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