He Took My Lifeboat During the Outbreak

During our annual leave, my husband and I went abroad for our honeymoon. Coincidentally, a new virus broke outinfection meant death within three months.

Desperate, and due to my specialized profession, I received the only two return tickets available.

I touched my belly, where my child was less than three months old, and excitedly told my husband, Liam, we dont have to die.

But on the day we were supposed to leave, Liam said, I gave the tickets to Sienna. Shes seven months pregnant.

Sienna was the one hed loved and lost in his youth, his white moonlight.

For the sake of the baby in my belly, I knelt and begged him to get the tickets back. He hesitated for a second, then coldly refused me.

Sienna and her baby need those tickets more. Your baby is only a month along; it doesnt count as a life yet!

In the end, I watched helplessly as he took Sienna and boarded the plane, while I, and the child in my womb, died in a foreign land.

When I reopened my eyes, I found myself holding two tickets!

1.

Half an hour ago, I had called the embassy and, due to my specialized background, had secured these two sole tickets.

Memories of my past life flashed before my eyes like a film.

They stopped at the scene of me, connected to a ventilator, dying in despair on a cold hospital bed.

My body turned to ashes, scattered with thousands of other deceased souls on foreign soil.

When I returned to the hotel, it was twenty minutes earlier than in my previous life. I overheard Liam on the phone in the bathroom.

Sienna, dont be afraid. Ill find a way to get tickets.

For the sake of our unborn baby, you must be strong. Youre a strong mother. Trust me, I wont let you or the baby die.

Liams voice was softer than Id ever heard it. From the other end of the line came intermittent sobs.

Oh, Liam, thank you for still being so good to me. If I hadnt been born into such a parasitic family, I never would have left you.

Then Siennas voice turned a bit sour. By the way, Liam, are you in Florence for your honeymoon this time?

Liam hummed, then eagerly added, But also to see you. I heard you got divorced, and I was worried about you being alone.

I gripped the tickets, sitting on the sofa, and scoffed. So, among all those countries, Liams insistence on coming to Florence was for Sienna.

It was laughable that before we left, hed given the reason that Florence was a romantic city and he wanted to give me a romantic trip. Only now, reliving it, did I realize it was all a lie.

The doorknob to the bathroom turned, and Liam saw me. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly composed himself.

He smiled and sat beside me, wrapping his arms around me intimately, as he always did, burrowing into my embrace. Honey, when did you get back?

Our bodies were pressed tightly together, but I no longer felt the warmth I once did. Instead, a chill seeped into my bones.

I pushed him away, calmly saying, I just got back and sat down when you came out.

He didn't think much of it, nor did he notice my changed demeanor. Instead, he let out a sigh of relief, then his voice dropped.

Honey, if we cant leave this time, Ill die with you.

I said nothing, but scoffed inwardly. With Sienna, he was careful to comfort her and promise she wouldnt die.

With me, he said he could die with me, yet in the previous life, he took the ticket and boarded the plane with Sienna.

I still remember how he resolutely flung my hand away, feigning agony as he said, Eleanor, Im an only child, and I come from a single-parent home. If I die, my mother wont survive. But dont worry, Ill treat your parents as my own.

2.

But he seemed to forget, my parents only had me, and I was their late-in-life child.

My name is Eleanor Vance. My parents said they hoped I would be as precious as pure gold, that my name embodied all their love.

Who isnt a treasure in their parents hands?

Even now, I cant bear to imagine how my parents, nearing seventy, would spend their old age if I were gone.

After dinner with Liam, he excused himself to go downstairs for a cigarette to clear his head. I stood silently by the window, watching him hail a taxi and drive away.

In the empty hotel room, the news reported the daily updated death toll: Today, twenty-one deaths from infection

The presenters voice was cold as she recited the numbers, but I knew deeply how painfully those lives behind the statistics awaited death.

On the first day of infection, the entire body would itch. On the second, rashes would break out everywhere.

Those rashes would be painful and itchy, oozing pus. On the third day, internal organs would feel like they were being gnawed away. This agonizing pain would not subside until the very moment of death!

Thinking of this, I touched my belly and said softly, Good baby, next life, choose a good father and mother. I cant keep you. Mommy doesnt want you to be born into an incomplete family!

After all, Mommy also came from a complete and loving family. Mommy hopes you can have that double portion of love too!

Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep. I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I saw it was my father calling.

As soon as I answered, my fathers choked voice came through the line. Hello, Eleanor, I saw the news that a virus broke out in Florence, and all flights are grounded. My dear daughter, dont be afraid. Dad will buy a ticket and come to be with you.

Then, from the other end of the line, came my mothers suppressed sobbing.

Old man, Im going too. Buy my ticket as well. You think youre the only one who misses our daughter? Dont I?

Your health isnt good. Just wait for good news at home, Ill bring our daughter back safely.

No, if she comes back, we come back together. If not, its better to die together.

Hearing my usually gentle parents argue over me, my eyes silently welled up with tears on my end of the phone. To keep them from worrying, I suppressed my choked voice and quickly said, Mom and Dad, dont worry. I called the embassy, and the country gave me return tickets. Ill be back tomorrow.

My mother, hearing this, quickly snatched the phone. Really? Thats wonderful! Your father and I will go to the airport to pick you up tomorrow.

I wiped away my tears and smiled. No, I have a mission when I return home this time. Just rest assured at home and wait for me to come back.

After hanging up, I realized Liam had returned at some point.

He looked at me with delight. Eleanor, you got the tickets, didnt you?

I had told him when I called the embassy. Now that I think about it, his confident words to comfort Sienna were probably based on the assumption that I would get the tickets.

Since he knew, I no longer concealed it, but when I spoke, I deliberately said, I got the tickets, but theres only one.

Hearing this, the hopeful light in his eyes instantly dimmed. After a few seconds of silence, he frowned, anxious. One? How could they only give one? Didnt you tell them you have family?

Talk to them again, ask them to make an exception. Someone like you, an unsung hero, couldnt possibly only get one ticket, could they?

He was right, of course. Life-saving tickets were meant for partners and family.

So when I explained the situation to the embassy, they gave me two return tickets without hesitation.

But now, faced with Liam's questioning, I still insisted,

At times like this, tickets are even more scarce. Most of those who can board planes now are the pillars of the country, serving our nation.

He remained noncommittal to my words. Seeing his silence, I deliberately asked,

Honey, dont you want me to return home? You must know how many lives my identity could save if I returned.

He snapped back to reality, forcing a smile. I of course I want you to go back.

Late at night, I pretended to be asleep. Sure enough, he quietly searched for the tickets.

I hadnt deliberately hidden the tickets; they were just in a box on the nightstand.

But I had hidden my own ticket. Liam, knowing beforehand that I had only secured one ticket, didnt suspect anything.

With the ticket in hand, he immediately went to the bathroom and made a call.

Sienna, I got the ticket from Eleanor. You can go through the special channel and board the plane tomorrow.

Really? Oh, Liam, thats wonderful! Now my baby and I wont die!

Liam heard the laughter from the other end of the line and joined in her joy.

After a moment of excitement, Sienna suddenly remembered something and quickly asked,

Liam, are you coming with me? I want I want you to be my babys father.

If it were the previous life, Liam would have jumped for joy, because this was the lifelong regret he couldnt overcome.

But at this moment, knowing there was only one ticket, he said bitterly, Sienna, dont worry about me. If I survive, Ill definitely come back to marry you.

Eleanor, such a talented person, wouldnt only get one ticket, would she? You can talk to her,

tell her to give you her ticket first. After you and I leave together, the country, valuing her abilities, should give her another one.

I secretly listened to their conversation. So that was her plan.

She still wanted to fly off with him, leaving me to die in a foreign land, just like in the previous life!

At this moment, Liam, having heard her words, could only say helplessly, Eleanor only managed to get one ticket,

but dont worry, I might not die. Maybe Ill be lucky enough to live until a cure is found.

Sienna suddenly started crying after hearing this. Liam comforted her tenderly for a while before coming back to sleep.

After turning off the light, Liam held me and whispered behind me,

Im sorry, Eleanor. I Ill be with you, even in death. Let it be my atonement to you!

A chill spread through me. My heart ached as if pricked by needles. Liam and I, though we met through an arranged marriage,

After marriage, he was caring, gentle, and romantic, fulfilling all my expectations for a husband.

I gradually fell in love with him. When I heard all flights were grounded,

I had even thought of dying with him, but his love and his true heart had never been given to me!

Since that was the case, in this life, let him bear the pain of separation by death himself!

The next day, when I woke up, Liam was nowhere to be seen.