When He Forgot Our Promise

My mother-in-law had severe heart failure, but my husband insisted on giving the heart source to his first love.

“Winona shows signs of heart failure; she must have the surgery today! Mom's condition is old and she won't die immediately!"

I pleaded with him, "Mom is in the ICU and the doctor said it’s Stage 5 heart failure. Without a heart source, she will die!"

Jovan coldly pushed me away, "Is she dead? If she's not dead, don't delay Winona's surgery!"

I collapsed to the ground, watching helplessly as the lights in the operating room turned on.

In the end, my mother-in-law didn't get the heart source and died that day.

My husband, on the other hand, was celebrating his first love’s new lease on life in the next room. I calmly arranged my mother-in-law’s funeral. Three days later, Jovan, who still couldn’t find his mother, began to panic. He grabbed me by the neck and asked, “Where is Mom?” I pointed to his first love’s dog and said, “There, in its mouth.”

***

In the corridor, Jovan was pushing a hospital bed towards me. I was relieved, thinking that’s why I couldn’t reach him on the phone earlier, he must have been arranging the surgery for my mother-in-law.

I rushed over and said, “Honey, this way…”

Jovan frowned. “What are you doing here?”

As I approached, I saw that the bed he was pushing held a woman with a pale face—Jovan’s first love, Winona.

I quickly took over the bed and said, “Did you just finish the surgery? I’ll take care of the patient. You should go check on Mom. Dr. Zidan said she has heart failure and urgently needs a heart source for surgery…”

Jovan glanced at me coldly and said, “I understand my mother’s condition. Her heart is an old problem; she can wait a bit longer. I’ve already signed to allocate the heart source. Other patients need it more.”

He then looked at Winona tenderly.

I couldn't believe it. “What do you mean? That was the heart source I worked so hard to arrange for Mom! It took a whole six months and Mom is still lying in the ICU. Did you give it away? To whom? Other things might be negotiable, but this one isn’t. Mom is waiting for the heart to save her!”

Jovan looked at me with disgust and said, “Siora, how can you be so selfish! Mom can clearly wait. Why do you have to grab something that belongs to others?”

"She can't wait! Can't you understand what I'm saying? Mom is in the ICU … ICU! Her heart could stop at any moment!" I was on the brink of losing it.

"What's the rush? Is she dead?"

I was stunned, unable to believe what I was hearing.

He dismissively waved his hand at me. "Winona still needs surgery. I don't have time to waste on this drama with you."

I stood firm, stubbornly blocking the bed.

"Alright, Siora, don’t argue over me," Winona struggled to sit up. Jovan attentively adjusted her pillow behind her.

"It's my body that's failing me. Don’t blame Jovan." She clutched her chest and spoke weakly, "Jovan, her health is important. I’m fine." As she spoke, she pounded her chest in discomfort.

Jovan sighed. "Winona, you’re too kind! You have signs of heart failure and you still want to hide it from me? You must have surgery today!"

"But your mom..."

Jovan looked up and fixed me with a sharp gaze, "Can’t you see Winona’s condition? Are you trying to force her to death? Your mother has a chronic condition from old age. Can’t she wait a bit longer?"

Realizing he had misunderstood, I quickly explained, "No, it’s not my mom; it’s your mom. She’s in the ICU right now, waiting for you to bring the heart source to save her! It’ll be too late if you delay any longer!"