THE SURROGATE WHO STOLE HIS HEART
just trying to finish some marketing report that would d
mentary. Sofia passed out at recess. The am
ned to garbage right in front of her eyes. Her daughter... Sofia, her eight-ye
lena said, her t
like crazy on the floor. That sterile hospital smell just hit he
s shaking as she looked for her insurance card. Eight
hat practiced sympathy. Room 7
rk hair covered the pillow. Machines beeped, and an IV was stuck
d everyone. I just felt
pushed Sofia's hair back. Don't be
my chest
al, like doctors get when they have bad new
ing. Six months ago, they told her what Sofia had. Thre
ey, Elena whispered, ki
tests show things have gotten worse since Sofia's last visit. He
l. A kitten was hanging from a branch
new. She'd been reading about Sofia's illness lik
eed to do the
nths. $700,000 for something that might not even
so
's young, but her body can't keep
had $2,347 in savings. Her credit cards were maxed. The
room and cried for three minutes. Just a quiet cry
n her face, put on lipstick,
inking about what to do. Another loan on her house? Nope. Her cred
ofia home to it. The paint was coming off, and the steps were in bad shape,
a helped her out of the c
her daughter's eyes. You're goi
a how she coul
a played, she went to the kitchen and looked at all the bills on the fridge. And at the bot
0,0
g. Medical tourism? Too dangerous. Clinical tr
. On the third pag
y Services: Helpi
ing at $75,000 for
for exclusiv
ional, life-chang
Other women did that. Women in other
ver seen at once. And maybe even
hovered ove
m. Her daughter was laughing. Eve
licked
om parents and surrogates. The women seeme
a family and let me take
ything for us. I'd do
the FAQ, her
ch can
000 t
d surrogate
gements can get
gasped. It wasn't enough for
do I
st was
e 2
regnant
good men
iminal
o an exclusiv
ad all
exclusive
te who only carries their c
e. It asked about everything: medical his
erested in beco
say? She was scared? She had no other choice
help a family and tak
mal. It didn't say
being pregnant
he pain, the fear, that rushed when they put Sof
alone before.
e
ith artificial
d about the process online. It s
e
wins if you got p
e
ing the parents' rules a
e
little or no conta
g a baby for nine months, feeling it grow, then j
the surgery. About choosing between he
e
ood job, and being healthy. She didn't mention
Sofia had taken. She looked okay. S
ed Submit A
in 48 hours. We like people
Sofia was asleep on the c
applied to carry some
would have been a few months
ext from her sister: How was
message. How could
She just n
Elena was goo
p. Sofia stayed home. Elena w
rning, the
s. Mar
gement. They are looking for someone who can agree to privacy. The pay starts at
interested. This Client wants to int
ivacy until the
ret F
ive hundred thousand dollars
as e
e typed: I'm interest
PM. We'll send the address in the
secrecy should have worried h
bor to watch Sofia, and tried not
d in Sofia's doorway
u, baby, Elena whisp
e street was empty, but she fel
n who might save Sofia. Tomorrow,
she was j
oor and got ready