My Heart, His Spare Part

ant for me. In that moment, I realized I loved him. He was my

eard the truth. He hadn't sa

was just the "best option" fo

ned to keep his organ donor safe and compliant. The man I ad

carefully constructed trap, and I h

died in that sterile hospital hallway

ice. "I'm ready to consider the

pte

Johns

was a human shield, throwing himself between me and the oncoming car, taking the full

s, were on me. Always on me. A fierce protectiveness I had always secretly adored. In that mo

e. He trul

ision of the future flickered. A future with him. Safe. Loved. A life where his

t, too bright, and my head throbbed with a dull, persistent ache. My body

aked, my voice

over. "You're awake, Ms. Johnson. Tak

g to push myself up. "Is h

ious injuries. He's down the hall," she explained

hammered with a desperat

bornness in my eyes. "Room

flimsy hospital gown, I shuffled out, clinging to the cold metallic railing of

opening, I saw her. Dariana. Grant's adopted sister. She was perched on the edge of his b

ring, golden tether, almost imperceptible, connected Grant and Dariana. It pulsed, a vibrant, living cord, radiat

ly seeing that? My head was still fuz

fluttered open, a low

he leaned in close, her voice a soft, tremulous

a newfound love, suddenly felt cold.

sweet, now held a sharp edge. "You could ha

gesture so tender it twisted my gut. "I had to,

ies. It was something far worse. Dariana tightened her grip on his hand, her eyes wide w

e water through my veins. Dariana. Sweet, shy, chronically ill Dariana. The media doted on her, portraying her as

. "She's valuable. We can't afford to

I wasn't brave. I wasn't loved. I was just a kidney donor. The world tilted, the pristine hospital hallway swaying. M

ignoring the bewildered nurses, until I found a desolate waiting area. I collapsed into a hard plastic chair

ey donor." The words repeated, a

nd Grant entered. He looked pale, a bandage peeking from beneath his shirt, but his posture was still st

said, his voice soft, reassuri

Grant straight to Dariana, who was now standing shyly in the doorway. It tightened around her, a possessive grip, even as Grant sat beside me. It wasn't love for me. It wa

ad you're okay. Grant cares so much for you. I wish I had someone like that." He

look. "Dariana, don't ups

gue. She was a viper. A sweet-faced viper. The naive girl in me, the one who believed in

s. "I need to be alone," I said,

something, perhaps concern, in hi

's arm. "She's tired, Grant. Let her rest. Come wi

longer before he nodded. "I'll be right outside. Jus

g out. Silent tears streamed down my face, hot and stinging. Not for him. Not for the love I though

ined. I was just a rebellious teenager then, annoyed by the constant surveillance. But there was something ab

bered a minor accident years ago, a reckless driver. Grant had pushed me out of the way, taking the blow to his shoulder. He'd brushed off h

lways watching, always protecting. I thought it was love. My father had warned me about get

d countless times, wanting to give back

eeds a place to stay, some support." My heart had swelled. I was

agile, with wide, innocent eyes. I' d felt immense

tructed lie, slowly, meticulously woven around my innocent heart

ver me. No more. This ends now. The realization was a painful truth, but i