"Uncle Peter, you're here!"
The child in the hospital bed beamed with a bright smile, clearly happy as he looked up at Peter entering the room. He placed some of little Ed's favorite snacks on the nightstand and sat beside the bed, gently rubbing Ed's head. The blossoming youth had not yet begun, yet the bite from God had already claimed this child's life. Why must the apple always be bitten before it is placed on Earth?
"How do you feel?"
Although the boy seemed to resist the gentle head rub, he still smiled, and as the nurse stepped out of the room, he complained to Peter.
"Dr. Edward gave me another injection yesterday, and my butt still hurts. Can I leave the hospital yet? I'm really starting to be afraid of Dr. Edward. He always scares me with that syringe!"
"He's just worried about you. You know your condition. But don't worry, you'll be discharged soon, and then you can play basketball with Carl and Wood!"
Peter replied with a smile, though inwardly he felt a pang. If the first time he pulled the trigger without any hesitation was because he didn't understand this world at all, then seeing the names of the orphans and learning about their parents' deaths, Peter felt like he had to do something for this child. It wasn't about redemption; it was simply sympathy for the child's misfortune.
Maybe that's why he had ended up covering a whole year's worth of medical expenses for the child, even though he lived in a slum. He had spent hundreds of thousands to help just one child. He realized that sometimes, he could be incredibly naive and foolish.
"Really? You guys always say that, but it's been almost a year, and I'm still stuck in this damn hospital!"
"Don't worry, your illness will get better soon. Remember not to get angry with anyone, especially Dr. Edward. I heard you yelled at someone again last time!"
The child's complaints were endless, but Peter listened carefully, nodding from time to time. The child's only outlet for venting was Peter. At the orphanage, Father Mudd treated the kids like a father, hiring teachers to guide them in their studies. His teaching style was strict, especially during lessons, but outside of class, he was more like a mother, patient and nurturing.
The children never confessed to Father Mudd, as he always had them go into the confessional booth, which felt awkward to them. Peter was different, though. Although he didn't visit the orphanage often, when he did, he always brought snacks and played with the children. Over time, Peter had become like an older brother they could confide in.
"I didn't! It just hurt so much that I couldn't help but shout out! I really didn't curse anyone. It's just so boring here; I can't go anywhere!"
As Peter gave him a warning, the boy became agitated, earnestly defending himself. Peter shook his head again. It wasn't that he didn't believe Ed, but last time, Ed's words had echoed through the entire floor. That was hardly something a mere excuse could explain away. Peter raised his hand and ruffled Ed's hair again, giving him a stern warning.
"Even if it's painful, you can't curse, Ed. We need to be civilized gentlemen!"
"Okay, I understand. But I still want to explain seriously. I really wasn't cursing anyone last time. I know that Uncle and Aunt are good to me. Even though it hurts, I'll bear it. It was an accident; I wasn't cursing anyone!"
Ed's explanation seemed sincere, and Peter considered that perhaps he really hadn't meant to curse anyone. But anyway, he had already been scolded, and the candy reward was sitting on the nightstand. He gave Ed's head another affectionate rub, just as the sound of Dr. Edward's voice came from behind.
"Peter, come out for a moment."
"Be good, maybe next time you can go out and play."
"I know, Uncle Peter, goodbye."
Peter said goodbye to Ed and left with Dr. Edward to the latter's office. A bill was placed on the table—it was the one Peter had just paid. Dr. Edward was Ed's father's college classmate, and a very close one at that. As a result, Ed's medical bills at the hospital were set up with a credit limit. Peter always made sure to top up that credit at just the right time, so that neither the hospital would feel uncomfortable, nor would Dr. Edward's credibility be damaged. But it was getting hard to keep delaying, so this time Peter paid off the entire amount in one go, erasing all debts.
"Ed's condition is worsening. It might be time for a heart transplant."
"But he's only eleven! Didn't you say before that he couldn't have the surgery?"
Peter hesitated for a moment before asking. The child's body simply couldn't handle a major surgery like that. His heart's ability to supply blood was just one of the many problems his body had. Dr. Edward sighed and explained.
"This is a tough situation. We can maintain his condition with a lot of medication, but as Ed grows, his heart's ability to supply blood will continue to fall short. I can explain the medical details to you, but you wouldn't understand. To put it simply, his heart can't keep up with his body's growth. Unless we use even more expensive medication, the only option left is a risky heart transplant. I'm advising the latter."
"More expensive medication? How much are we talking about?"
"Fifteen thousand per vial."
"That doesn't sound too bad…"
"Two vials a day."
"F*ck!"
When Peter heard the cost, he was stunned. But once Dr. Edward finished, Peter couldn't help but curse under his breath. He looked at Dr. Edward with a mix of disbelief and disdain. Dr. Edward gave a wicked smile and handed Peter another file.
"That's why I think a heart transplant is the best option. Although it's very risky..."
"Fine! Let's go with the medication, the one you just mentioned. I can just about afford that."
A heart transplant had a 45% success rate, which seemed far too unreliable. It wasn't about not trusting Dr. Edward, but Peter felt that the medication might be the more stable option. Yes, the medication was expensive, but with his current situation, he could still afford it. Three thousand a day wasn't easy, but he could manage. If worse came to worst, he could solve it by helping out a few of his enemies. After all, the money from killing them was dirty, but taking out a few bad people was easy enough. As for gaining points, he'd put that on hold for now. Looking after these children was his responsibility too.
"Are you sure?! Peter, this will last not just for a few weeks or months, but for five years, maybe even longer. It will maintain Ed's condition until his heart can eventually be bridged to solve the blood supply issue."
Dr. Edward was shocked by Peter's boldness, but still warned him. Peter waved it off and confirmed.
"I'm fine. I recently found a very generous boss. He may not be entirely clean, but he has money, and as long as I keep working hard, I should be able to solve Ed's problem. Of course, if you could take on the entire orphanage's medical expenses, I'd be even more grateful!"
"You haven't given up yet!"
"Dr. Edward, actually, I'd love to invite you to set up a private hospital, one dedicated to serving these kids. They really need you."
There were some things that had to be done. Peter wasn't a saint. He could only patch things up here and there. Adults could be dealt with, but children were the future. What they would become was beyond his control, but he had no doubt that the adults had already made their way in life, with no chance for change. Killing them felt almost like a release of guilt and resistance.
"I'm not that powerful, but I'll consider it. A friend of mine will be visiting the hospital soon. His research might be useful for Ed. Curtis Cott Connors, a brilliant scientist. If the Second World War hadn't ruined his hand, he might have been greater than Stephen Hawking."
Peter was filled with hope at the mention of such a great scientist, hoping that this person could help solve Ed's condition. But deep down, he knew it would still be a difficult road. After chatting a bit longer with Dr. Edward, Peter excused himself. He had another task to attend to. The $30,000 share was from a poor family that had bought his house, and though it only earned him three points after conversion, it was still worth it. He needed to accumulate more.
He quickly took a taxi to a subway station in Queens, a place he didn't know the name of. It was unfamiliar to him. He put on a mask and hat and got off the taxi. He walked down the stairs to the waiting area, sat on a bench, and took out a newspaper. The news was mostly irrelevant, but the gossip about Hollywood in the entertainment section caught his attention. He read with interest, glancing at his watch. It was exactly 4:00 PM. He folded the newspaper, put it aside, and stood up, walking to the yellow line. He checked the surveillance cameras on both sides and lowered his hat to obscure his face.