After My In-Laws Donated Their Bodies

I stayed at the hospital and paid all the necessary fees, including the cost of the surgery.

At first, the doctor was hesitant to even issue the payment slip, but I pleaded with him. “My mother-in-law could bring the compatible heart back anytime. We need to operate right away. I’m just preparing in advance!”

After persistent begging, the doctor finally relented and processed the payment.

Just as I finished making all the preparations, I was struck with shocking news. I got a call from the traffic police that Helen had been in an accident.

When I saw her, I could not hold back my tears.

She had collided with a freight truck. A steel rod from the truck had pierced straight through her chest and into her heart.

The doctor explained that the rod had impaled her heart. Pulling it out without extreme caution would cause massive blood loss. Nate was the only surgeon in the city skilled enough for such a delicate operation.

Even then, no one could guarantee she would survive once the rod was removed.

The doctor sighed and looked at me. “I heard Dr. Black has been scheduled for another surgery today. I’m afraid we can’t recall him.”

Nate!

The white sheet was soaked through with crimson blood. It was not unlike a grotesque watercolor painting.

The heartbreak I felt was unbearable.

The greatest gift my marriage to Nate ever gave me was the love of my parents-in-law. They were like my real parents, to the point I referred to them as Mom and Dad instead of their names.

They gave me the warmth and care I had never known growing up.

For the first time in my life, I had known what it meant to be loved by family.

However, the universe was stealing even this little happiness from me.

Helen’s hand was growing colder in my desperate grasp. I was overcome with fear and helplessness.

I thought, “Nate! You ungrateful jerk! Where the hell are you?”

I called Nate’s phone again. Once again, Camile answered his phone. “Are you serious right now? I told you, Nate’s busy!”

Before she could hang up, I rasped, “Mom was in a car accident! She was in an accident! Do you hear me? Tell Nate to get back here! She needs his help!”

Nate’s voice came through the other side of the line. “Andrea, I’m not the only doctor in the hospital. Will you stop hounding me? You just don’t want me to operate on Camile’s dad. You’re being as petty as always, you know? This is my job, do you understand? Camile’s father needs me more right now. Our hospital has perfectly capable doctors. I trust them. Your mom is in good hands. Just stop calling me!”

“Hang on, Nate! It’s your parents’ surgeries. You’re the only one who can save them! Please get back here! They’re running out of time!”

Nate just snorted. “Andrea, you’re getting sloppier at lying. Didn’t you say it was your mom in a car accident? Now it’s my parents? I’ve had enough of this, Andrea. Stop calling me!”

The line went dead.

Staring at the darkened screen, I froze in place. A chill crept up from my fingertips, where I still clutched the phone, and spread through my chest. I could not breathe. I could not move.

I tried calling again, but it went straight to voicemail.

I turned and looked back toward the room, where Peter and Helen lay pale. I wiped away my tears and ran out of the hospital.

I found out where Nate was operating from the doctor.

I was going to find him. I was going to fight for the only chance his parents had left to survive.