Even After Death

Chapter 46

Everly muttered, “Look how dumb I am. My ears are already acting up at this age, haha. I actually heard you say you have stomach cancer. The anger 1 feel for that bastard must have gone to my cars.”

Olivia lessed her palm to the back of Everly’s hand and said gently, “Eve, you have to face reality.”

Everly stopped what she was doing and looked up at Olivia through blurry eyes. “You’re kidding, right?”

However, Olivia’s eyes were dead serious. “You know I never joke around. I was going through chemotherapy when I cut my hair short last time.”

Everly fought back her tears to no avail. She grabbed Olivia’s hand tightly, still unable to fathom it. “It must be a misdiagnosis! You’re so young and strong as a bull. How could you have stomach cancer?!”

Olivia sat her down and explained everything.

Everly’s face was covered in tears. With them both being so young, she had always taken their good health for granted. She couldn’t comprehend that such a terminal illness had hit so close to home. Everything happening around her now felt surreal, like a dream.

“N–No worries. The medical field is very advanced now. I’m sure you’ll be fine if you work with the doctor on your treatment.”

Everly wiped her tears using the back of her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you went through so much. I will tag along for your chemotherapy sessions. I’m doing well financially now, so I can afford to not work for a year. I’ll be with you until you get better.”

Olivia gently shook her head as her eyes gazed out the window lifelessly. “Eve, let’s go and enjoy the aurora together.”

“Okay. Once you get better, that is. And not just the aurora. Even if you want the stars in the sky, I’d pluck them just for you.”

“Someone once said they would pluck the stars for me too.”

Everly wanted to smack Olivia’s head. “You hopeless romantic. He doesn’t want you anymore. Why are you still thinking about him? Get better soon and date around to get back at him.”

“Eve, you can’t blame him. He’s sick too.”

“He has cancer too? I hope it’s at the later stages. You can stay with him for a little longer, and then his inheritance will become yours once he dies.”

Olivia was unsure whether to laugh or cry. “Come, let me tell you everything.”

They finally laid down on the bed as Olivia explained everything to her from the beginning.

Her voice was sweet. It was like the light breeze on a summer evening, blowing one’s worries away.

Everly was silent after listening to everything. “So, he is blaming you for his sister’s death? And he cheated to get back at you?

Isn’t he even more of a scum now?”

Olivia rebutted, “I can understand the care and guilt he feels toward his sister. If it happened to me, I wouldn’t sit there and do nothing, either. He is suffering more than we could imagine.”

“Liv, you can’t just cook up excuses for his shitty behavior because he’s suffering too! Quit being a hopeless romantic for him. Since he is letting you go, then go your separate ways. Take his alimony and leave.”

“Eve, have you gotten over Josh yet?”

Everly fell silent. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

It was not easy letting go of a relationship of many years.

“I need time. Time heals everything. Even the vows you made when you were madly in love could be washed away by time until there’s nothing left, right? No love lasts in this world.”

“But I have no time anymore,” Olivia muttered.

Don’t give up on your treatment.”

“Eve, do you know what chemotherapy feels like? It feels like someone sucks everything in your body dry. I’m in pain. Everywhere hurts, and I have no strength. I’m so useless. This is only the first stage. They will put the chemicals into my bones in the later stages. It’s going to be so painful.”

“My father is still unconscious in the hospital, and my mother remarried a long time ago. The only man I’ve loved in my life has found his happin