Chapter 3

Dad walked in, looking serious, holding a piece of paper in his hand.

I nodded quickly and stepped outside, knowing my place.

Dad was the best doctor around. If anyone could save Marcus, it was him.

......

“We’ve found a kidney donor.”

I had just left the room when I overheard Dad talking to Marcus.

“Is it a match?” Marcus asked eagerly, his voice filled with hope.

“Yes, and she’s agreed. We can schedule the surgery right away.”

Dad’s voice was calm as usual, but relief washed over me. Marcus was going to be okay.

Back in the attic, I wrote in my diary: “Today, we found a way to save Marcus. I’m not exactly sure what a donor is, but I know it means he’s going to be okay. I’m so happy.

“When Marcus gets better, I’ll cook all kinds of delicious food for him. Mom wrote in her diary that before I was born, Marcus promised he’d protect me forever. I believe in Mom, and I believe in Marcus. They’ll forgive me.”

I was in the middle of writing when a sudden knock on the door made me jump. I rushed to open it, and there stood Dad, his expression cold and stern.

He didn’t say a word. Instead, he handed me a piece of paper. I unfolded it and saw the words “Compatible Match.”

I froze. The name had been blacked out, but I recognized the date. It was the same day Dad took me to the hospital.

So the one who could save Marcus was me?

Thud!

Dad’s tall frame suddenly dropped to his knees in front of me. I was so startled I took a step back, but then quickly reached out, trying to help him up.

“Dad, what are you doing? Please get up.”

“Paige…” His voice cracked as he said my name, tears in his eyes. “Please save him. Save Marcus…”

I was stunned, my fingers frozen in place. It was the first time Dad had ever called me by my name like that, and it was to ask me to save Marcus.

Marcus was sick, and I was the only one who could help him. If I did this, would he finally acknowledge me?

Everyone was right. It seemed I had always owed them a life. But it hurt to realize they had never truly seen me as family.

“Dad…” I put my hand on his shoulder. In my memories, he was always so tall, so distant, like he couldn’t even see me.

But now I realized he could see me. He just never bothered to look down.

“I’ll do the surgery. But can you promise me one thing?”

Lying on the operating table, I glanced at my father, who stood beside me with a scalpel in his hand.

Next to me, Marcus lay unconscious.

He couldn’t stand the sight of blood, so they put him under.

But I had to stay awake. Anesthesia wasn’t good for the kidney, and Marcus needed it to be in the best condition.

I looked at the nearly eight-inch-long scalpel and felt a wave of fear wash over me. But I forced myself to stay calm.

As long as I could save Marcus, it would all be worth it. And Dad had promised me that losing one kidney wouldn’t kill me.

For five long hours, I watched as my kidney was carefully removed and placed into Marcus’s body. My vision blurred, and breathing became more difficult.

When Dad finally finished with Marcus, he let out a deep sigh of relief and looked at him with such tenderness. I lifted my hand, trying desperately to reach them.

But I felt so weak. I had made plans to have Mia over, to introduce her to Dad and Marcus after they forgave me.

“Dad, please… just look at me… it hurts so much…” I whispered silently to myself.