Chapter 2

I was preparing for my second drug trial. The nurse, about to insert the needle, froze when she saw the massive rotting sores on my arm.

She gasped, her hand shaking so hard that the syringe dropped to the floor.

They rushed me in for a full medical examination.

Before I could even ask about the rotting skin, they dragged me out and threw me onto the street.

The nurse threw my cash and the medical report right at my face.

"You have skin cancer and you still dared to come for drug trials? How desperate for money are you? You signed the waiver, so even if you died on our table, it’s on you. Take the money and get the hell out. Don't you dare try to sue us!"

Those words hit me like a lightning bolt. I froze on the pavement.

Ever since the trials started, my skin had been incredibly itchy and flaky.

Every time Sarah struggled to sweep up the dry skin from my bedsheets, I felt so incredibly guilty.

I never imagined it was the prelude to my death.

Dejected, I picked up the report and stared at the bold letters, desperately wishing my eyes were playing tricks on me.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

Sarah’s gentle voice echoed in my ear.

"Chloe, we’re working extra hours for some cash today and won't make it back for lunch. Remember to cook for Austin."

I swallowed my tears and choked out a quiet, "Okay." My feet felt like lead as I walked back home.

Seeing Austin lying on the bed, I immediately shoved the medical report under my wooden cot.

But looking at him, my eyes welled up with tears.

Austin looked at me and whispered, "I'm sorry, Chloe. I'm holding you back. Honestly, it's fine if I skip lunch."

I walked over and sat by his bed for a long time before I could find my voice.

"Austin, what will you do if I’m not here one day?"

Austin gently patted my head, his eyes full of affection.

"What are you talking about? I’d die for you before I let anything happen to you. You're going to be fine. We just have to stay strong. Things will get better soon."

But I wasn’t going to get better. I stood up, wiped my tears, and did something I never did—I bought some fresh eggs to boil for Austin.

As soon as the food was on the table, David and Sarah dragged their exhausted bodies through the door.

They pulled a bunch of bruised, discarded lettuce leaves from their tattered canvas bags.

David took a big gulp of cold tap water, looking excited. "Sarah was so fast today. She grabbed these from the supermarket dumpster before anyone else. They're fresher than usual!"

I looked at them, but my mind was completely blank.

Sarah pulled a gourmet cupcake from her bag and placed it in my hand.

"It's your birthday today. We can't afford a cake, but you should still have something sweet."

I held the heavy, beautifully frosted cupcake, but I couldn't bring myself to smile.

The words from the medical report kept spinning in my head.

The sweet aroma of the frosting snapped me back to reality. I placed the cupcake in front of Austin.

"Give it to Austin. I don't really like sweets."

Austin pushed my hand back. "It's your birthday, Chloe. You eat it. I'll just take a tiny taste of the frosting to celebrate."

Saying that, he dipped his finger in the frosting and licked it.

A gourmet cupcake like this cost as much as our grocery budget for a week. No matter what, I couldn't swallow it.

David and Sarah sat down at the table, gnawing on stale, yellowed bread.

They refused to touch the boiled eggs I made.

Looking at their mismatched, oversized clothes rescued from thrift store dumpsters, my heart ached with agonizing pain.

The terror of knowing I was going to die was slowly washed away by sheer pity for my family.

I wanted to beg my parents for comfort, but I chose to keep my mouth shut about the cancer.

If my death meant one less mouth to feed, and if it could make their lives easier, then I was willing to die.