Sara was daydreaming and she thought she and Stefan's sour relationship was going well only due to Hanie's condition. She looked around absentmindedly for a moment to get rid her mind of such worrying thoughts, so she just continued her work.
It was then when she noticed the stack of thick dictionary books at the corner and highest shelf teetering dangerously on the edge.
Unfortunately, an old man came forward and replaced the book he was browsing back onto the shelf right in front him, but the tiny bit of movement was sufficient to cause the unbalance shelf to slightly shaky and in the split second the shelf lurched forward, and Sara did the only thing she could think of then.
"Watch out!" She screamed, running a few steps ahead as fast as she can and pushed the surprised old man out of the way but she herself falling onto the ground ahead with nothing for support.
Sara let out a small cry of pain when two thick dictionaries came crashing down onto her calves a split moment after the fall. The impact was so sudden, she could hardly feel any pain until a few seconds later.
The panic old man hurriedly knelt by her side, assuring her while her colleagues, alerted by the noise, rushed over to assist. "Oh my god, Sara! Are you alright?" Kara and her other colleague asking worriedly.
"Yes, I'm alright, I guess." Sara mumbled weakly, before struggling to stand up. But then she could clearly see a very bad scratch on her left calves. Her light blue denims are torn and exposing the deep wound.
"You're bleeding!" Kara cried out in shock when she saw the wound, "How can you say you're fine!?"
"I think we should bring her to the clinic." Came another voice from somewhere behind them. "The wound may not be severe, but there's a possibility of getting an infection from this."
"Okay, okay, I'll go to the clinic but I can't trouble you to go with me. I can contact my.. my ex-husband. Can I call him from your phone?"
With that, Kara passes her mobile phone and Sara dialing Stefan's cell phone number, the ringing was heard twice, before his voice came over the line.
"Yes, Stefan speaking."
"Hi... Stefan, it's me Sara. I need you to do me a favor, please."
"Okay, what happened? And why are you calling with different number?"
"Because I got into a very minor accident and I was wondering if you can spare the time to take me to the doctors?"
"What? Where did you get hurt?" Stefan's voice became strained and almost strangled, underneath all his usual control.
Ignoring the pangs of dull pain which were still coursing through her leg and couldn't answer Stefan's asking her, she just heard the male said, "Be there in fifteen minutes, hang on." And the line cut off.
#
The Doctor took his place across the desk, before scribbling something on Sara's medical file. "Sara, do not let the wound come into contact with water for the whole of next week, and I would recommend you to come back for me to check on the wound. Also try to avoid seafood, for it might aggravate your cuts and delay the healing."
Sara just nodded obediently, and rubbing her thigh to soothe the pain towards her calves which now has been fully bandaged, while Stefan sat silently by her side.
"And there's one more thing." The doctor continued, looking up at Sara. "I might need to do some test on you. I notice there's a swelling on your ankles and feet. By any chance you experience shortness of breath or?"
Sara snapped up to look at the Doctor in surprise, she felt as if someone had just whacked her over the head with a very, heavy object, while the word 'do some test' just kept repeating through her mind, like a clip from a faulty tape.
She took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down for rational thinking. "I'm totally fine. I don't need test because you see my job scope requires me to stand all day. I am wearing heels, that's how my feet's get swollen."
Stefan firmly interrupted and assured the Doctor that he will bring her back for a test and that made Sara pouted unknowingly. They were out from the clinic when Stefan unable to contain his concerned.
"Sara, listen. You are really lucky the books landed on your legs; do you know what would happen if it falls on somewhere else? I was in the middle of my important meeting and I actually couldn't focus when I heard your distress call."
"Huh? I do hope that book could hit my head instead so that I can forget you and forget our memories. But it has to be on my lowered body." Sara paused and continued, I'm sorry for bothering you, okay? You may leave now me here; I can go home on my own."
Then Stefan phone ringing, causing abruption to their arguments. "Hello, Dylan?"
Sara saw a worried glance at the man by his side, watching as his brows furrowed ever so slightly in what seems to be worry. Stefan was listening intently, and only spoke up at the end. "Alright, Dylan. Message me when you've reached the hospital tomorrow, I'm sure Hanie will be excited to see you."
Dylan has finally arrived and both Stefan and Sara will be meeting together to the Doctors to retrieved the tests results.
#
The next day, back to hospital. "Hanie!"
Anxiety overcame Sara and she hurriedly sprinted over to her little girl's bedside, squeezing Hanie's thin arms.
Her precious child, pale hand felt so cold, and if it wasn't for the fact that the little hand was so tensed underneath with pain, Sara would have said it felt lifeless.
"Daddy.. Daddy..." Hanie called out weakly, before crying out loud in pain again. Her little toes were scrunched up tightly and her body was hit with spasms as the pain coursed through her tiny frame.
"Hanie baby, where does it hurt? Tell mama, please baby."
When she did not get a response from Hanie, she anxiously turned to the nurse by Hanie's side. "Nurse, what happened to her? Why is she in so much pain? She was still fine yesterday."
Why did it have to be her? Other children at five could freely run about at playgrounds, go to school and made friends, and live happily at home, but not my child. What sins have I done? Is it because I initiated for a divorce from Stefan just because he's cheated on me? This is what I deserve? But why my child? Life was so terribly unfair.
"Hanie, don't be afraid alright? Daddy is coming over now, you will be alright baby." Sara repeated over and over again as Hanie continued thrashing about in pain.
Urgent footsteps could be heard as Dr. Wang came in, he is the Doctor's assistant. He has been studying and handling Hanie's case, and will attend to their calls if the Doctor in-charge not available.
He is reassuring her with a calm facial expression. "I will be administering a dosage of diamorphine for Hanie, just under the skin of her abdominal area to relieved the pain."
Sara nodded frantically, not knowing what else she could do or say in such a situation. The only thing she knew was that she wanted her little girl to be out of this misery as soon as possible.
When the diamorphine had taken effect and the intense pain subsided, Hanie finally passed out as she was too tired from crying.
"Her condition's worsening, isn't it, Dr. Wang? No, she cannot die. She's just five. Please, please save her. I cannot live without her." Sara cried; her hands clenched tightly.
"I will not hide the truth from you. Her condition is indeed worsening but I will do my best. I liked her very much, she's very sweetheart, and I also want to see her lead the life she deserves."
Can they ever go back to leading a normal life? What if they exchange life? Is it possible? That's what Sara has been thinking.