Chapter 5%
D
My head was spinning and all I could remember was being taken to the police station, after which I lost consciousness.
I did not know how long I was unconscious because when I woke up again, I found out I was locked up in a police station and a doctor was bandaging me.”
Jill and her group of people stood on the opposite side of the room. They were recounting loudly how I had initiated a brawl and as a result the waiter’s face became bruised and swollen.
“It was him!” he said. “He smashed my cousin’s drink. My cousin stayed silent, but he made the first move and beat him up! Looked at my cousin! He disfigured my cousin’s face.“}]
“How can a man with ethics like that deserve to call himself a doctor?” He continued. “Arrest him and revoke his license! If we don’t teach him a lesson, he’ll go out and beat others.“}
I looked at the police officer who was taking my statement. I was embarrassed and flustered. “Officer, I didn’t start this. I was just ….“} The officer gave me a look of weary sympathy. “You’ve got bad luck. Why do you have to mess around with him? He’s been here three times already this month and it’s the same thing every time.”
“We reviewed the footage,” he added. “It’s inconclusive, but with so many people corroborating their story, the evidence is stacked against you. We can reduce the penalty, but you’ll still have to face some consequences. You have to stay seven days in detention or fifteen hundred dollars for the bail. Contact our relatives to make a decision.”
Contact my relatives? All relatives that I have is Jill.”
From the very beginning, my parents opposed me being with Jill, so I broke my relationship with them.
Then what about my relatives and friends? They were so scared of me because I kept borrowing money from them all these years. When I thought about it, regret–filled my being.“}
I turned to look at Jill and pleaded, “Jill, if you help me by bailing me out, I’ll divorce you and never pester you again. I still have a lot of work to do at the hospital, if the detention gets out, I’ll probably be fired. Please.”}
Some naive part of me still hoped she’d show a sliver of compassion. If she helped me this time, I told myself, I’d forgive everything.” Yet, she did not.
She sneered at me, “Losing a job? That’s barely a fit punishment for someone like you. I want you to suffer and not be able to raise your head again for the rest of your life.“}
She tossed the wedding ring I had once given her onto the floor harshly, stomping on it along with the last of my dignity.”
After making the statement, they walked out with head held high.”
I was left standing there alone staring at the telephone, not knowing who to call.}
The police officer escorted me to the barren detention cell. It had nothing but a cold bed. I curled up in the corner and buried my head hard in my knees.”
Drifting into an uneasy sleep, I dreamed of a frozen wasteland.
There, Jill sat on the ground with thin clothes on her body. She stretched her hands toward me with agony, “Husband, help me. My legs… I can’t move them ….”
Without thinking, I ran to her, reaching out to pull her up. When my hand reached her shoulders, she suddenly transformed into a vicious beast, swallowing me in one bite, no matter how much I struggled, only darkness was left around me.}
I woke with a start, drenched in cold sweat. The icy air of October night bit at my skin and I realized I was trembling with cold.”
Suddenly, a warm coat was draped over my shoulders and I realized that Jeremy had come at some point.
“Maxwell, it’s below zero at night now,” he said. “why are you only wearing a short sleeve and slippers?“}
I looked at my toes. They had frozen purple so I laughed to myself.”
I was so focused on chasing Jill that I forgot to change my clothes and shoes.
Surprisingly, Jill did not realize it either or maybe she had but she just did not care.
Jeremy was my doctor when I was just an intern. He was the head of surgery at the provincial hospital. He was five years older than me and had always been like a real older brother to me.”
He treated me with the same kind of hatred and pain.”
‘Maxwell, how many times did I tell you to go on a business trip but you refuse? I’ve told you to go abroad for training or take on a better position, but you refused everything I told you. You are wasting your talent and future on someone who doesn’t care about you. Look where that’s gotten you. You were beaten, broke and stuck. Tell me, is it worth it?” he asked.
1 lowered my head and said nothing.
After a long silence, he gave out a long sigh and continued, “There’s still a chance to turn things around. The hospital has an opening for overseas training. With your skills, you could excel there. If you’re willing, I’ll recommend you.”
I nodded my head fiercely and finally, I broke down, covered my face and cried loudly.
That night I got seriously sick. Jeremy asked for a letter for me. He took care of me after work.”
Meanwhile, I did not realize that Jill had packed all her things and disappeared. Also, this house had already been mortgaged, so there was no property to be disputed at all between us.”
Under Jeremy’s professional care, I healed quickly.
There was still a week to go abroad, so I rented out the house and after that, I simply prepared the things I needed to use to go abroad and prepared to further my education.
When I returned to my home country, not only I would be promoted but my salaries would be double and I wouldn’t have to pay for the expensive treatment, so I was sure I would be able to pay off my debts in no time.l
Everything seemed to be full of possibilities all of a sudden.