For a timeless time, Eric felt a little better. He changed his clothes and was ready to go out with that pot of orchid. It was cold and dry in the northern winter wind. Eric put on his thickest down coat and took a cab to the hospital.

Michael Idle saw a beige ‘ball’ knocked on his office door and pushed in. Before he could start laughing, the ‘ball’ pulled down his scarf, revealing a thin and pale face.

“Dr. Idle.” Eric greeted Michael gently.

“It’s so cold,” Michael hurriedly got Eric a glass of warm water when he touched Eric’s ice-cold finger, “Here, that’ll warm you.”

“I brought your family treasure back.” Eric pointed to the orchid, said with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

They’ve been known each other for almost two months, but Eric had never joked with Michael before.

Michael flipped the welted leaves and said, “It’s only an orchid. But if it’s too delicate for you, I’ll get something easy from my dad.”

Eric didn’t respond to that, for he was in no mood to make friends. He only smiled weakly and said, “I threw up this morning again, with some blood. It felt nothing like being hangover when you’re young.” He recalled how he felt like puking his own life out of his body.

“That’s why I suggested you do the chemo.” Michael frowned with spinning his pen. If you knew him well, you would know he was feeling anxious. “You’re only thirty years old. You’re young and rich. Why would you punish yourself?”

“Let me think about it.” Eric lowered his eyes.

“You said that two months ago. What, you wanna live on the medicine till the new year?”

Eric was too weak to talk. He warmed himself up with some hot water and said, “Is the medicine here yet? I’m not feeling well.

“No chemo, no medicine.” Michael got angry somehow. “I’m looking for the matching bone marrow for you, but nobody can help you unless you take your own body seriously.”

A sense of warmth rushed to Eric’s body, and his smile became much more sincere as well. “If only all the doctors are like you. There wouldn’t be any conflicts.”

“Well, well, don’t flatter me.” Michael stood up and took off his uniform. “I’m taking this afternoon off. I’ll go get your medicine with you. It’s a new prescription, but I don’t’ want to write it down.”

“You could do that?” Eric giggled. Seeing Michael putting on a long coat, he then added, “It’s cold outside.”

Michael didn’t say anything, which led him to get the medicine. Eric was about to leave after saying thanks, but Michael stopped him.

“It’s hard to get cabs in this weather, and I’ll take you home.”

Eric couldn’t refuse him, so he agreed. He sure couldn’t stand the cold wind, and he didn’t mean to cause himself any trouble.

Eric was sure that Michael Idle was not to be underestimated, for his Ferrari wasn’t giving

He was more of a spender than John was.

“I never liked being in the same conversation with my family. I wanted to spend my own money. Now the relatives would talk about them without bringing me up.” Michael noticed Eric was staring at his car, all of a sudden started to open up.

Maybe it was because he’s off work. Michael seemed to loosen up a lot. Sparkles of energy of the youth shimmered in his eyes.

“I was meant to study medicine. I even applied for three medical universities back then...” Said Eric after a long pause while watching outside of the window.

“You failed the test?”

“I didn’t go.” There was nothing in Eric’s eyes, as empty and as heartbreaking as one could imagine. Those were the nights full of dreams and waking up in tears. He never felt like it was a huge regret, but things like this happened all the time.

Michael was quite a good friend. He knew when to talk and when not to. After several minutes of awkward silence, he started to make a lighter conversation.

“Your house is in a great location. Maybe you made the right choice. If my parents didn’t push me to take that test, I don’t know what kind of life would be waiting for me.”

Eric smiled, said nothing. Michael pulled his car outside his neighborhood.

“Thank you, Doctor Idle. Maybe we can grab a meal together sometime, my treat.”

“I’d rather you treat me with your medical expense.” Michael laughed, with something soft in his eyes.

Eric waved and seeing him off. Right when he was about to tighten his scarf and walked back home, he saw John’s car.