The day I was a perfect match for my father, who was in the terminal stage of leukemia, I ran away. Mom searched everywhere for me, but in the end, she had to say goodbye to Dad without me. Later, Mom dedicated herself to leukemia research and achieved remarkable success. She also adopted a sweet, obedient daughter. We met again at a leukemia symposium Mom was hosting. Mom looked down at me, lying on the demonstration table, her expression cold. "Summer Lin, this isn't the place for your games." "Get up and get out, now!" Hearing this, the host beside her was stunned. "Dr. Lin, you know this donor?" Mom scoffed. "How much did she pay you to play along with this charade?" The host was flustered. "Dr. Lin, Miss Summer Lin passed away three days ago..." ... Mom frowned. "I thought today was for serious discussion, not some April Fools' prank." "Summer's special effects makeup is incredibly lifelike; I almost believed it." As she spoke, her gaze unintentionally swept over my face, a flicker of panic in her eyes. She forced a stiff smile. "So, is this whole charade supposed to be a surprise or a shock?" The host shot a pleading look at a reporter nearby. The reporter stepped onto the stage and took the microphone. "Hello everyone, I'm Sarah Miller, a journalist and one of the organizers of this event." "Next, we'll play a message from our donor." The large screen on stage began to play a video. In the video, I was sitting on a beach, looking at the camera. "Hi everyone, I'm Summer Lin. I love the sun, the sky, and the sea. So, look, isn't the ocean behind me magnificent? I always dreamed of coming to the beach with Mom and Dad." "But that's become an impossible dream. It's okay, though. I brought a photo of Mom and Dad, so it's like they're here with me." I carefully took a photo from my bag and showed it to the camera. "Oh, and my mom is an absolutely incredible woman, and also..." Before I could finish, I suddenly collapsed backward. The camera shook violently, and screams came from off-screen. "She's unconscious! Quick, get her to a hospital!" "I told you not to let her come! You still let her!" The next moment, I reappeared on camera, making a silly face. "Haha, fooled ya!" As I laughed, my eyes reddened. "Mom, I love you. So, so much." The video froze on the image of me crying. Mom's expression remained indifferent. "Ms. Miller, this is an academic symposium, not some family reunion show." The audience immediately started murmuring. "Isn't that Dr. Lin's daughter? I heard Summer was a match for her dad. If she'd just donated marrow, he wouldn't have died." "She's heartless. Wouldn't even save her own father." "What's she trying to pull, showing up at a symposium like this?" "Probably saw Dr. Lin getting famous and wants a piece of the pie." "This donor... it can't really be Summer Lin, can it?" "If she's dead, she had it coming. That's karma for not saving her dad." But it wasn't that I didn't want to donate marrow to Dad; I just couldn't. If I could, I would have gladly traded my life for his health. But I couldn't even save myself... Hearing the whispers from the audience, Mom's face changed drastically. She was about to reach out and touch me when Sarah quickly stopped her. "Dr. Lin, please watch the documentary first." "We hope that through Miss Summer Lin's cancer journey documentary, everyone can truly understand the world of a leukemia patient." The screen changed, and loud music instantly filled the air. It was a noisy bar. I was carrying a tray full of drinks, weaving through the dancing crowd. Even heavy makeup couldn't hide my pale complexion. Suddenly, I grabbed a drink and splashed it at the camera, annoyed. "Can you stop bothering me while I'm working?" "You're Summer Lin, right? Hi, I'm Sarah Miller. I'm a journalist with a cancer advocacy group, and we want to film a documentary about leukemia patients." "If you agree to be filmed, we can cover all your treatment costs." Her voice was gentle and sincere. I stared into the camera and asked, "If I cooperate with your filming, can you give me the treatment money in cash instead?" Silence from the other side of the camera. I gave a wry smile, picked up my tray, and went back to work. Until 2 AM, I dragged my exhausted body out of the bar. The woman approached me again. "Summer, do you urgently need money? Are you in some kind of trouble? I can try my best to help." The moment I looked up, blood suddenly gushed from my nose. Gasps came from off-camera. "Summer!" [Filming Log: June 2, 2024] "Summer, are you working yourself to death to pay for your father's treatment?" I had a popsicle in my mouth, looking displeased. "You've been investigating me behind my back?" Sarah patiently answered, "You're the subject of our documentary. We naturally need to understand your basic situation beforehand." "But are you sure you don't want to tell your parents you're sick?" I shook my head firmly. "No." "Why not?" Sarah's gaze was hesitant. I opened the notes app on my phone and showed it to her. 4:00 AM - 7:30 AM: Diner prep cook 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM: Sales office 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Tutoring at after-school center 8:20 PM - 9:30 PM: Private tutoring 10:00 PM - 2:00 AM: Late-night food truck I suppressed the turmoil inside me and said bitterly, "That's my mom's schedule. Five jobs a day, to earn money for Dad's treatment." "If she knew I was sick too, what would she do?" Sarah's eyes welled up a bit. I sniffled. "The only two hours of rest she gets each day would disappear." "She'll work herself to death!" Talking about Mom, I couldn't hold back my tears. "My mom was supposed to be a doctor, saving lives. But she gave up her dream, carrying our whole family on her small shoulders." "Dad was diagnosed with leukemia my senior year of high school. To not be a burden on Mom and me, he snuck out one night and tried to drown himself in the river." "Mom and I cried and begged him, and only then did he give up..." Sarah handed me a tissue. "Summer..." I took the tissue and roughly wiped my tears. "If Dad knew I was sick too... what choice would he make?" "There's already one cancer patient in the family. There can't be a second." Sarah patted my shoulder, wanting to hug me. I shook my head at her. "The day the match results came in, I was diagnosed with leukemia at another hospital." "I was so scared Dad would find out, I just ran." "Dad thought I didn't want to save him. He didn't blame me; instead, he cried and begged me to stay. He said it was okay, as long as I was happy, that's all he wanted." "My check-ups were always fine before, but it just had to be that day." "Just a little bit more... and I could have saved him..." I covered my face with my hands and broke down crying. [Filming Log: June 10, 2024] I was rushing around on my e-bike, delivering food, the camera always behind me. After finishing the last delivery, I sighed at the camera. "I told you, I don't have time to film with you." "Summer, wait." Sarah stepped in front of my bike, pulled out her phone, and showed me the screen. "Look, we contacted a charity. They've already raised the money for your dad's medical expenses and will donate it." "Summer, please believe us. We genuinely want to help you." "So please, don't give up on yourself. Come to the hospital with us and get treatment, okay?" The screen went silent for a moment. When I looked up again, tears were streaming down my face. "I'll do the filming." "Consider it my way of repaying you for saving my dad." [Filming Log: June 11, 2024] Looking at the words "Body Donation" on the contract. I suddenly looked at the camera. "Where will these videos be shown? I don't want Mom and Dad to see them." "They can never know. Not ever." Sarah immediately cut me off. "Summer, you're not going to die." "The videos will only be used as internal records. Don't worry, they won't find out." For the first time, I smiled on camera. "Thank you, Sarah." [Filming Log: July 1, 2024] My face was gaunt, cheeks hollowed, the hospital gown hanging loosely on me. Looking at the camera, I forced myself to sit up. "Can I stop chemo now?" Sarah held my hand and shook her head firmly. "Summer, I know chemo is painful, but you have to believe you can beat this. Let's just try a little harder, okay?" The recurring fevers and vomiting tormented me to the breaking point. That night, I lost control, threw my food on the floor, and drove everyone away with harsh words. Afterwards, I hid under the covers and cried. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." Sarah hugged me through the blanket. "Summer, it's okay." My voice trembled. "I never knew chemo was this horrible. Dad endured all this for us." "Sarah, I miss Mom and Dad so much..." [Filming Log: September 1, 2024] "Summer, it's your birthday today. Do you have any birthday wishes?" The camera focused on the hospital room door. The next moment, I opened the door and walked out. I was wearing a pale yellow long-sleeved dress and a brown curly wig. "Sarah, let's go to the amusement park today!" Before we left, I secretly took some painkillers. Sarah saw but didn't stop me, just turned away and quietly wiped her eyes. I sat on the carousel, making a peace sign at the camera. Sarah held up her phone, taking pictures of me. "Summer, look here! Smile! Yes, that's it, so pretty." When I got off the carousel, my legs suddenly gave out, and I collapsed to the ground. The painkillers had worn off. Back at the hospital, the doctor immediately gave me an injection. That evening, I used the photos Sarah took to make a social media post. The camera focused on my phone screen. A minute later, Dad liked my post and commented, "Happy birthday, sweetie. You've lost weight. Make sure you eat well." Two minutes later, Mom sent me $500 via a money transfer app. Double what she sent last month. Tears fell onto the phone screen, one after another. I wiped them away, blew out the candles on my cake, and made a wish: "I wish Mom and Dad will always be healthy and happy." [Filming Log: October 6, 2024] "Summer!" Sarah rushed into the room, her voice urgent. I was completely wrapped in my blanket, shaking violently, my choked sobs filling the air. Sarah reached out and gently touched where my head was under the blanket. "Summer, are you okay?" After what felt like an eternity, I slowly emerged from under the covers. My eyes were red and swollen from crying, my face streaked with tears. "Sarah... my dad passed away." Sarah looked at me with concern. "Summer..." I wiped my tears and struggled to get out of bed. "Sarah, I want to go see Dad one last time." The scene changed to a funeral home. Sarah had someone distract Mom, and I went to Dad's viewing room, holding a bouquet of white lilies. I bowed deeply three times before his casket and paid my respects. No one had noticed me yet. But as I left the viewing room and was about to get into the car, Mom suddenly called my name. "Summer?" I didn't dare turn around. I urged the driver to go, fleeing in panic. I looked in the right-hand rearview mirror. Mom ran after the car for a few steps, then stopped, stunned, watching me leave with an expression full of disappointment. Then my phone rang. It was Mom. My hand trembled as I pressed the reject button. I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall, whispering, "Mom, I'm so sorry." [Filming Log: December 10, 2024] After the third round of chemo, I was even worse. Sarah sat beside me, reading a list of leukemia survivors from the hospital. I interrupted her. "Sarah, take a picture of me." Sarah was stunned. "What?" "While I still look somewhat human, let's take my funeral portrait." Sarah's voice choked. "Don't say things like that." I smiled faintly. "You have to make me look beautiful." And just like that, we started. I got up, put on my wig, and changed into new clothes. Such simple actions took me a whole hour. Sitting in front of a white wall. I gave a big smile to the camera. Sarah's eyes were red, her hand holding the camera shaking so much that ten shots in a row were blurry. I shook my head in mock disgust. "Sarah, you're making me look awful." Sarah sniffled. "You promised me you'd keep fighting. Otherwise, I'll use these ugly pictures for you." I burst out laughing. "Alright, alright, as long as you make me look good." Just then, a flock of birds flew past the window, chirping. Sarah aimed the camera at my face. Click. My smile was forever captured in the camera. "Doctor!" "Someone, quick!" Chaotic shouts erupted around me. Sarah dropped the camera and rushed towards me. I stared at the spinning ceiling and slowly closed my eyes. "Mom, I'm sorry." "Dad, I'm coming to find you."
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