed to be here. Were you stalking me? Unbelievable!” he continued, throwing harsh words at me in front of his other woman.

“Say whatever you want. I don’t have time for this, David. If you won’t hear me out, I’ll do things my way,” I said, walking toward Dr. Morris and dragging him to the door.

“We need to return to the hospital, Dr. Morris. My son needs your help,” I told him. “I will explain everything on our way. The taxi is waiting outside,” I added in a hurry.

“You’re not going anywhere, Cynthia. Dr. Morris isn’t done treating Karen yet,” David grumbled. He glowered at me like a beast ready to prey on those who were weak against them. “Stop making a scene and leave. Don’t bother Dr. Morris,” he warned.

“I would not be doing this for nothing, David. Jeremy had a heart attack and he needed to see the doctor now. His life is in danger! Would you rather let your son live just to fool around with your other woman?” I said, clenching my fists.

“Ah!”

A heavy palm landed on my face. David was clenching his jaws as he continued glaring at me. “How dare you make things up? Are you that desperate to get my attention to even lie about your son’s condition? I saw Jeremy earlier and he was fine! Stop spouting nonsense and leave, Cynthia!”

“Do you think I’m only making things up? We both know I care for Jeremy more than you do. I wouldn’t put my son’s life in danger just so you would look at me. But please, let Dr. Morris return to the hospital now. Jeremy needs an urgent treatment!” I insisted. I was ready to kneel in front of him just so he wouldn’t stop us when Karen suddenly cried.

“Ah! My knees hurt, David. My head too.” She fell on the sofa and covered her eyes.

It was an obvious act that nobody would buy except for David who was a complete fool when it came to his childhood sweetheart.

“Look at what you did, Cynthia! Karen isn’t already feeling well and you had to come and make it harder for her!” David yelled in my face. He rushed to where Karen was to comfort her.

“You wouldn’t even doubt her but you always question my words, huh? What do I need to make you believe me just this once, David? Jeremy…” I could no longer hold back my tears so I let them flow down my face. “Jeremy needs a doctor and he needs you too!”

“Enough. Just go. Leave Dr. Morris alone. He still needs to check on Karen’s condition,” David coldly said. He wouldn’t even look at me.

“Ahem. Excuse me, Mrs. Brown,” Dr. Morris mumbled before heading back to Karen to check on her.

“I’m so sorry, Cynthia. I think other doctors can take care of Jeremy in case you’re telling the truth about his condition. After all, David owns the best hospital in the city. As it is the best hospital, the doctors are also talented,” Karen said and began faking her tears.

“Ah! I’m only concerned about Jeremy’s condition. Why are you looking at me like that?” she mumbled before burying her face on David’s chest.

“Cynthia, leave!”

“I am not a dog, David. Just to remind you, I am still your wife. You can do whatever you want but you should be ashamed of yourself right now. I don’t care if you screw bitches or what, just let Dr. Morris take care of my son and I’ll get out of your sight!” I faced David despite my fear of him hitting me again.

I could endure his slaps as long as he would listen to my request.

David stood and walked toward me. He scoffed before swinging his right hand to slap me again.

I felt my neck got slightly twisted by his slap. Even my body fell on the cold floor because of the impact. A tear fell on my eye but I held it in. I tasted blood on my lips but still, I wouldn’t stop begging for my son’s sake.

Crawling, I grabbed David by his ankle and slowly bowed my head. I could feel the hard floor on my forehead and Karen’s annoying giggles felt suffocating but I ignored it.

“David, please. Let Dr. Morris treat Jeremy. It’s been more than an hour. He needs proper treatment from the doctor. Please,” I begged, not letting go of him.

He kicked me several times but I held tighter. I was willing to get humiliated as much as he wanted in exchange for the doctor who could save Jeremy.

“Please. Just this one, please.”

“I said, enough! Guards! Drag this woman outside the gate and make sure to lock up so she won't enter again!” David ordered his men who were on standby.

“N-No, David. For Jeremy’s sake… Please! Jeremy is your son, too! Why won’t you listen to me? David!” I cried as the guards held me tightly in my arms and pulled me away from David.

“Let me go! I need to knock sense on that bastard’s head so he’ll listen to me. Let me go!”

The guards said nothing in response and just quietly threw me outside the gate. I groaned when my back fell on the pebbles on the ground. It was so frustrating that I grabbed a handful of pebbles and threw them at the gate.

“If something happens to Jeremy, I will not forgive you, David!” I yelled as I cried.

I wasn’t done cursing David when I heard my phone ring. My heartbeat skipped when I saw the hospital number flashing on the screen.

“Jeremy… Please, hold on, sweetheart. Don’t give up on me,” I mumbled before answering the call.

“Mrs. Brown?” an unfamiliar voice said from the other line. “Please don’t be shocked. The patient, Jeremy Brown is dying. He wanted to see you right now. Please hurry back to the hospital to see him…”

“O-Oh!” I didn’t listen to what else the lady had to say. My knees gave up but I forced them to stand as I groggily walked to the taxi. I couldn’t remember how I begged the driver to drive fast back to the hospital that time.

I was only thinking of getting there by whatever means to see my son.