Please tell me he is alive

Jiang Ying

My eyes tear up as I wait outside the ICU for my brother to come out and tell me he is alright and I don't have to worry about anything, but there is no sight of him.

He is inside the operating theatre getting his heart treated; this is the second time he has taken it in the same month. I walk closer to the door, placing my hand over it.

'Brother, please, give your sister a little time. I promise I will bring the money. I am not ready to let you go too. Please don't leave me alone,' I begged, hoping he would listen to me.

I waited hours outside the room for news—any news of my brother—and finally the doctors walked out of the room. I searched for the attending doctor, and he was standing with a sad smile on his face.

"How is he?" I ask, walking closer to him, sniffling, trying everything to make sure no tears spill.

"Jian Ying, I-" Please don't stutter; I beg you, I can't handle it, "Please tell me he is alive." My voice stuck up my throat, and I begged every God to let him stay with me a little longer. I have no one except him.

"He is alive; he needs rest and a donor." He was quick this time. I heaved a sigh of relief, moving behind and hitting the wall behind me, and my knees gave in, making me fall to my feet.

It's been six months, and I've checked every organ donation, but in vain. There were thousands of people waiting for a single donor, and Lian is not giving me enough time; his heart is giving up, and that is making it even harder than it actually was. These six months, we've been through everything. I sold every single thing I had, even the house. We pretty much lived in the hospital. After the first attack, his heart was getting weaker and weaker, and he couldn't live without the help of the machines.

"You must find the donor; his heart is-" He paused, gazing at me, and I shook my head, telling him not to say anything more. "I know it's hard, but you merely have a week," he continued, and gave me the truth, the reality that I was trying to hide from.

I am not ready for my brother to leave; I can't live in this world alone. I was the older child, but he was the one I relied more on and now he is lying in bed, fighting for his life, I will do anything to help him.

'Just a week' the words echo in my mind, 'This is not the time to cry Jiang Ying, let's go' My brain pushed me up and I looked at Kai "Be with him, I'll be back soon"

I didn't even wait for him to answer and ran towards the exit of the hospital, wiping the tears from my face, this is not the time to cry, but to find the donor.

The people rushed to the exit, taking pictures. I looked and noticed this was all for some celebrity leaving the hospital, pushing everyone around the course. I ran to the old man, who was almost crushed in the crowd and spilled all the soup he brought in the tumbler.

"Are you okay?" I asked him; he looked weak, and his clothes were all drenched in the soup he brought.

"Yes, thank you. I am so sorry your dress is all covered in soup." He apologised right away, and it made my heart ache for him even more; he was covered in more soup than me.

"Please, Grandpa, don't say that elders shouldn't apologise, and your clothes are more covered in the soup." I paused and pulled out a pair of clothes that I always carry for Jiang Ming and gave them to him.

"You can wear these," He looked at me confused, and I chuckled at his gaze. "It's my brother's, not mine." I cleared, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, thank you, child," He replied, smiling, taking the clothes from me.

"What is your name?" The old man asked, and there was nothing wrong with saying my name, "Jiang Ying, Grandpa." I replied with a smile on my face, and my phone vibrated, dragging my attention to my cell phone.

"Grandpa, don't forget to get your ankle checked, it might be twisted, I saw you limping, please take care." I walked away but came back and pulled some money out of my purse and handed him the money.

I know this might hurt his pride but I couldn't let him leave without getting checked. "It's your allowance." I tried my best so that my words didn't hurt him.

"Thank you, child," He replied with a wide smile, and it made my day. I stood out as all the reporters and fans left the hospital.