2: 2
2
Some part of me still held out hope, thinking he might say something to make me stay.
But the second I opened the chat, the disappointment hit.
It was exactly the same as always.
"1."
I suddenly remembered a time when I'd finally lost my patience and asked Ned about it.
Why did he only ever reply with a single number.
He'd said, "Because it's fast. You know how busy I am. Extra words waste time."
"A '1' means I've read it. Got it."
He really was busy.
Busy acquiring companies, busy landing multimillion-dollar deals.
Every minute could mean hundreds of thousands flowing in.
Back then it seemed reasonable, and I did my best to be good and understanding, never bothering him.
But only now do I understand.
He was just saving that time to spend it on someone else.
But I didn't have time to dwell on any of it now.
My mother was still lying in the hospital morgue, waiting for me to see her off one last time.
That night I slept only two hours, and before dawn I was up again, rushing to finish the funeral arrangements.
Standing there in the morgue.
Looking at my mother's face, quiet as if she were only asleep, I finally broke down sobbing.
"Mom, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I wasn't good enough to save you…"
That had been the last chance at treatment.
Before she was wheeled into the operating room, my mother had already slipped into a coma.
The doctor said that if the surgery succeeded, she might gain another three months.
If it failed, we should prepare for the end sooner.
Before that, I had begged Ned with everything I had.
"Please, could you recommend my mom to that specialist you know?"
"The doctor said if a top surgeon in the country operates, the success rate could be over sixty percent."
Ned was hunched over his computer, working, and didn't even lift his head.
Only when I pushed harder did he frown.
"Debbie, it's not that I won't help you. Dr. Kim has always had his principles. He only sees patients by appointment."
"Then… is there still time for me to book one now?"
Ned glanced at me.
"His schedule's already booked into next month. If you're willing to wait, I can get you an appointment."
But my mother's illness couldn't wait.
All I could do was settle for less and choose another doctor.
But the very next day, Deidre posted that update on her social media.
"I hereby declare that Mr. Henson is the best boss in the world! Not only does he pay me, he even found a specialist for my mom!"
"Everyone else waits two months for a slot, and one word from him got me bumped to the front. Mr. Henson, you're the man!"
In that moment, my heart went completely cold.
Eyes red, I ran to the base of Ned's office tower to confront him.
But the security guard stopped me at the door.
"Miss, you can't go in without an appointment."
I called Ned over and over, but it was his assistant who picked up.
"Miss Delgado, Mr. Henson says that if you want to see him, you'll need to book an appointment three days in advance."
Three days in advance. How ridiculous.
A girlfriend wanting to see her boyfriend, and she had to make an appointment first.
Now, watching my mother wheeled into the crematorium furnace,
and come back out as nothing but a handful of ash.
I had cried until there were no tears left.
Numb, I just held the urn and walked the road home.
There was a cart at the roadside selling roasted candied chestnuts.
A young girl called out to me, a little shy. "Buy some, miss? Fresh out of the pan."
I remembered my mother when she was so sick, holding my hand and smiling.
"Debbie, my Debbie always loved roasted candied chestnuts."
"Once Mom's better, I'll go shopping with you and buy you some, hot out of the pan…"
But later, right before the operating table, she seemed to sense that something was wrong.
She pressed the pocket money she'd saved over half a lifetime into my hand.
"Mom won't be able to stay with you anymore. If you pass candied chestnuts on the street, buy yourself a bag."
"Think of it as a gift from Mom."
"That Ned, he's always so busy with work, never has time for you. Mom doesn't want to see you suffer…"
At that point my mother started wiping away tears.
"Mom's the useless one, not able to stay with you."
"But if only Ned weren't so busy. That would be nice."
Mom, Ned isn't that busy. He just didn't want to make time for me.
He never once bought me the candied chestnuts we passed on the street.
So I'll buy them myself.
I bought a small bag and cupped it in my hands, the shells so hot my fingertips turned red.
I peeled one and put it in my mouth, and the tears came with it.
"Mom, the candied chestnuts you bought me, I'm tasting them."
Just then, Deidre's social media popped up again.
A photo of her and Ned, both grinning, flashing peace signs at the camera.
The caption read:
【A whole week traveling with me for work. Thank you for all your hard work, Mr. Henson! We finally landed the big deal we'd been chasing for half a month. The boss is treating me to a fancy dinner, and I get to pick the restaurant I love. How is this not two people running toward each other?】
