10
And so, the days passed, and Lucas Ryan returned to work at the hospital.
Everything seemed to go back to normal–except for the fact that I was really, truly dead.
I often sat in the hospital’s small garden, lost in thought, unable to understand why I couldn’t leave Lucas Ryan’s side.
Before I knew it, it was the day Evelyn Snow was discharged.
As her attending physician, Lucas was called up to the sixteenth floor to perform her final checkup.
I followed him into the room and was greeted by the sight of Evelyn, dressed to the nines. Without her hospital gown, she looked as though she had never been sick a day in her life.
“You’re here?” she said casually, glancing at Lucas with a bright smile. “Finally, I get to leave this place.”
“I won’t have to worry about anything going wrong with me again,” she added, running a hand over her chest as she laughed lightly.
Lucas didn’t respond. He silently walked over and began the usual procedures for her discharge examination.
The room was quiet. It was just the two of them–and me, invisible, watching from the sidelines.
As Lucas checked her vitals, he suddenly broke the silence.
“Do you feel even the slightest qui
1:07 PM
<
“Do you feel even the slightest guilt about Claire?”
Evelyn’s expression didn’t falter. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and let out a mocking laugh.
♡
“She’s dead. What’s there to feel guilty about? That heart would’ve rotted away if it wasn’t used. At least it went to good use–it saved my life.”
Hearing her words, I wanted nothing more than to tear my own heart out of her chest. But I was powerless, just a fading ghost of a memory.
Lucas, however, wasn’t powerless.
Before either Evelyn or I could react, he pulled a scalpel from somewhere and drove it straight into her chest.
The blade pierced her left side, and bright red blood spilled out instantly.
The pain snapped Evelyn out of her smugness, and she screamed, trying to push Lucas away.
But the difference in their strength was too great. No matter how hard she struggled, it was useless.
Lucas’s eyes were bloodshot, his grip firm as he pressed the knife deeper. Evelyn’s movements grew weaker, her breathing more labored. Her wide, terrified eyes remained open, even as her body went limp.
By the time she stopped moving, the room was surrounded. The hallway outside was filled with hospital staff and onlookers.
I stood frozen, watching from a distance, unable to believe what had just happened.
Lucas released the scalpel, his blood–soaked hands trembling as he turned around. His gaze landed in my direction, and to my shock, he smiled–softly, tenderly.
“Claire,” he murmured, “I know you’re still here.”
“I’m sorry. I hurt you in ways I can never take back.”
He paused, his voice heavy with emotion. “Evelyn Snow had no remorse. So I made sure she died at her happiest. Consider this my way of avenging you.”
For a moment, it felt like our eyes met, though I knew he couldn’t truly see me.
The chaos outside intensified, and the sound of police sirens echoed from below.
Lucas’s pristine white coat had been soaked crimson, but he didn’t look afraid. Instead, he smiled at me again, his expression calm and resolute.
“I don’t know if I can ever atone for what I’ve done to you,” he said.
“But, Claire… after losing you, I realized I can’t live without you.”
“I was a fool. You probably cried so many times behind my back…” His voice broke, but he steadied himself.
“I’m not asking for forgiveness. But please… when I come to find you, don’t hide from me, okay?”
“I swear, I’ve learned my lesson.”
Just as he finished speaking, the door burst open, and armed officers stormed into the room.
Lucas glanced at them briefly before stepping back toward the window.
At first, I thought he was trying to escape.
But then he turned to me one last time, his eyes filled with a softness I hadn’t seen in years.
“I’m sorry, Claire,” he whispered. “And… I love you.”
With those final words, he stepped onto the windowsill and let himself fall.
“I’m sorry, Claire,” he whispered. “And… I love you.”
With those final words, he stepped onto the windowsill and let himself fall.
He thought that by doing this, he’d be able to see me again.”
But love that comes too late is worth less than dirt.
I stood there, unmoved, as police and doctors swarmed into the room. In the chaos, no one noticed as I quietly faded away into nothingness.
“Lucas Ryan,” I said softly, knowing he couldn’t hear me, “if we ever meet again…”
7 promise, I’ll never fall in love with you.”
(The End)
