Sold?

"Here's the rest of the payment." I deposited the money for Noah's medical fees to the hospital accountant.

"Thank you very much." The accountant took the money and handed me the receipt.

I forced a smile, took the piece of paper and went to see Noah.

I opened the door to his room. The doctor was already there examining him as he lay on the bed.

I walked up to them, "Hello Doctor Kim."

"Hello Nora." He glanced at me, "I heard you've deposited the fee today." He examined the papers in his hands.

"Yes, for the surgery and for this months charge."

"In four months you managed to earn enough that you paid for all the bills." He put his papers down and looked at me, "I hope you're not doing anything that will harm you."

"Does that matter?" I looked back at him, "It's not like the hospital will allow him to stay here for free."

He turned his gaze away without saying anything. There was nothing he could have said anyway.

He just walked out of the room.

I went and sat on the stool by Noah's bed. He still hadn't woken up.

"Noah…" I whispered as I took his hand in both of mine and brought it next to my cheek, "Wake up. You don't need to worry about the money now. I'm earning enough."

Although I can't tell you I'm earning so much now because I took a job as a bar dancer, "I'm waiting for you Noah." I placed his hand back on the bed, "Everyday…"

I stood up.

Everyday I hope you'll wake up.

Everyday I go home and hope that you'll be there in the kitchen, wearing that sloppy girlish apron while failing to make anything other than an egg and boiled rice.

I smiled.

"I'll be going now." I said in a soft tone, "I'll come by tomorrow."

***

As the weeks passed and turned into months I got more used to my job. I still visited Noah everyday and went to school but my nights belonged to the nightclub bar.

With the passage of time I started losing faith of Noah's recovery.

The doctor's weren't sure either but I was still wishing, deep in my heart that he won't leave me.

Even though he hadn't woken up for a year, his presence was enough to keep me going.

Just like any other day I sat by his side with his hand in mine and I talked to him.

"Noah." In the soft voice I always use I said, "Remember how you always nagged at me when I said I wanted to skip school?" I snickered at myself, "You'd say, 'You can't skip school! You have to complete your studies and become a big person!'"

I looked at his sleeping face.

Eyes shut softly, chest lightly rising and falling as if there was nothing wrong with you.

As if you were taking an afternoon nap…

"I don't even think about skipping school anymore." I told him as a gentle breeze made the white curtains flutters, making its way it, "I go everyday. I somehow manage to complete my homework too." The room had a nice soft yellow-orange glow in it.

I didn't know what had gotten into me. I felt like I wanted to talk to him longer, more than usual.

Maybe it was because I missed him very much.

He was my everything.

My brother, my dad, my mother, my shelter and my happiness.

"Noah. I know I tell you this everyday but please wake up." I looked at him and I don't know why but I had this sudden urge to cry and I didn't stop myself.

I let the tears flow down my cheeks.

In my heart I wished that he would see or feel this and wake up to wipe these tears away.

"I miss you Noah…" I hiccuped as I continued crying, "I miss you so much…" My vision got blurry as I continued to weep.

I wondered if God was punishing me for something but I couldn't find out where and when did I do something wrong.

"Noah…" I sniffled, "Don't go. I know you're growing weak day by day." I wiped my tears away with my other hand to see him better, "Please!" I begged him.

Just then I felt his hand that was in mine move.

I froze and looked at his hand. The fingers moved again.

I was shaken at the sight.

"D-d-doctor!!" I yelled, squeezed his hand in mine and yelled again, "Doctor!!! Nurse!!!" I kept calling out to them till a nurse came in.

"Nurse! Call Doctor Kim, Noah's hand moved!"

The nurse nodded and left to get him. It only took a few minutes for him to come and I told him the story.

"This might be good." Doctor Kim smiled at me, "He went into a vegetative state so I had given up hope."

"He will get better right!?!" I asked him and I was sure my eyes were twinkling at the moment.

He didn't reply immediately. There was something on his mind but then he chose to smile, "Let's hope for the best- No. He will get better."

I too, chose to ignore the former statement and focused on the latter.

I was overjoyed and went to work quite satisfied.

Finally!

Finally the good I had wished for was coming to me.

***

I finished my performance quite late that night.

I wore a small coat went to the backstage room to rest. I opened my locker and saw my phone buzz.

I had just received a message.

I took it out and noticed I had 9 missed calls from the hospital. I started feeling anxious and proceeded to open the message from Doctor Kim.

'Nora. Your brother is leaving this world.'

My heart dropped as soon as I read that single line in the text.

No.

I shook my head.

No!!!

I started getting a panic attack but ignored it.

My first thought was to run out, straight to the hospital and that's what I did.

It was a chilly night so I took a taxi and arrived at the hospital.

As soon as we reached I burst out and began running towards the main door. Before I could enter someone caught me by my shoulders and pulled me aside.

I looked at the person, "Doctor!"

As soon as he saw my appearance he sighed and took off his coat, "Wear this. Many people are in there. You wouldn't want people to know what you've been doing all this time, now would you?"

"Who cares!! I have to go to Noah!!"

I tried slipping out of his grip but he forced his long coat on me. As soon as he finished I ran to his room.

"Noah!" I yelled his name and burst in his room. Many people were there, including Noah's work fellows. But I paid attention to no one and ran straight to his bed.

He was lying there like any other day.

Eyes softly shut as if he was just sleeping.

"Noah?" I called out to him, ignoring the straight line on the heart monitor, "Noah? I came for you. Wake up please." I said again, ignoring the fact his chest was no longer rising and falling. "Noah!!!" I screamed and then shook him.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, "He's gone Nora." It was Doctor Kim, "He's dead." As I heard those words, I felt something inside of me die, "We're going to start his funeral process with your permission."

I looked at him with dead eyes.

I wanted to scream at him. Yell at him and even beat him.

He told me to hope for the best!! He said Noah would get better!

He lied to me….

"Okay…" I answered.

None of it mattered now…