Bus 732

Chapter 33: "You Promised"

En's mind was clouded with panic as she rushed out of the restaurant, her fear for her sister growing with every step after Sasha's call. In her frenzy, she crossed the road without paying attention. A car's horn blared sharply, startling her enough to make her jump back just in time to avoid being hit. Still disoriented, she continued to back up slowly, oblivious to another vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. Suddenly, a loud bang and screeching of tires echoed through the busy street, capturing the attention of everyone nearby.

As people gathered in panic around her, En lay on the side of the road, barely conscious with blood smeared across her face. Despite her dire condition, she struggled to reach for her phone, still connected to Sasha on the other end.

Sasha winced as the loud bang and screeching from the phone line hurt her ear. After the initial shock, she could still hear a jumble of voices and commotion, suggesting something serious had happened. The background noise grew more chaotic, filled with indistinct chatter and urgent murmurs, leaving her increasingly anxious about En’s situation.

"Hey En! What happened? What was that noise?" Sasha asked urgently, but all she could hear were the muffled sounds of people chattering and commotion in the background.

Sasha continued calling En’s name, her anxiety mounting as she waited for a response. Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice came through the line. A man, having picked up En’s phone after the accident, spoke calmly but urgently. He explained to Sasha that En had been struck by a speeding vehicle and was injured. Sasha was deeply shocked to learn that En had been involved in the accident. Overwhelmed with a mix of fear and urgency, she quickly provided the man on the other line the hospital address. She hoped the responders would get there in time to ensure En received the care she needed.

The ambulance stretcher wheeled En into the emergency room with urgency, and Sasha, who had been waiting anxiously, watched as the medical team swiftly moved into action. Having left Posy with Bian to avoid causing them unnecessary panic, Sasha focused solely on En. She saw her friend lying on a bed, still barely conscious, as nurses transferred her to another bed. Sasha approached, her heart racing, as a doctor and several nurses began urgently attending to En's injuries.

"En, please stay calm. You're going to be okay."

Sasha urged, her voice trembling with worry as she stood beside the bed. En, barely conscious, managed to extend a trembling hand, slowly handing Sasha an envelope she had been gripping tightly before the accident.

"Please, Sasha," En whispered weakly, her struggle to speak evident as she clung to the last ounce of her strength.

Sasha's hands trembled as she took the envelope from En. Inside, she found the cash that En had withdrawn earlier, intended for Posy's surgery. Along with the money, there was a folded piece of paper. When Sasha unfolded it, a card fell to the floor. Picking it up, she saw it was an organ donor card.

As Sasha read the enclosed paper, she discovered the test results confirming that En’s heart was a compatible match for Alina. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her as she processed the gravity of En's gesture.

“En, you’re going to be okay. Stay with me. Posy needs you.”

Sasha pleaded through her tears, her face streaked with emotion.

En, her voice barely audible, managed a faint smile as she replied, “You promised.”

Then, her eyes closed, and she passed out, leaving Sasha overwhelmed with a mix of hope and despair.

As the doctor worked to revive En, Sasha was asked to step aside, her heart heavy with worry. En’s pulse was weak, her condition critical. Dr. Zhao, on his way to Alina’s room upstairs after hearing about the emergency on his patient, recognized En on the bed. His concern deepened as he took in the situation, understanding the gravity of the moment for both En and Alina.

Sasha overheard Dr. Zhao confirming En’s identity as he approached the team working to revive her. Her legs felt like lead, frozen with the weight of the moment, but En’s final words echoed in her mind: “You promised.”

With a heavy heart, Sasha slowly approached Dr. Zhao and handed him the test results and the organ donor card. She knew she was fulfilling En’s last request, even as her own heart ached with the burden of the promise.

Dr. Zhao confirmed that En's brain was unresponsive already, though her heart was still faintly beating. The impact of the accident had caused the inflamed blood vessel in her brain to burst, leading En brain dead now. Dr. Zhao recalled his earlier encounter with En, when she had inquired about the tests needed to confirm a donor's compatibility for Alina. His suspicions about her intentions were now confirmed, realizing the depth of her sacrifice.

“Please help me fulfill her wish.”

Sasha pleaded through her tears, her voice breaking as she looked at Dr. Zhao. The gravity of En’s sacrifice weighed heavily on her, and she desperately wanted to honor her friend's last wish.

Dr. Zhao instructed the nurses to prepare for En’s transfer to the ICU, where Alina was already being prepared for a sudden emergency surgery. The urgency of the situation demanded swift action, and the medical team moved quickly to facilitate the process.