The Price of Priority Parking

To facilitate my dialysis treatments, I rented the most expensive, exclusive parking spot closest to the hospital.

But my wifes childhood friend always, on rainy days, with red-rimmed eyes, begged me to give him the spot, claiming his asthma meant he couldnt get wet.

I refused:

There's a public parking lot nearby. It's just a few extra steps. Why do you need to take mine?

When my wife found out, she was furious:

Cant you be a little kinder? His asthma flared up; he nearly died on the road!

I didnt understand:

He has a car, yet he chooses to get soaked in the rain just to take my spot. How is that my fault? Besides, its an exclusive spot; I paid for it, first come, first served.

My wife fell silent: Im sorry, I was too anxious.

For the next few months, she drove me to and from appointments, rain or shine.

But on the day I suffered acute kidney failure and desperately needed emergency treatment, she drove me around for three hours, deliberately missing the crucial window for treatment.

On the hospitals large screen, she was seen embracing her childhood friend, a cold smile on her face:

Didn't you say 'first come, first served'? Now there are no beds available in the dialysis unit. I'd like to see how long your life has to wait in line.

01

A searing pain ripped through my kidneys.

I clutched my wifes arm, Lena, quickly! Take me to the hospital, Im in so much pain Im dying!

She violently shook off my hand, a cold sneer on her face.

Whats the rush? Liams asthma attacks were a hundred times more agonizing than what youre feeling now.

The car suddenly slammed to a halt.

I looked out the window. This wasnt the hospital, but a desolate underground parking garage.

Silence hung heavy, suffocating.

Lena, are you insane? What in the world are you doing?

She didnt answer. Instead, she turned on the cars screen, displaying a live feed from the hospitals dialysis center.

In the advanced blood purification pod I had reserved, Liam, her childhood friend, lay comfortably, surrounded by nurses attending to him.

Lena smiled at Liam on the screen, then turned to me.

Honey, Im so sorry, Liam had a sudden, severe asthma attack. It was an emergency, so he had to use your spot.

My heart plummeted.

You you planned this all along?

Finally, she dropped the pretense, a sneer twisting her lips, You said it yourself, beds are first come, first served. Now, you can just wait here.

The excruciating pain made my vision swim. I used my last ounce of strength to beg her, Then take me to another hospital!

She laughed as if Id told the funniest joke.

Another hospital? Why would I waste money saving a useless burden like you?

She cranked up the cars air conditioning, the coldest air blasting directly at me.

I shivered uncontrollably, but the pain in my abdomen intensified with every second.

She lit a slender, feminine cigarette. The pungent smoke made me cough violently, each gasp tearing at my kidneys.

I stared intently at her unfamiliar profile, my voice hoarse, Lena, our three years together

Oh really? Her eyes were icy, Liam said he saw you embracing another woman. Now you remember our three years together?

I stared at her in shock. Youre crazy! When did I

Enough! Lena suddenly spun around.

Liam was already hurt. No matter what, taking his parking spot was bad enough, but then you caused him to get soaked in the rain and develop a fever. Now, its time for you to truly understand what suffering feels like!

The car door clicked shut, locked. She stepped out, leaving me imprisoned in this cold, despairing space.

On the screen, Liam flashed a triumphant smile, waving at the camera.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the car door was violently wrenched open with immense force.

Lena stood outside the car, several rough-looking men trailing behind her, cigarettes dangling from their lips, their eyes sizing me up with a lecherous gaze.

In her hand, she held a bucket filled with murky, foul-smelling water.

Its too dry in the car, she said, looking down at me. How can you understand Liams helplessness when he was waiting for a parking spot in the rain?

I weakly moved my lips, each word draining all my strength. Lena help me

She scoffed, and the thugs immediately understood.

Two hands reached in, roughly dragging me out of the car, slamming me onto the muddy ground.

The muddy water instantly soaked my clothes. I struggled to get up, but a foot pressed firmly onto my back, pinning me to the ground, unable to move.

Lena lifted the bucket and walked to my front.

The filthy water poured over my head, reeking, choking my mouth and nose.

I shivered violently, consciousness blurring amidst the cold and the excruciating pain in my kidneys.

Dont you have a thing about cleanliness? Her voice was laced with vengeful pleasure, her high heel grinding over my fingers. Dont you disinfect the house three times a day? How does it feel now?

She signaled to one of the thugs, who grinned, pulled a baseball bat from the trunk, weighed it in his hand, and tossed it to her.

Lena caught the bat, knelt beside me, her voice soft.

Liam said after he got rained on that day, his lungs felt like they were exploding.

She slowly stood up, raising the baseball bat.

Now, you get to feel it too.

The baseball bat sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, then slammed viciously into my lower backright where my kidneys were.

Ah!

The searing pain tore a non-human scream from my throat, my body arched sharply, and my vision instantly went black.

On the cars screen, Liam feigned concern, though his voice betrayed excitement: Lena, thats enough, dont break him. I still need him

Youre still defending him!

Liams words seemed to ignite Lenas fury even further. Her eyes blazed with wilder anger.

He nearly killed you, what is a little pain compared to that!

She no longer let the thugs do the work, instead taking matters into her own hands. Another brutal swing, directly at my calf.

Crack!

I distinctly heard the sound of my own bone shattering.

The excruciating pain almost made me pass out, but she still wasnt appeased. She tossed the bat away and ordered a thug, Tear off his shirt!

The expensive cashmere sweater she had given me for my birthday was ripped to shreds with a shriek.

My naked torso was exposed to the biting autumn wind, and I shivered uncontrollably.

I stared intensely at her, using my last ounce of strength.

In a brief reprieve from the searing pain, I used my last ounce of strength, my fingers trembling as I subtly reached for my collar.

There, a specialized distress pin was sewn.

My assistant, Christopher Quinn, had semi-forced me to wear it before this hospital stay, under the guise of good luck.

He always said I trusted people too much.

I strained with all my might and finally pressed the tiny switch.

My taut nerves suddenly relaxed, and I felt utterly depleted.

Christopher, he would come.

He would definitely come to save me.

Just hold on until he arrives

Sean Pascal, what in the world are you playing at?

Lenas voice pierced through the fragile hope I had just ignited.

She bent down, ripping open my collar, exposing the small pin to her eyes.

She froze for a moment, then a furious rage, like that of being tricked, contorted her face.

She raised her foot, the scarlet stiletto heel aimed directly at the pin.

Trying to call for help?

Snap!

You useless garbage, your cunning is quite something.

The metal casing was crushed out of shape, and the electronic components scattered.

I stared fixedly at her, my vision intermittently darkening.

I cannot die.

I had taken emergency first aid classes in college and studied physiology quite well. Now, I could only rely on myself.

I curled up in the mud, using a specific posture to alleviate kidney pressure and bleeding.

I controlled my breathing, fighting against wave after wave of agonizing pain.

Seeing that I was actually still trying to save myself, Lenas expression became incredibly complex.

On the car screen, Liams voice echoed again.

Lena, when my asthma flared up, I was in so much pain I nearly died. How can he last so long?

He shouldn't be so relaxed!

Yes, he shouldn't be so relaxed. Lena nodded.

She turned, retrieved a white medical kit from the car, and tossed it onto the ground.

A woman who had been standing behind the thugs walked over. She wore a conspicuously out-of-place nurses uniform, her face devoid of any expression.

Hes lasted too long, Lena commanded coldly. Give him a diuretic and saline solution.

My pupils instantly contracted.

Lena, youre insane!

I roared with all my might, My kidney function is already failing! This will accelerate electrolyte imbalance, and it will cause my heart to stop!

The fake nurse knelt down emotionlessly, opened the medical kit, and skillfully filled a syringe with a clear liquid.

The needle gleamed menacingly as it pierced my arm.

No

The drug was violently pushed into my vein.

In that instant, I felt my heart suddenly stop beating.

Then, an even more furious pounding, as if it would burst through my chest.

My breath was instantly stolen.

All my muscles began to spasm and convulse uncontrollably.

My body arched in the cold mud, then slammed back down, repeatedly bouncing.

Lena watched my agonizing struggles on the ground with chilling indifference, observing my lips gradually turning purple from lack of oxygen, her tone terrifyingly calm.

Liam also convulsed like that when he had difficulty breathing.

The drug pierced my veins.

My heart, it stopped instantly.

Then, a frantic, drum-like pounding, threatening to tear my chest apart.

My breath was stolen.

My muscles spasmed uncontrollably, my whole body arching in the icy mud, then crashing down again.

In my blurring consciousness, I saw my mother.

She lay in a hospital bed, holding my hand, her breath barely a whisper.

Sean, live well for Mama see the whole world

No.

I cannot die.

I havent fulfilled my promise to her yet!

I bit down hard on my tongue, the sharp pain bringing a moment of clarity.

I used my last ounce of strength, fumbling in the mud, my fingertips brushing against a sharp piece of gravel.

I lunged, desperately slashing at the woman who had injected me with the drug.

Ah!

She shrieked, dodging, a deep gash appearing on her arm.

You dare to resist!

Lenas face contorted with fury. She kicked the stone out of my hand.

She stared intensely at me, then, a twisted, eerie smile spread across her face.

Sean Pascal, didnt you once say your greatest wish was to donate your corneas after death to help others?

Those were the truest words I had ever spoken to her, whispered with deepest affection.

On the screen, Liams voice chimed in, excited.

Lena, a friend of mine, her mother is waiting for a suitable cornea donor!

Perfect.

Lenas smile was both radiant and cruel.

Youre going to die anyway, might as well make a contribution now.

She tilted her head towards the thugs.

Hold him down.

Take out his corneas!

Lena! You wouldnt dare!

I let out a primal roar, my eyes bloodshot, bulging with fury.

The thugs closed in, grinning, one of them clutching a glinting fruit knife.

They pinned my limbs down, the cold blade aimed directly at my eyes.

Just as the tip of the knife was about to pierce my eyeball

Boom!

The parking garage's roller door was violently smashed open.

Several black sedans sped in, and well-trained men in black suits leaped out.

The thugs were instantly subdued, screams echoing through the garage.

The man at the front rushed to me, shedding his jacket to wrap around me.

Sir! Christopher Quinn is late, I deserve to die for this!