''Listen carefully, Via. I am going to take them away from you. Both Connor and your son. If you don't want to lose any more than you have lost already, I suggest you come back to your senses''

''Hey, Kim Xia!'' Via screamed and held her stomach, ''ah'' she groaned in pain.

Xia frowned and reached out to hold her as she was about to fall, ''hey, are you alright? what's wrong with you?''

''Pain, it hurts so much Xia'' Via said as she leaned against Xia's body for support.

''Let's go to the hospital'' Xia said and helped Via into the car she came with.

First Hospital.

ER.

''Ovarian cancer?'' Xia asked as she looked at Via who was laying on the bed asleep. She turned back to the doctor and listened to what he was saying.

''Yes, she was supposed to come in for surgery since a month ago but she has refused to get treatment at the earlier stage and it has already advanced to a stage that nothing can be done about it''

''How… how can this be possible?''

''We've tried getting in touch with her family but since she hasn't come with anyone to any of her sessions, the hospital found it difficult to trace her family. Are you perhaps her sister?'' the doctor asked.

''I…'' Xia hesitated. She didn't know what title to give herself. She looked at the doctor and forced a smile saying, ''well, you could call me her friend''

''She needs to be admitted immediately and undergo surgery. Even if the surgery will not add much but it will prolong her life by a few months so that her loved ones can prepare for her departure''

''Alright, I will get in touch with her family and get back to you. In any case, she will need to undergo the surgery as soon as possible'' Xia said and went to the table to pick her phone. She was about to make the call when Via stopped her.

'Don't call him, Kim Xia'' Via said weakly as she laid on the bed. She snatched the phone and ended the call at once.

''Via, you are awake. Are you alright?'' Xia asked.

''Mm, I feel better. Can you get the discharge papers on my behalf? I need to go home''

''Via, haven't you heard anything the doctor just said? Your life is in danger. You might not even make it pass a week if you don't get an emergency surgery done''

''I know''

''You know? You know and you still want to go home?''

''I know… but I don't want to get operated''

''What? Hey, are you crazy?''

''I have my reasons. You were going to call Connor, right? Don't call him, he doesn't know anything and I don't want him finding out''

''Via, what are you trying to say? You are dying, shouldn't your family be made known about this? Do you know how serious this matter is?''

''I know. It is because I know how serious it is that I do not want them to know anything, especially my son''

''Let me get this straight. Via, what exactly are you trying to gain by keeping it to yourself? You must have known about this for more than half a year now and you never bothered to inform anyone about it. You kept it to this stage that nothing could be done about it. Do you just want to die suddenly and then your family will find out that your died from an illness that could have been treated? Is this how you prove that you love your family?''

''Hey, Kim Xia! You just found out that I am dying, shouldn't you be happy about it? This way no one will stop you from being with Connor''

''What?''

''This is your chance'' Via said and felt a slap across her face. She looked up in shock at Xia.

''Don't you dare make me look so cheap and low like yourself. I am nothing like you'' Xia said to her and picked her bag and turned to go.

''Wait!'' Via said and held Xia's hand.

''What? do you have more to say?''

''I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that to you''

''Glad you know that and for the record, whether you are alive or dead, it means nothing to me because at the end of the day, you were just someone I used to know. A familiar stranger!''

''I know. I hurt you the most. You are the most I owe the most in this life. You, Connor and my son''

''I am not interested in your long speech. Tell me, what do you plan on doing now?''

''I can't go through with the surgery. This is not because I am selfish. I don't have a chance and might die on the operation table. I don't want to spend so much time in pain and watch the people I care about suffer in pain because of me. Xia…'' Via held Xia's hand and pulled her closer.

''Via…''

''Please, don't tell anybody about this''

''I'm sorry, Via. But I am not so strong like you. I can't watch you like this and not tell your family''

''I don't want anyone's pity. If you tell Connor, he is just going to feel pity for me''

Xia looked at the phone in her hand that had started ringing. Via looked at it and shook her head.

''I'm sorry, Via. I will come and see you tomorrow'' Xia said and answered the call as she walked away, 'hello Connor''

Via laid back with tears in her eyes.

…..

Xia turned and the mug of coffee that she had prepared after getting home fell from her hands. She sighed and bent down to look at the pieces.

''Darn it. I hate this feeling'' she muttered and stood up to pick the mob and dustpan. She suddenly felt like doing nothing. ''What am I even doing?''

The phone on the cabinet started buzzing and she stood up and picked it up. ''Hello, Connor''

''Xia, did you get home safely?'' Connor asked over the phone.

''Mm. You?''

''I am still at the hospital. Karl is with my mother''

''What about Via?''

''She just went in for her surgery. The doctor said it would take a while. About 7 to 10 hours''

''That's okay'' Xia said and was about to take a step when she accidentally stepped on the broken mug, hurting herself. ''Ahh ssh''

''Xia, are you alright?''

''No, I stepped on a broken mug. I think I am hurt''

''Xia, how did you step on a broken mug? Are you alright?''

''I have to hang up now. Let's talk later, there is blood coming out of my foot'' Xia said and hung up.

''Xia, Kim Xia'' Connor shouted into the phone. He looked around the empty hallway and hurried out of the place.

Xia sat on the floor and looked her foot. It was a rather deep cut. ''Such bad luck. Why now of all nights?'' she cussed and removed the broken piece from her foot before trying to stand up.

Xia limped towards her room and the blood smeared the hall as she walked into the room. The spilt coffee and broken pieces still remained on the floor.

Xia walked out of the room holding the first aid box. The doorbell rang and she placed the box on the table and limped to the door.

''Connor?'' Xia was surprised to see him at the door.

''Hey! How could you end the call like that?'' Connor said as he entered the house without asking for permission. He saw the blood and frowned, turning to look at her leg.

''It isn't so deep''

''Let me be the one to decide that'' Connor said and lifted her up.

''Hey! What are you doing?''

Connor sat her on the couch and pulled the centre table closer and sat on it. He placed the bag he brought on the couch and lifted her leg, placing it on his laps.

''Let me see how deep the cut is''

''Connor…''

''Ssssh! I am very mad at you'' Connor said and Xia pursed her lips. ''How could you hang up like that? Didn't you realise I would be so worried after finding out you got hurt?''

''I'm sorry''

''I will treat your leg first, then I will clean the place up''

''You don't have to do that''

''If I don't, then who would come to do that?''

''I could call Natalie over''

''At this late hour that she is sleeping with her husband, you want to wake her up and make her worried? Way to go, Kim Xia''

''Did you come here to pick a fight with me? I am the one who got hurt''

''I didn't come to pick a fight with you. I am worried about you. A young lady living alone in a neighbourhood that is not so trustworthy. I worry about you all the time''

''Don't you have to be at the hospital? What if Via's surgery is completed and you are not there?''

''I called her mother. I believe she would want to see her mother more than me'' Connor finished cleaning her foot and picked the gauze. ''You shouldn't put your foot in water for a while or the cut will get infected''