Gamble of lies: Unspoken side of the story.

Origin(1/3)

             TRIGGER WARNING!! This story mentions death topics!

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  Sudden rush of people fulfilled narrow corridors of a small apartment. All the arguments between anxious people were cut midway by a loud woman's screams. Everyone gathered under the room's door, making it almost impossible for a father to come near them. Scream after another, making everyone even more anxious than before. But the most terrifying sound was silence that came after all those screams. It was as if everyone had held their breath as if they didn't want to miss that one specific sound. The child's cries. This sound brought an instant relief to all the gathered family members, especially the squeezed between doors and crowd anxious father. The door suddenly opened, releasing maidens from inside of the room, along with a medic. He held out his hands and congratulated Shufan for getting a firstborn son. Shufan, father of the newborn baby, stood in front of the door for a few seconds before pushing them open and getting inside the room.

      That's when he spotted his wife, Jiao, laying in the bed with their newborn child wrapped around with blankets. Jiao looked at her husband with a fading from exhaustion smile, nodding her head as a reassurance that he may come closer. Shufan slowly approached the bed, sitting on its edge and lurking towards a small creature wrapped in warm blankets. He couldn't help but smile after seeing his child, his firstborn. Such a small creature that will grow in a matter of time. Shufan placed a gentle kiss on his wife's forehead, whispering to her.

- You did so great, my love. Just look at him.. - said Shufan after gently caressing his finger against the baby's short hair.

- He's perfect, isn't he? - Jiao whispered with a weakened voice, leaning onto her husband's shoulder.

They both stared at a young boy, admiring his innocent beauty in silence before the father spoke.

- Have you thought of any name yet?

Woman nodded, turning her eyes to her child with a warm smile.

- How about.. Yuanjun? - Asked the woman, to which the baby only smiled and giggled, reaching its small hands towards his parents. They both let him grab their fingers and squeeze them with a look of adoration.

- I think he likes it. - Shufan giggled, caressing the small hand of the baby while he still squeezed his parents fingers.

      It wasn't much longer for the parents to absorb all the love and joy from this moment before something unexpected happened. The warm hands of the baby that had been holding onto his parents fingers just a few seconds ago, now turned cold and blue, letting go of the parent's fingers. They both exchanged worried looks before Shufan grabbed the baby and unwrapped it from all the blankets. Their child's body became much paler, with his hands and feet turning purple as it no longer breathed. The mother started hysterically calling for help, grabbing the medic's attention. He quickly ran into the room and approached the baby, pressing on his chest, massaging his cold back and arms in hope of the baby's health returning. But nothing more could have been done. Not before, not after an hour of attempts to save a child. Child, that was now gone.

      Whole family instead of planning a celebration party was now left with the weight of funeral organisations. All the joy and happiness from before, now turned into unbearable pain of loss. Tears of joy now became tears of sadness. Nothing was as before, and would never be.

      Some may say that time heals all kinds of wounds, but not this time. Years have passed, one after another, and all the wounds inside of this family's hearts have stayed the same. The worst news, however, was just about to be told. Shufan and Jiao were trying hard to bring another child to this world, but their efforts never paid off. The medic had to break the heartbreaking news. News of Jiao never being able to bear a child ever again. This information crushed their hearts to the very bits, leaving them both shattered in misery and pain.