In the hospital ward, I lay on the bed. The medical monitor made a dripping sound in my ear. To pass the time, I reached into my nightstand, picked up the remote control, and turned on the TV hanging on the wall.

“Hey, are you feeling better?” Frade pushed the door open.

“Can you tell the doctor to turn off the damn device?” I hate to hear such a short and continuous dripping sound, which makes me mistakenly think that I am seriously ill.

“It's a baby heartbeat monitor.” Frade, who is sitting next to me, glances at the flashing red light. “I don't like the sound of it either,...