Chapter 10
The body of Elaine Wheeler is now at the morgue of Hopewell General Hospital. If you’re her boyfriend, we need you to come and sign the release papers for cremation.
On the other end of the call, the voice seemed unfazed, as if they had encountered this reaction countless times before.
Garfield Simonds‘ hands shook uncontrollably. He tried to stand but stumbled and fell to the ground.
In the morgue, I finally saw my body.
Both arms and legs were broken, bones exposed, with pale skin covered in wounds, and a long stitched–up scar on my chest.
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Tears streamed down my face.
That was once my healthy body, once a vibrant life.
I don’t know if there’s anything more cruel in this world than seeing your own corpse.
Garfield Simonds stared blankly at my body, mumbling, “This can’t be, this isn’t Elaine Wheeler.”
Then he noticed the diamond earrings on the corpse’s ears and his eyes widened.
In a trembling voice, he said, “Ellie, is that you?”
He gently touched the scar on my chest, an incredulous look on his face.
Suddenly, he shouted, “How did this scar
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happen? Who did this?”
The staff nearby explained, “Ms. Elaine Wheeler had signed an organ donation agreement. There was a critical patient at Hopewell General Hospital who needed a heart transplant. Unable to reach Ms. Wheeler’s family and given the urgency, we proceeded with the surgery. We still need you to complete the paperwork.”
“What heart transplant?! What patient?! Explain it to me!” Garfield Simonds roared, lifting his head abruptly.
“It was arranged by Director Burton for a patient with congenital heart disease.”
Garfield Simonds froze and slowly asked, “Is that patient named June Tillery?”
“I’m not sure of the details; patient
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informatiomissconfidential,” the staff member stammered before hurriedly leaving theme
morgue..
Garfield Simonds feltco his knees, tears dripping onto the floor.
His eyes widened, unfamissed, and his mouth trembled as he let outta heart–wrenching
scream.
I had never seen Garfield Simunds like this. He was always calm and rational, but now he seemed deranged.
Was he saddened by my death??
I wanted to ask him, “Are you grieving foor me? If so, why did you cause me so much pain? Why didn’t you treat me better when I was alive? Why did you give my heart to another woman?”
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I sobbed, “It’s too late! I’m already dead!”
Garfield Simonds‘ gaze passed through my body and settled on some distant corner of the room.
It was as if he had lost his soul, murmuring to himself, “I’ll get Ellie’s heart back.”
I followed Garfield Simonds to June Tillery’s
room.
When she saw him, her face lit up with joy.
But then she noticed his somber expression and swollen eyes, exclaiming, “Gary?”
Garfield Simonds shoved the nurse aside and grabbed June Tillery by the collar, his bloodshot eyes glaring at her, shouting, “Give it back!”
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June Tillery looked terrified and confused, “What are you talking about?”
“Ellie’s heart! Give it back! It’s not yours!” Garfield Simonds‘ voice was distorted with
rage.
June Tillery was pushed to the ground, her face twisted in pain.
Several nurses and security guards rushed in, lifting June and dragging Garfield out of the room.
He continued to shout, “Give Ellie’s heart back! Give it back!”
I could no longer remember how long Garfield Simonds sat against the wall at home.
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He seemed like a dead man, with a pale face, motionless.
He wouldn’t eat, drink, or sleep.
It was as if he had given up on everything, completely drained of life.
The only time he would get up was to feed and water Mimi.
Whenever he saw Mimi, a faint glimmer returned to his eyes.
Garfield Simonds washed my clothes and hung them back in the closet, as if I might return.
The director called him several times, but he ignored the calls.
He spent most of his days staring at a
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photograph of me, gently caressing it with his fingers.
In a choked voice, he whispered, “Ellie, I miss you. Please don’t leave me…”
I couldn’t stand his pretense of deep affection, so I spent most of my time with Mimi.
During the day, Garfield Simonds would sit in the bedroom, and Mimi would wait by the shoe cabinet at the door for me.
Anytime there was a noise at the door, Mimi would run excitedly, thinking I had returned.
Neglected, its once snow–white fur had turned a bit gray.
My heart ached, and I reached out to hold Mimi, to tell it that I was right there.
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But I couldn’t touch it.
Until Ida arrived.
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