Her face quickly turned a bright crimson, which everyone said resembled the red of autumn sunset clouds.
The nurse sister apologized to me, saying, "Sweetie, I will give you a lollipop. Can you bear with it?"
I looked at the candy, somewhat hesitant. After all, mom and dad didn't allow me to eat sugar.
The nurse sister looked at me, smiled, and her dimples made her seem particularly kind. She peeled the wrapper, revealing a rainbow lollipop. Just like the one in Sister's photo. The same lollipop as in sister's photo.
I was tempted, but still didn't dare make any move.
Her smile was really beautiful, and her voice was gentle. With a tone full of coaxing, she leaned down and said, "Try it, it's very sweet."
Her face was very close to mine, the crimson spreading across it. They all said it was as red as the autumn sunset, but I felt she was as red as an apple.
I didn't know why, but I actually wasn't that eager to eat sugar. But at that moment, I wanted to. Especially the lollipop. Especially lollipops.
The same lollipop as in sister's photo.
This time, I took the lollipop without hesitation and started eating it. Before it even touched my tongue, its aroma filled my senses. I tentatively licked it, tasting sugar for the first time.
It's different from an apple, I thought. I thought.
My eyes first became slightly watery, then gradually blurred. So this is what sweetness tastes like.
No wonder sister liked it.
I thought.
The nurse sister walked away for a moment and then returned. I noticed that the "mosquito" in her hand had changed from blue to purple. This time, she didn't hesitate and accurately inserted it into my vein.
She sighed in relief, and my tears fell involuntarily.
The nurse sister was a bit flustered, patiently comforting me, patting my back gently. It was warm and reassuring, making me feel safe.
My vision was blurry, making me feel as if I had returned to that night when mom held me, sitting by sister's bedside.
It was one of the few times mom had held me. The nurse sister's embrace made me feel attached.
But that feeling of attachment didn't last long.
Mother came over, and with just one glance, she noticed the lollipop in my hand. She was very angry, her fury no less intense than during the bus incident.
She snatched the lollipop from my hand and threw it in the trash. My mom, who usually prided herself on her rationality, yelled, "You can't eat this stuff, do you know what happened to your sister "
Mother seemed truly furious, and I had never seen her this angry before.
I bit my lip, not daring to look at her.
All I could think was that I wouldn't eat sugar anymore.
Especially lollipops.
The same lollipop as in sister's photo.
The rainbow-colored lollipop broke in half. It was the lollipop that broke, but I felt as if it was me who had broken.
I felt a tightness and pain in my chest, worse than the dragging on the bus. But I didn't say anything. Twisting my fingers, I felt secretly guilty yet wronged.
I felt guilty for not listening to my parents and making them sad. And I secretly hoped, was Mother worried about me, worried that I might get sick too?
I thought this.
I also felt wronged, why didn't mom come to comfort me?
Was mom hurt by my actions? I thought.
