dishes. When the plates arrived, I realized every single one was Carrie’s favorite.
1/3
Chapter 4
+15 Bonus
There was not a single dish I could eat.
Each one was seasoned with ingredients I avoided.
But my mother simply placed food into my bowl, her voice light and casual. “I’m just used to Carrie’s preferences. You can pick
out the chilies if you can’t handle spice.”
I bit my lip, gripping my fork, staring at her, unsure of what to say.
Then she continued, “Grace, the hospital results are out. You, Nick and George are all compatible donors. But Nick isn’t suitable
-he’ll need to work and support a family in the future. George is too old. If there’s excessive bleeding during surgery, it could be dangerous. That leaves only you.”
I couldn’t cry. My tears felt glued to the edges of my eyes, refusing to fall.
Nick couldn’t donate–he had a future.
George couldn’t donate–he was too old.
And me?
It seemed to them, my life had no value.
Carrie was heavier than me, which meant they needed to take sixty percent of my liver to match her needs.
But if two people donated, they could split it, only needing to give thirty percent each.
The doctors must have told them that.
They must have known.
And yet they chose to sacrifice me, to protect everyone else.
Seeing my silence, Nick slammed his hand on the table. “Grace, how can you be so cold–blooded? It’s just half a liver—it’s not like we’re asking for your life! Don’t forget, everything we have now is because of George!”
I let out a silent, bitter laugh.
He was so angry on Carrie’s behalf that he didn’t even bother calling me by my childhood nickname.
Come to think of it, my mother hadn’t called me by my nickname since we moved into my stepfather’s house either.
A mix of emotions surged in my chest. I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I shot
up
from
my seat, my voice shaking. “Then why don’t you donate your liver to her?!”
The words had barely left my lips before my mother’s hand struck my face.
Chapter 4
“Nick can take care of me in old age. Can you?”
I stood there, dazed.
A wave of dizziness washed over me.
Right.
I was dying soon anyway.
How could I possibly take care of her in her old age?
