After My Mother-In-Law Fell

My mother-in-law had a stroke and collapsed, blood pooling on the floor.

I calmly grabbed a mop and cleaned the spreading stain.

As her son-in-law, I deliberately let the golden six-minute window for stroke intervention pass.

In my last life, I was the first to find her. I immediately called an ambulance and rushed her to the hospital. But the surgery required a signature from a direct family member. When I called my wife to come and sign, she accused me of being jealous of her time with her first love, convinced it was just a ploy to get her to come home. She refused to sign.

My mother-in-law died without receiving timely treatment. My wife, Jessica, missed her mother's final moments and pinned all the blame on me. When I wasn't looking, she attacked me with a kitchen knife, hacking me to death.

"This is all your fault! My mom was so old, and you, her son-in-law, couldn't even take care of her! Since you failed your duty to her in life, you can go to hell and continue serving her there!"

I opened my eyes and found myself back on the day my mother-in-law collapsed.

...

My eyes snapped open again, and there she was, lying on the floor.

Ive had a severe fear of blood since I was a child. My first instinct was to call my wife.

But as I unlocked my phone, the memory of her slashing at me with that knife flooded my mind, vivid and inescapable. The phantom pain was still there. My finger froze. I stopped myself from calling Jessica and dialed her cousin, Rebecca, instead.

She picked up almost immediately.

"Honey, you have to come home! Mom fell, she's bleeding from her head, there's so much blood! What do I do? You know I can't handle blood, please, come back quick!" I feigned panic, pretending I'd dialed the wrong number, my voice thick with a desperate, choked sob.

"Don't panic, I'm on my way," Rebecca said, her voice calm and steady.

Her house was close, less than a ten-minute walk away. Sure enough, less than five minutes later, there was a knock at the door. I threw it open, putting on a look of surprise. "Rebecca? I... I thought I called Jessica."

She didn't explain, just told me to pick up my mother-in-law and follow her.

By the time we reached the hospital, the blood had soaked through my shirt.

"Who's the patient's next of kin? It's an emergency, we need a signature from a direct relative!" a nurse rushed out of the ER, clutching a critical condition notice.

"I'm her son-in-law, I'll sign."

"No, it has to be a direct blood relative."

She then looked at Rebecca. "I'm her niece," Rebecca explained.

The nurse frowned. "Does the patient have any other family?"

"Nurse, please, just start the surgery. I'll contact the next of kin," I pleaded.

The nurse hesitated, then rushed back into the ER with the form.

Right there, in front of Rebecca, I pulled out my phone and called my wife.

The first call went to voicemail.

The second call, the same.

The third call finally connected. I put it on speaker, and Jessica's impatient voice filled the hallway. "What is your problem? Are you trying to die? Stop calling me!"

"Jessica, Mom fell. She's bleeding a lot, and they need a signature from a direct relative. You need to get to Peace Memorial Hospital now!"

The same cold indifference as last time. The image of her wielding that knife flashed in my mind, and my gaze turned to ice, but I kept up the act.

Jessica shrieked into the phone. "If Mom fell, you take her to the hospital! Why are you calling me? I'm not a doctor! You know I'm with Ryan, so you're just jealous and making this up, aren't you? Well, it won't work! Are you completely useless? Can't you survive for five minutes without me?"

Then, a soft male voice murmured in the background. "Jess, I'm scared..."

Before I could say another word, she hung up.

The strangers in the hallway were looking at me with pity. I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white, forcing a bitter smile.

Rebecca was furious, pacing back and forth in front of the ER. "Call her again!" she snapped. "I refuse to believe some man is more important than her own mother!"

It was just like my past life, except last time, I had hidden in a stairwell to make the calls alone. This time, everyone here was my witness.

I did as she said, dialing again in front of everyone. This time, it rang twice before being disconnected. When I tried again, I found she had blocked my number.

On the outside, I looked devastated. Inwardly, a massive wave of relief washed over me. I collapsed onto a hallway chair.

Rebecca kicked a nearby chair in frustration, then pulled out her own phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed Jessica's number. I looked up at her, my face a mask of gratitude.

The call connected instantly. Rebecca didn't waste a second. "Jessica, I don't care where you are or what you're doing! Get your ass to Peace Memorial Hospital! Now!"

The background on her end was noisy, like a party. "Becca? Wow, that Mark is really something else. He actually got you in on his little drama? I expect this nonsense from him, but you too? I'm busy right now, I don't have time for these games! Every single time I come to see Ryan, he pulls a stunt like this, making up excuses to get me to come home. And this time he dragged you into it! Can't he be independent for once? I have to go, bye!"

Before Rebecca could get another word in, Jessica hung up.

Rebecca stared at her phone, stunned, then began dialing again and again. But all she got was the cold, robotic voice of the service provider. She went from anger to helplessness to pure disappointment.

Finally, Jessica blocked Rebecca's number too.

Rebecca couldn't contain her rage any longer, screaming curses at the silent phone.

I buried my face in my hands, my shoulders shaking with silent sobs. In reality, I was hiding the smile I couldn't suppress.

A nurse from the main desk sighed, walking over with a sympathetic look. She handed me her phone. "Here, try mine. A life is on the line."

I took it, looking at her with profound thanks.

The call went through. The moment Jessica heard my voice, she exploded. "What the hell is wrong with you? If you want to die so badly, just do it! Can't you live without me? The sound of your voice makes me sick! We're getting a divorce as soon as I get back. I can't take this anymore, you pathetic idiot!"

She slammed the phone down.

The pity from the onlookers had now curdled into anger.

"What's the point of having a daughter like that? Her own mother is dying, and she's off with her side piece!"

"What a disgrace to women. Disgusting."

When you're hurting, you can swallow any amount of pain as long as no one sees. But the moment someone shows you a shred of kindness, the dam breaks.

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself.

A man who had been watching the whole spectacle handed me a business card. I glanced at it: Arthur Wallace, Divorce Attorney.

I discreetly slipped the card into my pocket.

After what felt like an eternity, the light above the operating room finally went out. The doctor emerged, pulling off her mask with a weary sigh. She looked at Rebecca and me and shook her head. "She was too old, and she lost too much blood. We did everything we could."

She didn't say another word, just walked past us.

The funeral should have been arranged by Jessica, but Rebecca forbade anyone from contacting her. "That ungrateful child doesn't deserve to be called my aunt's daughter. It's a tragedy my aunt loved that monster her whole life, only to raise a viper!" Rebecca's eyes were blazing with a fire she could barely control. She was the most respected and capable person in the family, so no one argued.

So, Rebecca and I made the arrangements. Just when I thought Jessica wouldn't show, she did.

It was the day of the burial. We were all gathered, about to leave for the cemetery, when Jessica's furious roar came from the doorway.

"Mark, get your ass out here! Who gave you the right to do this? You're so desperate to trick me into coming back that you got everyone to lie for you? Fine! You've really outdone yourself!"

The moment I saw her, the paralyzing terror of my death in the last life washed over me. I clutched the funeral portrait of her mother, my body shaking uncontrollably as tears streamed down my face.

"Have you lost your mind?" Rebecca screamed, stepping in front of me. "We called you over and over again! And what did you say? You were with that worthless man and refused to listen! And now you show up and put on this act for who? Get out! Our family doesn't have a monster like you! Get out!"

It was the first time I'd ever seen Rebecca so furious.

"Becca, what has he done to you all?" Jessica cried. "What poison has he fed you to make you all lie to me like this? No, I have to ask my mom. I need to know what she was thinking, going along with this ridiculous charade!"

She started shouting for her mom, looking around wildly.

Rebecca closed her eyes and let out a deep, pained sigh. She carefully placed the urn on the altar, then strode over to Jessica, grabbing her and dragging her in front of it. "Kneel! You were looking for your mother? She's in there! How ignorant, how stupid can you be to think we're all lying to you? How dare you!"

Rebecca was so emotional that her husband, David, tried to calm her, placing a hand on her arm. But he seemed to freeze, then awkwardly pulled his hand away.

Jessica stared at the urn on the altar, then at the portrait in my hands, and collapsed to the floor. She clawed at her hair, sobbing hysterically.

Suddenly, her head snapped up, her eyes locking onto me with a venomous glare. She lunged at me like a wild animal, screaming.

"It's all your fault! My mom was so old, and you, her son-in-law, couldn't even take care of her! Since you failed your duty to her in life, you can go to hell and continue serving her there! Die! Die! Die!"

I was caught completely off guard. Her hands closed around my throat, squeezing with terrifying strength. A woman in a rage is a fearsome thing. Even as a grown man, I couldn't break her grip. Just as my vision started to black out, the pressure on my neck released.

I scrambled away, gasping for air.

Rebecca and another man had pulled Jessica off me. I shakily wiped the tears from my eyes.

Rebecca slapped Jessica hard across the face. "Snap out of it!"

But Jessica was seeing red. She was about to lunge at Rebecca when her phone rang. The ringtone was a custom recording of Ryan's voice. It was his unique caller ID.

It was clear how much she loved him. Even in this state of pure rage, she calmed down enough to answer his call. "Hello? Okay. I'm on my way. Don't be scared."

She hung up and started for the door.