“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. You heard the doctor say that even if she becomes paralyzed, new medical treatments will come soon. You think if she can hold on for two more years, she might be cured. You want to use that 1,5 thousand dollars to keep her alive. I’m telling you, stop chasing impossible dreams.”
“You clueless people are the ones who let hospitals scam you.” Mike’s voice grew louder as he spoke. “I’ve long anticipated this trick of yours. I signed the papers—we’re divorced. If you treat her like your mother, then you handle her yourself.”
“I’m telling you, stop dreaming!”
“You people who don’t understand anything just let hospitals cheat you out of money.”
Mike’s voice got louder as he spoke. “I’ve been expecting this from you. I signed the papers so we’re divorced. If you treat her like a mother, then you take care of her yourself.”
He threw the divorce papers at me.
“Mike, Zerra, stop arguing. Come in, I have something to say.”
Stella stood weakly at the door, looking at me and Mike in the hallway. Tears streamed down my face.
Mike stormed into the hospital room and I followed, afraid he might argue with her.
“Now that we’re talking openly, I won’t hide anything,” Mike said, looking at Stella. “You probably already heard. Your illness is terminal. It can’t be cured. I hope you understand—I don’t want to waste money on this.”
My heart sank completely. For more than two years, I had been hiding the truth of Stella’s illness from her and I had repeatedly told Mike not to let her know.
“Zerra, I’ve known about my condition for a long time. Don’t cry,” she said, wiping away my tears. “Everyone dies eventually. I’ve already accepted it. Don’t argue because of me. Mike is right — we shouldn’t waste the money. You two should use it to build a good life together.”
“Your son and daughter will need a lot of money as they grow up. You have to look at things more openly.”
I held Stella tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. If there truly were no hope of a cure, I wouldn’t insist.
But the doctor had said there was hope. Even if the chance of success was less than ten percent, it was still a chance.
Besides, the doctor had said that even if she became paralyzed, there was still some hope. New medical treatments would soon come out.
Once the demolition money came in, it might have been enough to save Stella’s life and help her fully recover.