Chapter Five: Tomorrow Stolen from the Emergency Ward

Each chart bore a new white crease shaped like half an umbrella. When Su Li raised her badge, a child whispered, “Borrow one day, save one life.” The voice came from resuscitation. Doctors surrounded a courier critically injured in a crash. Beneath his bed crouched the faceless paper boy. He drew ribbons marked with dates from the wall and stuffed them into the man's chest. Each ribbon triggered an alarm elsewhere. Su Li's hand passed through him. “Big sister, he promised his daughter a birthday tomorrow. I'm only borrowing other people's tomorrows.” “Borrowing requires permission.” “They have plenty left.” Xie suddenly caught the wall. A silver-white strip emerged from his chest. The spirit was stealing his lifespan too.