Chapter 4

The day I was scheduled to leave, it was pouring rain.

Chloe insisted on taking me to a bakery across town to get some pastries.

She said sweet things would make me feel better.

Nathan held an umbrella, walking beside us.

But the umbrella was tilted heavily over Chloe's head.

My shoulder was completely soaked by the rain.

But I didn't say anything.

That was the "benefit" of my Delayed Pain Syndrome. They thought I couldn't feel the cold.

We used to be inseparable, but now we walked in dead silence.

Chloe kept her head down, and Nathan's voice sounded strained.

"Sera... there's something I've been meaning to tell you..."

He leaned forward, finally ready to confess the secret he had been hiding for months.

But as we reached the intersection.

A speeding delivery scooter swerved to avoid a puddle and lost control, rushing straight toward us.

It was incredibly fast.

I tried to reach out and pull Chloe back, but my slow reflexes caused me to trip and fall toward her instead.

Nathan's face twisted in panic. He shoved me away violently.

"Chloe!"

His powerful push sent me flying directly into the path of the speeding scooter.

The impact was brutal.

I was thrown into the air and rolled several times on the rough asphalt.

Nathan hugged Chloe tightly, yelling at me in a rage:

"Sera! How can you be so cruel? Did you seriously try to push Chloe into the scooter to save yourself?!"

But when he saw my blood-covered face, he froze.

I lay in a dirty puddle, dark red blood flowing down my forehead, staining the water.

Nathan instinctively let go of Chloe and tried to help me up.

"Sera, I..."

In his arms, Chloe let out a weak whimper.

Her eyes fluttered, and she fainted.

Nathan stopped moving toward me. "Chloe! Chloe, wake up!"

I lay on the ground, watching them.

The cold rain hit my wounds. It burned like fire.

My Delayed Pain Syndrome had failed me. I felt everything.

I struggled to lift my head, looking at Nathan, who was only a few feet away.

My lips moved weakly:

"Nathan... it hurts..."

But the rain was too loud.

He didn't hear me.

His mind and eyes were entirely on the unconscious Chloe.

Eventually, the wail of sirens pierced the rain.

Paramedics rushed out with stretchers.

I fought to keep my eyes open.

I saw Nathan's silhouette.

But this time, he wasn't running to save me.

He picked Chloe up in his arms.

He rushed toward the first ambulance.

The medic stopped him. "Sir, the other girl is in critical condition! She's losing too much blood!"

Nathan held Chloe tightly, screaming hysterically:

"She just has some scratches!"

"Sera can wait! She has Delayed Pain Syndrome! She doesn't feel pain like we do! She can take the next ambulance!"

"But Chloe can't! She's pregnant! She can't stand the sight of blood! She can't wait!"

The young man's screaming voice pierced through the rain.

It tore my heart into pieces.