Tears flowed down endlessly.
Dad stopped me when I tried to prop myself up.
Stay down, kid. I have already informed your school about what happened. I took half a month’s leave to settle this all, okay? I’m here to take care of you so talk to me if you need me.
I wanted to raise my head but Dad pressed it down onto the pillow insistently.
What are you trying to do? What if you fall? Are you planning to go over to her bed and cry? You’re injured. Lie down and hold it in. There’s nothing your tears can do. Endure that little bit of sadness, she just left… that’s… all…
he broke down in tears, turning around to hide his face.
I didn’t move again. The doctor’s warning not to exert myself too much and risk reopening the wound also came to mind.
After a short silence, Dad spoke up again,
Wait here while I settle some paperwork. I’ll get you dinner later.
Before I could agree, he left the ward.
I stared at the ceiling, my mind a complete mess.
I felt no pain whatsoever, unlike the night before where my eye was still hurting badly.
I reached a hand up to touch the gauze. It wasn’t painful at all.
This made me curious. I wanted to remove the bandage but I don’t want to go against the doctor’s orders.
He said I could only get the stitches removed a week later or there would be a scar.
The severity of the scar would depend on these seven days. Other than to re-apply medication, I wasn’t allowed to remove the gauze. I was to eat light food and avoid oil and spice.
I put my head down and continued staring at the ceiling.
A meow rang in my ears.
I turned to the sound but I saw nothing.
I shifted back around and it rang again.
I could tell that it was Oscar’s voice. Plus, there wasn’t any other cat in the hospital apart from him.
I looked over at the old man on the next bed.
Excuse me, sir. Do you hear a cat?
What are you talking about?
he responded.
Excuse me, do you hear a cat?
I raised my voice a notch.
Cat? I’m old and my ears aren’t working well,
he replied.
A small girl on the opposite side added,
Think I heard it.
I gritted my teeth. I was right.
It was nearby.
What’s your name, little girl?
I asked.
Yinuo,
she answered with a friendly smile.
Silence resumed in the ward.
After a short moment, there were soft sounds at the door.
I looked over at Yinuo again and requested,
There seems to be something outside, Yinuo. Could you help me open the door and have a look, please?
She nodded.
Alright, brother one-eyed dragon. I’ll go now.
She got off the bed and opened the door.
What is it?
I asked, drawing a breath.
A cat. Come in, kitty,
she said faintly.
I shot up subconsciously and looked at the old man. He looked well and was laughing happily at the television screen.
What are you sick with, Yinuo?
She answered,
Asthma. I’ll have to rest for a month.
I looked over at the fourth patient, who was also the last person in the ward. It was a pregnant lady. She lay on the bed and was covered in a blanket.
Are you sick, aunty?
I asked hesitantly.
You’re the one who is sick. I’m nine months pregnant, can’t you see? There are not enough beds there so I got allocated here instead,
she responded.
A few seconds later, Oscar appeared within my field of vision.
He jumped up and meowed once before resting at a corner of my bed.
The three other patients looked at me as I looked at Oscar.
Is that the death kitty? Your question makes sense now,
the pregnant lady commented.
The old man sighed.
Wasn’t expecting you to leave this world before me.
What’s a death kitty, brother one-eyed dragon?
She walked over slowly and reached her hand out to touch Oscar.
I stopped her unconsciously.
Don’t touch it, Yinuo. He’s very fierce. My eye’s like this because of him.
She retracted her hand and moved a few steps back.
Thoughts flooded my mind.
Am I going to die tonight?
How could I die? It’s just a wound infection.
I touched the gauze over my left eye and hopped off the bed.
This cat scratches, aunty. Don’t let her touch it,
I told the pregnant lady.
She nodded.
Got it. Where are you going?
I’m going to find the doctor and ask why I’m going to die tonight.
I walked out of the ward with careful steps since I was afraid of getting into an accident.
I arrived at the doctor’s office and thankfully, he was on duty.
He had just finished a consultation with another patient and had three more waiting.
I cut over and said,
Oscar came over to my bed earlier and rested on it.
What?
the doctor asked, confused.
That death kitty. Have I been infected? Will I not live past tonight?
The doctor waved his hand.
Wait here, everyone, and you, come over here. Let me have a closer look.
I walked over and he removed my gauze.
Your wound is about to recover. There isn’t any problem, it seems. I’ve also given you the Rabies vaccine so it’s impossible that you die tonight. Perhaps you’ve been traumatized by that incident?
the doctor suggested.
But the other four patients saw the same thing…
Bring me there. Those waiting for me, please consult the other doctor. Sorry to have wasted your time,
he informed the other patients before following me over to the ward.
Oscar was still in my bed when we entered.
The doctor exhaled.
This is my first time seeing it. So the rumors were true…
So I’m really going to die, Doc?
I asked anxiously.
He stepped forward and prodded Oscar a little but it remained motionless.
The doctor flipped him over and discovered that it seemed lifeless.
He put on his stethoscope and looked for a pulse over the cat’s stomach.
I’m not a veterinarian but it seems like he’s dead. How about you get a doctor from the animal hospital just around the corner?
the doctor suggested.
Just as I was about to leave, he called,
Wait. I’ll go with you since the doctor might not come if you have no money.
He carried Oscar out.
15 minutes later, we arrived at the animal hospital.
After a brief examination, the vet declared Oscar dead.
Cause of death?
the doctor asked.
The vet sighed,
This cat is well over ten years old. It’s only natural. He died of old age. There’s a funeral parlor for animals in here.
The doctor smiled.
It’s alright. Our hospital has a morgue.
The vet returned the smile.
Are you snatching our business?
This cat’s been with us for a few years. Because it could predict death, some liked it while others hated it. Let’s hand it over to the hospital. It’s what we should do for him,
the doctor said.
So this is that death kitty?
the vet asked.
The doctor paid the fees and carried Oscar out. I followed closely behind.
Will I die tonight, Doc?
Don’t think so much. It’s just a rumor after all,
he smiled.
But I’ve seen him predict correctly the death of two patients, and one of them is my mom.
My condolences. We shouldn’t be so superstitious. Your wound is healing fine, I guarantee you.
The doctor brought the cat to the morgue while I returned to my ward.
The pregnant lady and the old man started questioning me and I shared everything I knew.
At night, Dad came over with dinner and I did not bring Oscar’s death up.
After dinner, he went home while I lay on my bed, tensed and apprehensive.
The night was deepening and I wasn’t able to sleep at all.
Time passed and soon it was midnight.
Then one in the morning.
Two, three, four…
At five, I looked out at the light shining through the gaps between the curtains.
I slowly relaxed my body and fell into a deep sleep.
I woke up in the afternoon and nothing happened.
Somehow, the news of Oscar’s death spread across the whole hospital.
Oscar received a splendid burial. There were even reporters present. I chose not to answer when they interviewed me.
Oscar’s name appeared in the newspapers, on television, and even on Baidu.
Six days later, I got my stitches removed. There was a tiny scar and my left eye was significantly redder than my right. I couldn’t see things clearly yet.
Upon informing the doctor of that, he said,
The slight redness and blurriness are normal effects. You’ll be alright in a few days’ time. Your eyeball is perfectly undamaged.
A few days later, not only did my eye not improve, I began to notice other things.
