Oh my Ghost [YiZhan FF]

Chapter 17 - Without Zhan

When we were only a kilometer away from the address, Zhan finally disappeared. He was just gone and I had to stop for a moment. I started crying and couldn't hold on to myself anymore. I prayed for Zhan to make it and somehow make it into his body. But the chance was tiny, because it was still a kilometer away to his body.

After I calmed down, I drove on to the address. I felt so lonely. It was strange not to hear Zhan happily chatting next to me about anything. It was so quiet and not even the music from the radio seemed to be able to break that silence.

Shortly after I drove on, I arrived at the address. An old brick house that had been renovated a few years ago. I know it because there were many articles about it in the newspaper. The house used to be the main post office and was empty for many years. Then a private real estate company bought it and they had it renovated from the ground up. Then they sold the new apartments that were built. Only two were rented.

I collected myself once more before getting out of the car and walking to the front door. I saw the name "Jiang" immediately and did not hesitate to ring the bell. But no one answered. A neighbor came and said there was never anyone home before evening. Only a nurse would come there in between to check on a patient who was in a coma.

Since I had no intention of going back without seeing Zhan first, I sat down in my car and waited there. Hour after hour passed and no one came. What if Zhan made it and woke up in the meantime, but no one was home to notice? I swayed back and forth like a drunk between worry and hope, praying, praying over and over that he made it and was okay.

I thought, no matter if he remembers me or not. The main thing is HE is and the most important thing is that he is well.

Again and again I looked at the clock and wondered when someone would finally come home. I was hungry, I was thirsty and I had to go to the bathroom, but I didn't move an inch because I was afraid I would miss Yanli or Cheng coming back. Thanks to the file, I now knew what they looked like. If only they would finally come.

Late in the afternoon, I saw a nurse enter the house. I was immediately fixated on the entrance. But after not even five minutes she came back down, got into her car and drove away. So Zhan had not woken up. And why did it happen so quickly? Had she just gone up there to check on things and left again?

Time suddenly seemed to stand still. Darkness fell, the streetlights came on and shrouded everything in an orange light. Tiny snowflakes fell from the sky and landed on my windshield, telling me that winter was coming soon. Many people hurriedly ran home. And I waited.

It became 7 pm, 8 pm, then 9 pm and still they didn't come home. Where were Yanli and Cheng? Why did they leave Zhan unattended for so long? Why didn't anyone take care of him? Did they think it was not important because he was in a coma? Everything was dark up there. No light, not even a small one for Zhan!

By the time it got to 11 pm, I was so angry that I would have loved to kick down the door to that apartment. My worry for Zhan soon drove me mad. And then, at last, I saw a woman wearing a thin coat and drunk walking down the street and toward the front entrance. I waited until she was close enough and I could be sure it was Yanli.

And then when I saw that it was really her, I jumped out of the car and asked, "How can you leave Zhan alone all day? Why is no one with him?"

She stared at me in horror, wanting to know who I was. I told her my name and she asked, "And what do you want with my brother?"

"I want to see him."

"Why?"

"Because it's important. If I explain it to you, you probably won't believe me. But, I really need to see him."