The day started like any other, quiet and peaceful in the small home just outside the busy city. Miss Shu woke before sunrise, her mind filled with thoughts and worries. She listened to the sound of her husband coughing in the next room. It was a deep, raspy cough, and lately, he had grown weaker. Across the hallway, her son Yang was also sick, often tired and pale, no longer full of energy like he used to be.
Miss Shu dressed quickly and stepped into the small kitchen. There was little food left, but she managed to make a thin soup for her family. She placed the bowls on the old wooden table and called everyone to breakfast.
As the family sat down, the father, Mr. Shu, tried to smile, but his eyes showed pain. Yang ate quietly, barely touching his food. Miss Shu's heart silently hoped today would be better.
After breakfast, Miss Shu took Yang to the hospital. The walls were white and cold, and the waiting room was full of people—some hopeful, some afraid. She held her son's hand tightly, feeling the rough skin of her palms, worn from hard years of work. Yang squeezed her hand but did not speak.
At last, the doctor called them in. He was a kind-looking man, with gray hair and a tired smile. He examined Yang carefully, and then looked at Miss Shu with gentle seriousness.
"I am sorry, ma'am," he said. "Your son's illness is very serious. His liver is damaged, and he needs surgery right away."
A wave of fear passed through Miss Shu. "How much… how much will it cost?" she asked, her voice thin.
The doctor sighed. "It will cost six hundred thousand dollars. And I must tell you, your husband is in the same condition. Both need this operation to live."
Miss Shu felt her knees shake. That was more money than she could ever dream of having. She wanted to cry, but stood silent instead, wrapping her arms around Yang. The doctor waited, watching her with sad eyes.
"We will do what we can," Miss Shu said. "I will find a way. Please, do not let either of them die."
Outside the hospital, the world seemed even colder than before. Miss Shu walked slowly, her mind racing. How could she save them both? She barely earned enough to pay for bread and rice. In her heart, she knew she must be strong—for Yang, for her husband, for the whole family.
As they reached home, Brother Goo, Yang's older brother, sat in the living room. He wore a proud smile and joked about being sick, wanting attention. But his laughter faded when he saw Miss Shu's worried face.
"What happened, Mother?" Goo asked.
Miss Shu told them the truth. Tears filled her eyes as she explained the cost, the danger, and the choice she might have to make. Goo's face changed; he grew quiet and uneasy, realizing how serious things were.
Yang stared at his brother and father. He wondered: Would his mother save him or his father? Would Goo get jealous? Would anyone help?
The family fell silent, each lost in their own fear. Miss Shu went to her bedroom, pulled out her old sewing box, and counted every coin she had saved. It was not enough. Not nearly enough.
Days passed. Miss Shu went from bank to bank, asking for loans, hoping someone would show mercy. Everywhere she went, she met with rejection. The world felt heavy on her shoulders. Yang grew sicker. Her husband started to fade, spending longer hours in bed. Goo tried to act strong, but he too felt scared inside.
One night, Miss Shu sat at the kitchen table with all her children around her. She placed her last coins on the table and said, "We must be brave. We are a family. I will work. I will beg. I will do anything for you. But we may have to make very hard choices."
Yang looked down, tears falling onto his hands. Goo clenched his fists. Their father began to cry.
At that moment, the trouble had begun—not just trouble with the sickness and money, but trouble in all their hearts—the fear of loss, the pain of choices, and the deep hope that maybe, somehow, things could be alright.
Outside, the city lights glowed. Inside, Miss Shu held her children close, whispering that she would never give up. No matter how hard things became, she would keep fighting for her family. The struggle had started, but love would be her guide.