Chapter 1

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A call came from an unfamiliar number.

With a light heart, I pressed the call button, only to find out it was from the health check-up center I had visited two weeks ago.

"Please don't leave the results as they are."

I was urged to have a recheck. I thought to myself, health check-ups these days are really thorough.

"——It's Stage III."

The doctor from the large hospital, to which I was referred from the clinic, said.

It felt like I had been punched.

"Um... Doctor, does that mean I might die?"

I asked desperately.

I heard a lot of complicated explanations, but I put them aside.

All I wanted to know was that.

"I have three children. The youngest is only three years old. I can't die yet."

——We will do our best.

The doctor kept his word and did his best.

I underwent four surgeries and, after five years of battling the illness, my body was in shambles, standing on the brink of death.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm not the energetic wife you knew. I'm so sorry."

In the hospital bed, it had been a long time since I could get up.

Worried about the family I would leave behind, I tearfully told my husband.

I wasn't even sure if my voice was coming out, and I couldn't move a finger. In my labored breathing, all I could do was apologize.

My husband, who had lost a lot of weight, looked like he was sick too.

"It's okay. Don't worry. I'll take care of everything."

"I'm sorry. Please spoil the children... be gentle with them... don't get angry..."

I pictured the faces of my children, who had been enduring so much.

There were so many things I wanted to do for them.

No matter how much pain or suffering, I could endure anything. As long as I could be with them...

My eyes were gradually closing.

Ah, it's finally over.

"You did a great job. It was tough, wasn't it? It hurt, didn't it? It's okay to rest now."

My husband's voice echoed.

It's okay to rest... now...