The hospital room buzzed with quiet beeping.
Chapter 10
Amara lay in the bed, barely recognizable beneath the wires and machines. Her tiny chest rose in shallow, mechanical breaths. I sat beside her, unmoving, fingers wrapped gently around her hand.@
Then the doctor walked in.”
“We’ve stabilized her,” he said. “But the fall caused major internal bleeding. Her kidneys are failing. She needs a transplant -urgently.”
“I’ll donate,” I said without hesitation. “Take mine. Just save her.“”
The doctor nodded. “We’ll start testing.“”
<-
Hours earlier…
Laughter.
Amara’s laughter filled the marble halls, high and bright, her curls bouncing as she danced across the floor. Her pink dress swirled around her tiny legs. Mateo’s birthday party buzzed behind us, but in that moment, it was just me and her.
I only stepped away for a minute. One minute.}
Then a scream cut through the air.
I turned just in time to see a blur of pink and the edge of the balcony–and then she was gone.
She was gone.!
The world shifted. My body moved before my thoughts could catch up. I pushed through the crowd, reaching the railing, and looked down.
Amara. Still. Broken. So small against the cold concrete.
-0
Back at the hospital…
When the doctor returned, my heart clung to hope. “Did I match?”
His eyes dimmed. “You can’t donate. You only have one kidney.”
My breath hitched. “That’s not possible. I’d remember.“>
Mateo stood behind me, silent too long. Then->
“Evelyne… You don’t remember the kidnapping? Years ago? You were stabbed. One kidney didn’t survive. They had to take it out.”
“What?”
“I didn’t tell you,” he admitted. “You were already dealing with so much. I didn’t want you to feel even more broken.“}
-0
The guilt. The betrayal. The confusion–it all blurred behind one truth: Amara needed saving.
The doctor turned to Mateo. “You might be a match. Let’s test you.”
He nodded immediately. “Do it.”
ㄧ口
Moments later, I sat beside Amara’s bed again, whispering prayers I wasn’t sure I believed in.”
Then the doctor returned–with Mateo beside him.
“You’re a match,” the doctor said. “We can proceed.“”
Relief swept through me so fast I nearly collapsed.
But before I could breathe, the doors slammed open.
A woman stormed in–hair tangled, eyes wild.”
Julienne.
My twin.
“Julienne?” I stood up, confused. “Why are you–?“N
She rushed to Mateo and grabbed his hands. “Please. Please save him.”
“Who?” I asked, voice trembling.
“My son,” she cried. “He’s dying. He needs a kidney. Mateo, you’re his father. He needs you.”
3/3
4.5%
I stared at her.”
Then at Mateo.}
He didn’t deny it.”
My heart sank.
“The kidney is for Amara,” I said, barely above a whisper.”
Julienne turned to me, voice breaking. “But my son… is his son too.“”
3/3
4.5%
“My son is also Dominic’s.”
