Thursday - Mathyn's Room - People's Hospital
The morning sun once again flooded the quiet hospital room. Mathyn used his covers to try and block the reflection of the rays so they were no longer in his face. He subconsciously sighed. I really need to stop doing that, he thought to himself.
*Bzzzzz* *Bzzzzz*
The cellphone he hardly used started dancing around in the small messenger bag he had attached to the side of the bed. He hesitated to answer it. He had a feeling it wouldn't be any good news. With reluctance he slowly reached into the bag and picked it up. It was very rare for anyone to call him as his number was not officially listed anywhere. Giving into his curiosity he finally accepted the call.
The familiar nasally voice of his father blared out of the phone. Curses fired out like a machine gun, the voice was filled with hate and anger. Mathyn did his best to not even bother listening until the sentences resembled some form of a normal conversation. He could picture his fathers face turning more and more red as he shouted into the phone.
"..... You think just because you are sick we won't touch you! Do you realize how much money we have wasted on you? Why won't you just die already? Your brother had to work overtime last night because of your ridiculous post! Don't even get me started on the PR the company had to do! Your Mother and I are taking back the remaining fees. Good luck on the street you worthless cur!"
The sharp click of the call ending caught Mathyn off guard. A moment later the phone began dancing in his hand again. *Bzzzzz* *Bzzzzz* Mathyn answered it again in silence. The sound of some piano music playing could be heard in the background.
"Are you there sweetie?" His mother's sweet sounding voice was filled with concern.
"What do you want?" The coldness in his voice was a stark contrast to his mothers.
"Your father is right! Can you just hurry up and ...?" This time Mathyn was the one to disconnect the call.
Mathyn wanted to scream but the commotion would bring about to much attention. Instead he sighed again and rang for the nurse to bring his daily medicine.
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Dr. Qian's Office - People's Hospital
On the third story of the hospital Dr. Qian was sitting in his office. His desk was filled with books and research papers. His face was filled with fear and exhaustion as he took another puff on a cigarette. The silvery grey smoke filled the room quickly. Smoking was not permitted in the hospital. However the phone call he had just received fried his wits. If he wasn't sitting down already his legs would have given out on him.
//A Few moments ago.....
A powerful nasally male voice was speaking. "Dr. Qian, I know we agreed that we would pay for another few days, but some things have come up. We will have to pull whatever remaining funds we have on the account. Your services for my son are no longer needed."
Dr. Qian was confused. "Mr. Xi, The hospital simply can't refund that money. We have a responsibility to the patients here. You have already paid for the remaining week. Your son will most likely die even earlier if he is taken off all the medications so suddenly."
"That is a risk we are willing to take." The cold heartless voice responded. "I will only remind you this once Dr. When we put you into this hospital you agreed to serve our family. It seems you have forgotten how to be loyal. It would appear you need a reminder."
*Bzzzzz* *Bzzzzz* Dr. Qian's cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He opened it to find a new message. It was a video. Hitting play it was of his mistress and him in bed at a hotel. His cellphone fell to the floor, the screen shattering.
"How did you get this!"
"Next time you won't get a reminder. You have 2 hours to get that useless piece of garbage out of there or we will take further action. Don't forget about your lovely wife and daughter. You wouldn't want something to happen to them would you? Or perhaps you care more about your mistress?"
Dr. Qian collapsed into his chair and grabbed the pack of cigarettes from his desk drawer. "I understand. He will be gone in no time."
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Mathyn's Room - People's Hospital
After calming down a little bit, Mathyn was able to stomach a little bit of food. The crazy number of drugs that he was on made it very difficult for him to maintain any type of appetite. After partially eating and playing with his food for a while, a soft rap on the door caught his attention. Seeing it was Dr. Qian he did his best to give another seated bow.
"Good Morning Dr.! Is everything okay?" He asked with genuine concern, noticing how pale and slightly distraught the Dr. seemed.
"Young Master Xi I'm sorry! I have no choice! They are making me!" His words came out in a rush with a hint of a sorrowful tone. An understanding smirk appeared on Mathyn's face.
"My Father told me. It's not your fault Doc. I couldn't go against him for all these years either. Just one more night then you'll never have to worry about me again." Mathyn said sadly.
"No you don't understand, you have one hour to leave! I'm really sorry about this. I have packed some of my clothes for you because I know you don't have much. If only I had more time. Also I am allowing you to take a wheelchair and some blankets too. That's about all I can do for you. Goodbye Young Master." Dr. Qian exited the room faster than a scared hare. Two nurses came in on the heels of his departure and started removing all the wires and tubes that Mathyn had attached to him.
Mathyn could no longer keep it inside, "Curse this family of mine!" he roared! The nurses jumped back in fright and quickly exited. Mathyn could no longer care though. Why don't they just put me in the grave directly! It took him several minutes to get dressed. After wearing a hospital gown for so many years, the restrictive nature of normal clothes felt really weird. Even worse was the onslaught of severe nausea from all the moving around. When he finally made his way into the wheelchair he took one last look around the room. This time he stopped himself before he sighed.
For eight years this hospital room has been his home and his life. The outside world was a scary mystery to him that he had no idea how to face. Pulling out his laptop he logged into his weibo account one last time leaving a cryptic message. "AsuraFox, I fear nothing. Time may claim me before fate or the heavens. Thank you." Mathyn fought back the tears that wanted to form.
Closing the laptop he left it on the bed, he wouldn't be needing it anymore. Mathyn did a final check before leaving the hospital and realized he had no money, no place to go, and no more nice drugs to take away the severe pain. Just another affirmation that he was right to curse the heavens and fate.
The hospital itself was in the suburbs, tucked far away from the main roads. Not like he could really leave the area. The meeting with that strange person was supposed to happen tomorrow and he wouldn't miss it for the world. So he found a dark corner outside the hospital and parked himself there. The cold winter air, stung his skin. Each blast of cold air felt like he was bitten by ants all over his body. He thought he had hit rock bottom before with all the surgeries and drugs. Now he realized there was always a deeper pit to fall into.
Looking around he saw there was a small outdoor garden not far away. He was afraid if he stayed so close to the entrance they would run him off. Slowly he set off in the wheelchair and he made his way to the small garden. Every time he moved his arms pain would shoot through his body. He parked himself in between some trees to try and cut some of the wind so it wouldn't hit him as hard.
Wrapped in all the clothes he was given and the few blankets he had, he was finally able to stay a little warm. He was starting to feel a little better. That was until the doubts in his mind started speaking to him. Reminding him it was still early in the day. Tonight he would probably die due to the cold winter weather. He knew it would be one day, he just didn't think it would be here of all places. Just another reason to despise fate!
He could see the news article in his mind, "The rich heir of the mighty Xi family dies in the garden outside the hospital!" What a shame he won't be around to see his nasty family explain that headline. Another gust of cold winter air slipped underneath the blankets that covered him causing him to shiver. This time the shivering caused multiple muscle spasms which in turn made him cry out in pain.
He wanted to escape from this pain. There is always so much pain. Why me he called out in his mind. If only I could reach that place full of darkness. His dull eyes became full of life as he processed that thought. The only time he had reached that special space was when he was asleep or when he was knocked out on drugs. Today was the first time he started to actively search for it. At least there he can't feel the pain his body is in.
He closed his eyes. He started focusing on the sounds of nature around him. In the beginning every little sound was a distraction. As the weather started turning colder it began to dull his awareness. He could feel his body turning more stiff as the cold seeped into him. As his body was shutting down more and more he felt a familiar sensation. Latching out like a drowning man he grabbed onto it.