Once Upon a Marriage

oi

kin as Mike and I sped down the empty streets, my heart raced with every second tha

, glancing at me briefly b

burning behind my eyes, threatening to spill but i refused to

A call from Grandma had been all it took. Max had

my mind. I couldn'

he car before it had even fully stopped. My breath c

e back to reality. My heels clicked against the cold floor as I followed the nurse's hu

is voice low but firm

ort, turning

My voice cracked, and I hated how raw it sounded. But

ed, his j

Just... don't burn out bef

was right, but that didn't make it any easier. M

c chairs, her hands clenched tightly around the straps of her purse. Her face lit up when she saw me, bu

she asked, her v

chest. I didn't have an answer-at

said, trying to k

didn't press. Instead, she stood

you," she s

ing the lump in m

Mike started to come with me, but I shook my head.

ndma. I turned and followed the nurse down the

curls tousled against the pillow. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and there was an IV line running i

ered, his voice

s trembling as I brushed his

eetheart. I'm

e tugged at

d you, d

laugh, tears wel

were you thinking, huh? Giving y

rt clenched at the sound. I wanted to take his pain, to bear i

introduced herself as Dr. Richards, but i barely heard her. My focus

y results suggest advanced kidney disease. We'll need to start

rds echoed in my mind, but I

does he have?"

ok. "We don't know yet. It depends on the next

d, feel

aid instantly. "W

chart. "Unfortunately, Ms. Eloise, based on yo

room

'm his mother-how ca

"But your previous illnesses have compromised your

They needed a donor, someone with a matching blood type but I couldn't donate. I had been disqualified due

feeling like the wall

squeezed my hand. "Moml, I'll be

ry when the only person who might be abl

could help. I had to put aside my pride, my anger and my h

overed over Lucian's contact, the memories of our past crashing over me. The way he hel

all button, my

ice, three times. Then

ied

th

ssaging app. My fingers flew over the keyboard, t

He needs a kidney transplant, and I can'