chapter 1

Hearing the doctor's words, the ground started to move from under Natalie's feet. Her whole world stopped in front of her.

"W..what did you say?" Natalie asked the doctor with a trembling voice. She couldn't believe her ears. Her anxiety was palpable, and her eyes reddened, threatened by a fresh wave of tears. Her whole body was shaking badly.

"The heart that was supposed to be given to your Mother has been transplanted into another patient's body. I am sorry, we can not save your Mother anymore" The doctor said the words very easily, but every word he said pierced Natalie's heart like a sharp arrow.

She has worked day and night for the past six months to save her Mother. She has sold everything they had, even their own house. For money, she has sacrificed her self-respect and danced night after night as a bar dancer. She has acted as a side character in films, holding the director's foot. Despite not knowing how to fight, she has participated in boxing competitions for money. She has done everything to save her Mother. She has gone out on the streets asking for help to arrange money for the heart replacement. She did everything she could yet luck was not on her side. After all this, just an hour before the operation, the doctor told her that her Mother would not have an operation.

"Doctor, I have money. Believe me, I have collected all the money. Look, there is money in my bag. I am not lying." Natalie untied the chain of her bag and placed the money on the table with trembling hands. She began to plead with the doctor, "Please save my Mother. My Mother is supposed to have an operation today. You told me that if I could bring the money today, you would perform my Mother's operation.

Look, I have arranged the money. I have all the money you asked for. Please! Please! save my Mother. I have no one else in this world except my Mother. I am begging you. Please," Natalie begged for mercy. Her heart was bursting with pain.

The doctor looked at her and said angrily, "For the past one month, we have repeatedly asked you to deposit all the money but you have failed to deposit the money on time. Another patient has come for the heart. We cannot return him. The heart has already been transplanted into the other patient's body. Keep this money with you. It will be useful for your Mother's funeral. Your Mother has at most an hour, so don't waste time begging here unnecessarily and go to your Mother."

Natalie was stunned after hearing the doctor's words. Tears were continuously flowing from her eyes. She shook her head and said, "I will not leave from here. That was my Mother's heart. You cannot give that to anyone else. You have to operate on my Mother. You promise me that you will operate on my mother today? You promised me that you would wait for me. I came with the money on time, now please you keep your promise." Natalie made a humble request in a soft voice.

"Yes, I promised you, so what happened? Just because I promised you, I am not obligated to keep that promise. You know how rich and influential the new patient is. They bought that heart for 10 million from the donor's family. Now, if you don't leave from here, I will call the security guard and kick you out from here," The doctor said and called the security guard to his cabin.

"Are our lives worth nothing to you because we are poor? I will report to the police," Natalie shouted in anger and sadness.

"Get that crazy girl out of my room," The doctor ordered them when the security guard entered the room.

"I made a mistake. Forgive me. I said too much. Please do my Mother's operation," Natalie knelt on the floor and began to beg the doctor.

The doctor gestured for the guards to take her out of the room. The security guards nodded and dragged Natalie out.

"I won't go. You have to operate on my Mother. Please give the heart to my Mother please," Natalie begged, but the doctor ignored her.

The security guards dragged her out of the cabin and pushed her away.

"Accept reality. You have no other choice. Your Mother is taking her last breath. If you want to see your Mother one last time, go to her," The security guard told her in a hoarse voice and left.

Natalie stood up from the floor in a devastated state and started walking towards her Mother's room. When she entered the room, she saw her Mother staring at the door as if her Mother had been waiting for her all this time.

"Why do you come so late today, honey? I have been waiting for you since morning. My heart was pounding to see you one last time," Natalie's Mother said. Natalie looked at her Mother in shock after hearing the last words. She realized that her Mother already knew everything.

Natalie ran to her Mother and put her head on her Mother's chest then burst into tears. "I am a very bad girl. I am not your good daughter. I do not deserve to be your daughter. I could not save you. I am the worst girl in the world. Forgive me"

Her Mother slowly lifted her weak hands and started patting Natalie's head. "You are wrong, honey. You are the best girl in the world. I am so proud of you. I know you will not break down after I leave. My soul will never find peace if I see you break down. I do not want you to cry because I will not be there to wipe away your tears. I want to say goodbye looking at your smiling face, my baby. Lift your head and say goodbye to Mommy. Don't worry my dear, I will always look after you from there. I want you to stay strong and keep fighting"

Natalie sobbed helplessly. "I am sorry Mom. I am so sorry"

Natalie looked up at her Mom. Her Mother was looking so weak. Anyone can count her bones above her loose skin.

Jenny smiled at her daughter and uttered weakly, "Stay strong, my love. Your Mommy loves you" With that, Jenny closed her eyes forever.

Then a heartbreaking scream came out of the cabin.