The Kidney He Gave, The Love She Denied

o a charity auction. It was a high-profile event,

happiness now that Noah was

her hand dismissively. "It'll look strang

m and pack the last of my things. But then I saw the look in her e

to go. One last time. One last look

e I could answer, conf

itting from group to group, Noah always a step behind her, playing the part of the devoted, miraculously recovered

feeling completely detached. This

s was brought to the stage. M

l, hand-carve

. When I was adopted, Mrs. Hayes had said she would keep it safe for me. I hadn't seen it in ye

It was a part of me. A part of a life I barely

one hundred dollars," t

lled out, my voice l

at me. Olivia's eyes widened in surpri

" a man in the

id immediately, my e

via hissed, appearing at my side

I said, my

rk on his face. He then turned to Olivia with a pleading look. "Liv, hon

ce to my stark, determined one. She

said, her voice low an

usand." My savings. Al

. This was better than the au

her voice now cold and clear. She

ut. I would sell my car. I

h anger and embarrassment. She saw my defi

d said, her voice ringing with false magnanimity, "To show my undying love for my fiancé

ollowed by applause. What a gran

d, blowing

y's fortune to crush me, to take the last pie

ver. I had nothing left to fight w

holding the wooden bird aloft like a

completely, broke. The last thread of hope, t

out of the ballroom.

morning. A one-way ticket to a sma

life fit into a single duffel bag. I looked around the room I had lived in for

stood there, her face a mask of thund

ink you're going

ird, which I had taken from the gift table when no one was

d, pointing at the bird.

yours to sell,

t to you for your birthday! As a surprise! A symbol o

t was almost brilliant. She was rewriting hi

as boiling over. "After everything I've done for you! A

n the air, vibra

ke claws, trying to snatch the

in a snarl. "I'll t

ss paperweight from my

ster, the person I had once loved more t

, buzzed with an incoming call. The screen lit up with