Chapter 265

　　Tabitha's POV 　　Gloria gently patted my shoulder, her tone full of empathy. "Dear, I feel for you. We all used to be young and naive, thinking love was everything. But we've grown up, right? Look at me. My life is so much better now that I'm making my own money." We smiled at each other. As we reminisced about those sentimental old days, we were in a much better mood. 　　She licked her lips and smiled at me, "Tabitha, I want an apple. Could you peel one for me?" 　　She then continued to reminisce, "I remember when we first met, you didn't even know how to peel an apple. That time we went to visit our teacher, you peeled the apple core out, and we laughed at how 'wasteful' you were. Later, for Derek, you..." 　　She stopped suddenly as I held out my right hand, my palm hanging limp. 　　The ward fell silent for a second. Then she grabbed my hand, her eyes instantly turning red. "Who did this to you?" 　　"It's a long story..." I tried not to bring it up, but Gloria's concern made it impossible. 　　"Derek, right? How could he do this to you? You wanna be a doctor!" 　　She was all worked up. I could feel her anger and indignation clearly. 　　Even Gloria knew that my dream was to become a doctor, while Derek never seemed to have truly cared. 　　I tried my best to look calm. "It was a complicated situation back then." 　　The more I tried to make light of what had happened to me, the more Gloria felt bad for me. 　　Her tears fell on the back of my hand as she said, her voice trembling, "How could he do this to you... You used to stand out. Every boy wanted to be with you." 　　She recounted my glorious past, "Remember? In high school, you represented the school in a piano competition. That day, as your fingers danced on the keys, the whole stage lit up for you. You were like a star in the sky that was out of everyone's reach." 　　I smiled gently, as her memory served right. I indeed stood out back then. 　　"Gloria, that's all in the past. People change, and life is full of unexpected challenges." 　　Gloria wiped away her tears and continued in a broken voice, "But... Tabitha, are you really OK with how things turn out? After what you've lost? Your hand... Your future..." 　　I sighed softly, knowing she was distressed and confused. 　　I was like a star falling from the sky into the mud of the earth. 　　As Gloria looked at me, she cried non-stop, wishing that it was her own hand that got hurt. 　　"Don't cry, OK? I'm fine. It doesn't hurt at all. I mean it," I comforted her, even though I knew the pain was far from over. 　　Gloria looked up, her eyes filled with tears. "How is that possible? In the past, John would get so nervous and take you to the hospital even if it was just a small cut on your finger..." 　　She choked up and couldn't continue speaking. 　　I smiled, trying to ease things up, "Everyone has to grow up, right? It's only right to endure some hardships. The Moon Goddess is fair." 　　"Tabitha, stop smiling. It breaks my heart to see you smile like this." Gloria wiped away her tears, overwhelmed by complicated feelings. "Cry if you want. There's no one else here. I'm the last person on Earth who will laugh at you for seeing how vulnerable you are." 　　I gently wiped away the tears from her face with my left hand. "Don't cry. It's gonna spoil your pretty face. Live every day to the fullest as long as you're alive. That's what you said to me, right? It's just a hand. It's not a big deal at all. The doctor said I'd die within six months, but here I am, alive and well. As long as we're alive, there is hope." 　　"Yes. You're right. As long as we're alive, there is hope. It's those jerks and bitches who should die!" Gloria said angrily. She began to calm down, but I still saw unwillingness in her eyes. 　　I smiled, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere, "I have good news and bad news. Which one do you wanna hear first?"