Chapter 1
Anastasia's POV
"Miss Lopez, we have limited time!" He paused and checked a file, then shook his head.
He took off his eyeglasses and wiped them softly before wearing them back.
He pushed his eyeglasses up and balanced them on his nose.
I adjusted myself on the chair and leaned on the table, worry clearly written on my face.
"What do you mean, doc?" I asked in a scared voice.
I'm scared of what he's gonna say. I wish he won't say it, but he must say it.
"You must prepare yourself, because the medications aren't working effectively any longer. We need to carry out the operation soon!"
"Soon? How soon?" I asked.
Doctor Hemsworth stared at me briefly and sighed.
"Maximum of 40 days, or you should get yourself ready for a funeral."
Funeral?! I shook my head. Funeral is out of the options! It's not an option!
"Doc, last time you told me that there's a donor... what happened now? Why can't we use it?"
Doctor Hemsworth opened a drawer behind him and rampaged through it.
He took out a file and dropped it on his table, pushing it to me.
I picked it up and opened it. I didn't understand a thing... I was just staring at it cluelessly.
"Before we do any transplant, we carry out a series of tests to make sure everything is OK with the donor...."
He trailed off and stared at me to know if I'm actually listening to him, which of course I am!
"... we did a bunch of tests on Mr. Scott..."
"Mr. Scott?" I interrupted him.
"Yes, the donor!"
"Oh... ok." I gestured for him to continue.
He cleared his throat and leaned back on his chair.
"We found out Mr. Scott isn't as healthy as he claimed to be...."
Not as healthy as he claimed? Did he catch a strange disease? But that shouldn't affect his...
"... he was a smoker. He started smoking since twelve... so his lungs are damaged, which kinda affected his kidneys..."
I looked at him anxiously, praying he wouldn't say what I dreaded most.
"... hence, we couldn't use his kidney anymore. We'll look for someone healthy and you'll buy one of his kidneys."
"How much?" I asked.
Doctor Hemsworth shut his eyes briefly. He took a deep breath and smiled encouragingly at me.
"9 million!"
"9..."
My mouth hung open, unable to complete my sentence. Right now, my head was growing bigger, getting too heavy for my neck to carry.
9 million? Where on earth will I get 9 million?!
"Miss Lopez?" Doctor Hemsworth waved his hand across my face.
I blinked and stared at him blankly.
"Doctor, ca... can't we find another alternative?"
"I'm afraid not. We've tried all alternatives already. The operation can't be delayed any longer!"
I leaned back on my chair and rubbed my forehead. This 9 million has given me a sudden headache.
"But I don't have such money. Can't we get a cheaper one?"
"No! I estimated 9 million because we are trying to look into some charity organizations to see if we can find a donor!"
I sighed. 9 million is a very huge amount of money. My account is currently reading $2,000, and that's my life savings!
"Miss Lopez, I'd advise you start planning on how to get the money ready..."
I rolled my eyes inwardly. Tell me something I don't know!
"... that boy really can't wait. But we'll still try to keep him alive as much as the medications are still working... just hurry up a little bit!"
"Thank you, doctor!"
He took Mr. Scott's file from the table and kept it back in the drawer.
I got up, picked my jacket and bag, stretched out my hand, and shook hands with Doctor Hemsworth.
"Thank you, doc. I should go see my brother before I leave!"
"Ok! Oh... tell your aunt to go home and get some rest sometimes. Staying up all night isn't too good for her health at her age!"
I nodded and headed out.
★★★
Standing outside my brother's ward, I took a deep breath and wiped away my sad expression.
I put on my happiest expression and wore a very wide and bright smile. I knocked on the door lightly before opening it.
"Is there any Denzel here?"
Denzel raised his head and a smile appeared on his face.
He wanted to hop off the bed, but I quickly rushed to him and stopped him before he could.
"Easy, boy!" I told him. You can't blame me for being careful.
His arms encircled my neck and he rested his head on my shoulder.
"Anna, you're here!" he said.
"Yeah, and I brought mangoes!"
He removed his arms from me and sat on his bed in anticipation.
I brought out five mangoes from my bag and put them on a plate on the table. He reached for one, but I lightly hit his hand.
"Hey, wait until they're washed!"
"Awwwn!" He whined and I laughed at him.
I ruffled his hair and held his face in my palms.
"So... how is handsome Denzel doing today?"
"I'm fine! Here...."
He reached for a drawing book next to him on the bed and showed me a page where he drew...
Ah! I don't even know what he drew! But I guess it's some cartoons.
"... look, Anna, I drew Hulk and Captain America!"
"Oh..."
I took a closer look and frowned. Why don't they look like the Hulk and Captain America I know?
Anyway, I gave him a big thumbs up.
"... beautiful, awesome!" I smiled overly sweet at him.
He narrowed his eyes and folded his arms on his chest. He pointed his tiny finger at my face.
"You're lying! My drawing is bad!" he said.
I shook my head, keeping a serious expression.
He monitored my expression a few more minutes, then broke into a bright smile.
Actually, his artistic skills are so darn poor, but I can't let him know that... you can't get Denzel back in a good mood after making him sad.
"Tomorrow I'll draw our family album!" he said.
"Good, but please don't make me look like a monkey this time."
He paused and studied my face with a raised eyebrow.
"But you look like a monkey!"
I bared my teeth at him and he laughed. I looked around and noticed my aunt wasn't here.
As if he read my thoughts, he said,
"Aunt went to get some hot water!"
I sighed and nodded. A moment of silence fell on us and lasted a little longer.
Denzel leaned on me and rested his head on my chest.
"Anna, Doctor Hemsworth visited me earlier this morning!"
"He did?"
He nodded.
"What did he say?"
"Hmm, he said I'm getting better and I'll soon go back home and resume school."
He's getting better?! I wish it's true. Doctor Hemsworth told him the exact opposite of his situation.
"... is that true?"
His question pulled me back to reality.
"Is what true?"
"Is it true that I'm gonna go home soon? Did you visit him? Did he tell you I'm getting better too? Did he tell you how strong I am?"
His questions suddenly made me emotional. I felt tears brimming in my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away.
He's really strong... very strong. It's not easy for a 9-year-old to be suffering from kidney disease and still be as lively as him.
"Anna?"
"What?"
He raised his head and stared at me with a cute, inquisitive frown.
"Why are you not answering me?"
"Sorry, I was thinking about an interview I have by 10 a.m.!"
"Oh... but is it true?" he asked again.
I guess he's referring to his question from earlier.
"Yes, he said you're getting a lot better, but you shouldn't stress yourself too much or..." I trailed off.
"Or what?"
"He might extend your stay here!"
He scoffed unbelievably.
"That's not true, Anna. He said he'll let me go home if I continue to be a good boy... and Aunt said I've been quite good!"
I almost laughed out loud. If only he knew Doctor Hemsworth was just saying that to make him happy.
"Hmm... well, then, continue to be a good boy and don't run about, ok!"
He nodded and let out a yawn.
"Can I lean more on you? I wanna sleep!" I nodded, and he leaned more and closed his eyes.
A few minutes later, he'd fallen asleep on me. I gently laid him on his bed and covered him with a blanket.
I stared at his carefree face and smiled. I wish he wasn't so unlucky to have caught this disease.
I leaned down and kissed his cheek. Don't worry, Denzel... I'll work hard to save money for you... even if I have to sell myself!
I heard the sound of the knob twisting and turned back. It was my aunt.
"Anna!" she called me, smiling.
I signaled her to lower her voice and gestured toward Denzel's sleeping form. She mouthed "oh" and walked in lighter steps toward me.
She stopped in front of me and looked me all over.
"Anna, you're becoming thinner... are you not eating enough?" she asked with a frown, still assessing me.
I laughed lightly.
"Aunt, I have enough food back home," I replied... which is a big fat lie.
"Oh, I see... it must be because you don't get enough rest..."
She dropped the flask in her hand on the small table in front of us and took my hands in hers.
Oh God! I know where this is going...
"I know things are hard now and you're working hard for us... but don't forget to rest and eat... don't forget to read your books..."
I tuned her out since I already memorized all she's about to say. She tells me this every time I visit.
"... do you understand me?"
"Yes, Aunt, I understand!"
She smiled and glanced at Denzel before turning back to me. She caressed my hair.
"Did you meet with Doctor Hemsworth?"
"Yes."
"What did he say? I have been asking him and he keeps telling me Denzel is getting better..."
She sighed.
"... but I feel like he's hiding something from me!"
I wanted to tell her the truth, but recalling Doctor Hemsworth's advice, I decided against it.
"Aunt, Denzel is really getting better. Don't think too much!"
She stared at me as if she didn't believe me.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Aunt!"
"But—"
The blaring of my ringtone cut her off. I quickly reached for it inside my bag and saw Matilda's name (my best friend) flashing on the screen.
"Aunt, let me take this... it's Matilda!"
Aunt nodded, and I quickly pressed the answer button.
"Hello, Mat—"
"Don't 'hello Matilda' me, Miss Lopez!" she screamed, and I moved the phone away from my ear.
Her voice was so loud that even Aunt could hear her without the phone being on speaker.
"Where the hell are you, Tasia?!"
I opened my mouth to speak, but her voice came up again.
"Have you forgotten about your interview by 10 a.m.? It's starting now... Where. Are. You?"
I released a nervous laugh and grabbed my jacket from the bed. I signaled my aunt that I'm leaving.
She nodded and pecked my forehead. She waved me to leave. I waved her back and hurried out of the ward.
"Tasia? Tasia, are you still there?"
"Er... Tilda, I'm... er...."
What should I tell her? That I'm still at the hospital? She's so gonna be livid if I tell her that.
"Don't tell me you're not even close."
"Ok... I won't tell you that."
I heard a bang and smiled. I said it... she's gonna be so angry.
"Why aren't you there yet? Have you forgotten so soon how difficult it was for us to get—"
I rolled my eyeballs.
"Fine, fine, Tilda, I'm heading there now!"
She paused, then I heard her taking deep breaths to calm herself down.
"You really know how to rile me up!"
I laughed and she joined me.
"You're lucky you have my baby with you, or I swear I don't know how you'll make it in time!"
Her baby... that's her old, rusty truck which she inherited from her grandpa.
I stopped in front of the truck. I opened the door and threw my bag in the passenger seat. I hopped in.
"Alright, Tilda, we'll talk later... I'm about to hit the road!"
"Ok... good luck, girly!"
"Thanks, I guess I really need that!"
"Muaaah!" She made a long kissing sound.
"Muah!"
I hung up and stepped on the gas. I checked my time. It's 9:49 a.m.... God, I have just ten minutes to get there.
God help me!
