I waited for his reaction as he looked at the diagnosis.

But he only glanced at it before swatting it away with irritation.

"Lies! You're standing right here, aren't you? You don't look sick at all."

"What? Without money, you'll die?"

Mom's face mirrored her disappointment.

"You're nothing like your sister. If I had known you'd turn out like this, I never would've given birth to you."

Their cold words stabbed into my heart like knives.

I bled, invisible but real.

That pain cut deeper than any illness.

They didn't understand.

Without money, I really would die.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them back. I lifted...