After leaving the dying husband’s ward, Anna was about to head home when she suddenly overheard a secret conversation between two nurses. Realizing what exactly they were talking about, the woman was truly horrified.
Having said goodbye to the dying man, Anna walked out of the hospital and didn’t notice the tears streaming down her cheeks. She walked slowly, as if her legs no longer obeyed her, and stopped by the wall of the building to catch her breath.
Just six months ago, Mark had been a strong, confident man. He laughed, made plans, promised that they had a long life ahead of them. Anna believed him unconditionally. He had always been there, always protected her, always knew what to say.
And now he lay in intensive care. A white room, cold light, tubes, wires, machines that breathed for him.
“Everything will be fine,” Mark whispered when she squeezed his hand. “We’ll get through this.”
Anna nodded, although she knew it wasn’t true. The doctors had been blunt. The disease was progressing too quickly. No donor had been found. There was almost no time left.
She stepped outside. It was the beginning of winter. People hurried about their business. The world went on — as if nothing had happened.
Anna sat down on a bench near the hospital building and covered her face with her hands. Tears flowed on their own. She didn’t try to stop them.
After a few minutes, she felt a little better. She took a deep breath and was about to get up when she heard voices from behind the wall.
Two nurses were standing around the corner of the building, not noticing her. They spoke quietly, but every word was clearly audible.
Hearing what exactly they were talking about, Anna was horrified. Continued in the first comment.
“She’s not suitable as a donor for him anyway,” one said wearily.
“Yes, her test results are bad. Such a pity… And he essentially has no other options.”
Anna flinched. Her heart began to pound harder.
“You don’t know?” the second continued, lowering her voice. “His mistress came yesterday. Got tested for compatibility.”
“Seriously?”
“Absolutely. She’s a match on all points. And her kidneys are completely healthy.”
Anna found it hard to breathe. Her ears began to ring.
“Then why isn’t the surgery being done?” asked the first.
“The patient refused. He said he’d rather die than have his wife find out about the mistress.”
A short pause followed.
“What about anonymous donation?” one of the nurses added uncertainly.
“Who knows… He’s stubborn. And after that — it’s not our problem anymore.”
“Poor wife…”
The voices faded away, and Anna stood there, unable to feel her legs. The world around her seemed to freeze. Only her heart beat dully somewhere in her chest.
He wasn’t dying because there was no way out. There was a way out. He simply chose silence.
Anna stared at the ICU door and didn’t know what she felt more strongly — the pain that her husband had cheated on her and lied, or the relief that he could still be saved.
