The System's Cruel Canvas

amiliar, sterile scent of a hospital. A nurse was adjusting my I

unkind. "You have severe dehydration and your blood pressure is d

e same lecture I' d heard before. My body wa

ee missed calls. All from Alex. A stupid, treacherous flicker

through the door. His face was a thundercloud, h

night, Chloe?" he demanded,

m I was sorry, to say anything that migh

ere not my own. They were cold, mocking, defiant. "I did

creaming. No! That's no

ism is necessary, Chloe. He must believe you are beyon

as gone, replaced by pure, unadulterated rage. "You really don'

rds were trapped in my mind. On the outside, I just stared at h

er me. I ripped the IV from my arm, a sharp sting of pain followed by a trickle of

g strides, he was at my bedside. He grabbed my shoulders, his grip

e, tears of frustration an

. "Look at what you're doing! You're destroying

a small, beautifully carved wooden bird. My heart stopped. I had carved that for him on his sixteen

ooked at the bird. "She said she made it to remind me of t

en my work, my memory, my love, and claimed it as

g in my gut. "She' s so pure, so good. She needs a new kidney, you know. Her old illness is acting up.

he frantic beeping of the heart

argument. "You will do this. You will give Sarah your kidney, and maybe, just m

here, a worried expression on her face. She rushed to his side,

otective embrace. "I know. But she needs to

I stared at the spot where they had stood, the pain so immense it felt like I was being hollowed out from the inside. A kidney. He wanted me to gi