Seven Heartbeats to Forever

Cruel Man

My train of thought came to a stop. Jessica stood on tiptoe and kissed Christopher's forehead. Her eyes were overflowing with tender love for him. "And if he hadn't been heartless enough, I'd never have met you, my guardian angel. You wanted that wallet? The 45 grand one? I'll get it for you. Pick a more expensive one next time. I can afford it."

I watched them glow and bask in love, while the pain in my wrist gnawed at my bone. Breathing itself was becoming laborious, yet I found the strength to pull my hand away from Jessica's.

Just when I was about to leave, Christopher stretched his leg out and tripped me. "Oh, you should watch where you're going, John."

I fell to my knees, and my medical history fell open like white flowers. They fell right beside Jessica.

Jessica's face tightened up, and she extended a hand without thinking. Christopher grabbed it and gasped. "What is this?"

The medical history caught Jessica's attention. "Artificial heart transplant…" A hint of fury flared on her face. She hurled the file into my face. "You'd stoop this low just for money, Jonathan? I knew it. You haven't changed in seven years! Money, money, money! It's all you care about!"

I got back up and stared at the woman's perfectly healthy body. A small smile curled my lips as I quietly collected the papers. "Yeah, I love money, Ms. Goldenfold. Mind lending me more?"

Christopher gently took Jessica's hand, but when he looked at me, there was only mockery and malice in his eyes. "Maybe he's telling the truth, my love. Besides, you only got that heart because he left you. Let's help him out."

That reminded Jessica that I left her for money. The fury and hesitation in her eyes were frozen.

"No heart can save a heartless man. He doesn't deserve it."

Jessica grabbed Christopher and turned around. Christopher was still begging her to help me, but when he turned, I saw a smile curving his lips. A smile oozing with derision and venom.

As I picked up the papers, all covered in Christopher's shoe marks, my mechanical heart was trembling faster than ever. It should not be trembling like this.

My pupils were starting to dilate, and the couple that was leaving me behind became nothing but blurry circles.

…

A long, long time later, I wiped the blood off the corner of my mouth. As I stared at the papers that read 'artificial heart transplant,' my fingers brushed across the scar on my chest. The one that'd been there for seven years.

Even now, Jessica had no idea that the heart that was beating in her chest was mine.

Seven years ago, Jessica was inching closer to death with every passing moment. We still could not find a match for her.

Artificial hearts were not as advanced as they were. They could technically keep the patient alive for days at a time, but there were a lot more downsides than ups.

Once they confirmed that my heart was a match, I gave it to her. Me? I got an artificial heart that technically could keep me running for seven years. I got the cheapest option to save money.

Since then, my chest would throb with pain whenever I least expected it. Coughing up blood and constant lethargy was normal.

Money was tight, so the literal change of heart was delayed again and again. It was the seventh year now. The artificial heart beating in my chest shot pain throughout my body for the seventh time. I knew it was reaching its limits.

…

I left the hospital and returned to my rental. The place was small, humid, and wet. Winter was torture. I swore I could freeze. Summer was hell. I thought I would burn just living in the place. The only perk was that the place was cheap.

I used to live with Jessica here. Here, we talked about the future we wanted. When I found out my heart was a match for her, I put up a gold-digging act, and I served her the papers.