The silent girl

Within the ward were four beds, yet the other three remained vacant. Only the one by the window held a girl. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded over her pillow in a manner both soft and majestic, much like the tresses of a fairy tale princess. It enveloped her fragile form, where strength and vulnerability clashed in discord. A sickly sheen tainted her pearl-white face.

The sound of the door opening failed to catch her attention. She gazed outside at the pale blue sky, the sparse sunlight lingering by her pallid lips. Faint signs of vitality flowed sluggishly within, but an overwhelming sense of lifelessness pervaded.

Her name was Hazel Cross, merely fifteen years old. She suffered from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), known colloquially as Lou Gehrig's disease. It was the most cruel affliction Renly had ever witnessed.

Patients gradually lost control over their muscles as the motor neurons gradually atrophied. Ultimately, they became entirely paralyzed, impacting basic bodily functions such as eating, breathing, and speaking. However, since the disease didn't affect sensory neurons, the patient's intelligence, memory, and senses remained unscathed. In other words, the patient could only watch helplessly as they progressively lost control, inching closer to death, powerless to intervene.

The process was slow and agonizing, a cumulative suffering that transformed each day into torment. Typically, patients lived for two to five years following the onset of symptoms. To this day, there existed no effective treatment, not even methods to delay its progression. In 2014, the globally viral "Ice Bucket Challenge" aimed to raise awareness for ALS.

Hazel was the first patient Renly looked after upon his arrival at Mount Sinai Hospital.

At the time, their interaction was harmonious, and Hazel, upon learning her diagnosis, maintained a positive attitude. However, after Renly left for half a year due to filming, Hazel transformed into a quiet and reserved individual. She refused to speak with Renly, ignoring his presence entirely.

Renly knew that Hazel was expressing her protest in her own way.

"New York's weather is exceptionally bright recently, an entire week of clear skies. I almost doubt if this is still New York," Renly remarked without expecting a response. He continued, lost in his own thoughts. "Did you listen to the record I brought last time? I told you, the British rock from the 1960s is true classic material. Choose any band from that era; they're all unforgettable. If you like, next week, I can bring Joy Division's debut album for you. It only has four songs, but it's quite experimental and interesting. It represents the embryonic stage of punk in the '70s."

Renly chattered away as though soliloquizing or entertaining himself. Occasionally, he cast a glance at Hazel, only to find her still unresponsive. It was as if he wasn't even in the room.

Observing Hazel's childlike behavior, Renly couldn't help but chuckle. He sat down by the nearby bed, extracting kite-making materials from his backpack. Spring had arrived, and Manhattan's winds were particularly strong. It was the perfect season for flying kites. Renly had prepared the materials at home last week, leaving only the final assembly for today.

"Renly! Renly!" A distant shout came closer as it neared the ward, stopping at the door. A small head gingerly poked through the gap. Who else but Alex? He flashed a wide smile and whispered, "I've finished my medicine!" Puffing out his chest proudly, he eagerly awaited Renly's praise.

Renly gave him a thumbs-up, which caused Alex to proudly shake his head. But his gaze soon fell on Hazel, making Alex hesitate, fearing to disturb her.

Renly ruffled the young boy's head with his large hand. "Would you like to join in?" Alex's attention was immediately captured, and he vigorously nodded. Renly pulled a stack of pre-cut sheets of paper from his backpack. "You can draw on these, whatever comes to your mind. Then we'll make them into the kite's tail, long and elongated..."

Alex didn't immediately take the paintbrush; he pondered for a moment before inquiring seriously, "So, it's like a Chinese dragon?"

Renly arched an eyebrow and chuckled. "Of course, why not?"

Having received affirmation, Alex eagerly accepted the paintbrush with a delighted smile. He then supported his chin with utmost seriousness and began to contemplate. This earnest demeanor amused Renly. "What are you doing?"

"I'm thinking about what to draw. I can't just doodle randomly," Alex replied matter-of-factly. Renly nodded hesitantly, responding in kind, "Indeed, you're right." Then, Renly clenched his fist and gave Alex a cheer of encouragement.

Observing Alex's earnest expression as if he were painting for an international competition, Renly felt a tinge of envy. Often, children were the most pure, dedicated, and uncomplicated individuals. Their behavior might appear childish, wasting time on what seemed "unnecessary" matters, but it was precisely this kind of innocence that had robbed adults of their source of joy.

Unconsciously, Renly retrieved a camera from his backpack, aiming it at Alex, and clicked the shutter. His experiences from a previous life had taught him to cherish every fleeting moment.

He sensed a shift in gaze from behind, and when Renly looked up, he saw Hazel's hurriedly turned head. The waterfall-like cascade of her silky hair slid smoothly, reflecting the play of light and shadow, betraying her little action. Renly's lips couldn't help but curl upwards. He lifted the camera towards Hazel, capturing this moment once again.

Hearing the "click" sound, Hazel snapped her head around, her eyes widening in anger. She scolded, "What are you doing?"

Renly, however, remained unfazed. He checked the result of the photo and answered nonchalantly, "I'm taking a picture."

Hazel's choked for a moment by this response. "Delete it! Don't you know that taking photos without someone's consent is incredibly impolite? If I wanted to, I could even take you to court!"

Renly lifted his head, flashing a faint smile at Hazel. "I know." This response only fueled the flames of anger in Hazel's pupils, heating up her gaze. Renly shook the camera in his hand. "If you don't like it, you can come and delete it yourself, or even smash the camera if you want." He casually placed the camera on the pristine bedsheet, wearing an expression that seemed to say, "I'll accommodate your wishes."

Hazel clenched her teeth, an urge to bite directly into Renly's neck surged within her. "You know very well..." Her words abruptly halted. As time went on, Hazel's condition became increasingly evident. Walking had become more difficult for her; that was why she remained on her bed, refusing to get up and move around.

Renly couldn't truly understand Hazel's current feelings, but he knew that Hazel would regret this in the future. Because at least she could still walk now, just with some inconvenience. When the time came that she couldn't walk anymore, it would be irreversible.

"Each one of us makes choices and pays the price for those choices," Renly shrugged. He didn't lecture Hazel directly, as they both understood these truths. But putting them into practical action wasn't as simple. These so-called truths were another form of torment for patients.

After saying that, Renly didn't continue paying attention to Hazel. He lowered his head and continued working on the kite in his hands.

Hazel glared at Renly in anger, her chest filled with emotions that couldn't be swallowed. Unfortunately, she couldn't release them; she could only take deep breaths, her chest heaving up and down. She clenched her fist, wanting to sit up and give Renly a hard punch, but... eventually, she turned her head again, gazing once more outside the window, letting the silence permeate the room again.

After a short while, Hazel even forgot about the passing time. The tranquility that had previously made her irritable gradually settled her agitated heart. Time seemed less boring and less excruciating. Even the unchanging scenery outside the window took on different hues.

Suddenly, Alex's voice, unable to contain its excitement, reached her. "It's done! It's done!" Hazel summoned all her strength, refraining from turning her head. Then she heard Renly's composed response, "Before the kite takes flight, it cannot be called a kite. How about it? Do you want to be the one who breathes life into it?"

"I do, I do!" Alex eagerly shouted, followed by a series of footsteps that gradually receded, eventually fading away.

However, Hazel couldn't help but freeze. Is that all? Did Renly not invite her even once? He didn't even say hello? No, Renly must still be in the room, waiting for her to turn around, waiting for her to concede. She wasn't that foolish! In this patient waiting game, she never feared that she would fail. Let's see who would lower their head first!

Unconsciously, Hazel clenched her fist, forcing herself to persist and not look back; otherwise, that would be admitting defeat.

The passage of time began to feel more distinct, as if the sound of an hourglass's slow descent could be heard. However, the quietness in the room made Hazel feel somewhat uneasy. This same quietness that now surrounded Hazel gave her skin a thin layer of coldness. "Hazel!" a voice came from behind, startling her. Yet, before her inner delight could surface, she realized that the calling voice wasn't Renly's. Because within her line of sight, Renly had already arrived downstairs with Alex, and a group of other children followed beside them, like a mother hen with her chicks.

"Hazel?" the voice from behind called once again. Hazel let out a long breath, masking her emotions. She turned her head to face the person, pulling the corners of her mouth into a faint, weary smile. "Jennifer, good afternoon."

Jennifer Lawrence also offered a big smile. "Good afternoon."