Chapter 25
It’s been almost a month since I last saw Alex. I only went to the company to pick up my termination papers, which were already waiting. Maybe I’d hoped he would hear me out once he’d calmed down, but after that, I truly realized it was over. Everything was over.
Now I’m focused on the tests for the transplant.
Today I’m having blood drawn and doing the routine exams that come before any surgery.
We’re happy—everything is going really well.
I had a rough period after the breakup, but for Ele’s sake, I fought and got back on my feet.
I took care of my health, and today I’m here, standing strong, to save my little girl’s life.
Hope and determination drive me forward. Knowing I can make a difference in my girl’s life is what keeps me going. Despite all the challenges, I’m ready to do whatever it takes to ensure her health and well-being.
I ran into Dr. Jullian in the hallway, and he came right over to greet me.
“Hi, Chloe, how are you?” he asks, smiling.
“Hello, Doctor. I’m good. I came to have blood drawn. The surgery’s coming up soon.”
“That’s right, it’s next week already. Did you get your blood drawn?”
“Yes, I just came from the lab.”
We went to the cafeteria and ordered coffee. I also got a croissant since I was starving—I couldn’t eat anything before the test.
“And how’s Elena? With the surgery next week, she must be pretty nervous.”
“Actually, we’re both really excited and hoping everything goes well. I’m her last option, after all.”
“I put her on the transplant list because there’s always a chance of rejection, so her name is already on there,” Dr. Jullian explained with an understanding look.
“Thank you, Doctor. I never thought I’d be able to get her name on the list, not with the surgery date already scheduled,” I said, feeling a wave of gratitude.
“Normally you can’t, but since I know your story and how much you’ve suffered, I let myself bend that rule. So now we have two options.”
At that moment, my eyes well up, but I don’t let the tears fall. I promised myself I’d be strong, and I’ll keep that promise until I see my little one saved. She deserves a normal life so much.
“I really don’t even know how to thank you, Doctor. Ele is everything to me, my only family, and I can’t lose her too.”
“And you won’t. If it’s up to me, she’ll be coming to visit me soon, happy and cheerful, the way every child should be.”
Just then, I get a message that my test results are ready. I pull out the reference slip I put in my purse and try to access the results, but I can’t log in.
“What’s wrong, Chloe? Is there a problem?” Dr. Jullian asked, noticing my concern.
“Yes, I can’t access the tests,” I replied, frustrated. “I just want to see if everything’s okay.”
“Let’s go to my office,” he suggested. “I can access them from there and print them out for you.”
We headed to his office. I sat in the chair, waiting while he printed out the few tests I’d had done. In the meantime, I called Elena to let her know I was fine and would be home soon.
My joy is short-lived, however. Dr. Jullian turns to me with a serious expression and starts to speak. I feel a tightness in my chest, sensing something is wrong.
“Chloe, unfortunately, the results aren’t exactly what we were hoping for,” he says cautiously.
My heart starts beating faster, and I feel a wave of anxiety. What could be wrong? Will this affect Elena’s surgery?
“We have a problem with your tests,” he continues, hesitant.
“What do you mean? I took care of myself, took all the medications, did the tests on the right dates. What could be wrong?” I ask, growing agitated, desperate.
“It’s nothing to do with your health—your tests are good, the vitamins, iron, everything is fine... but...” he says, pausing.
“Just tell me, Doctor! I’m getting worried. If everything is fine, then what is it?” I insist, impatient.
“You’re pregnant, Chloe. Unfortunately, we’ll have to cancel the surgery.”
In that moment, everything crumbles. The hope of saving my sister vanishes. I feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare.
“I can’t be pregnant, Dr. Jullian,” I say, almost shouting. “We have to do another test. I’m sure it’ll come back negative.”
“Calm down, Chloe,” he says, trying to soothe me. “You can’t let yourself get worked up. First, let’s do an ultrasound to confirm and see how far along you are.”
“I don’t have any symptoms,” I say desperately. “I can’t be pregnant. I have to save my sister, Doctor. Help me, please!”
Desperation finally takes over. The memory hits me hard, and suddenly everything makes sense: the last few times we had sex, we didn’t use protection.
Desire always won out, and now I can’t understand how we could have ignored something so important.
Reality strikes me like a wave, and tears begin streaming down my face.
Helplessness washed over me. How could I raise a child, especially on my own? I felt fragile and unprotected, as if the world were crumbling around me. If Alex didn’t believe me before, now things had only gotten worse.
Suddenly, everything went black. I let myself fall into the darkness, too weak to fight. The only thing I knew for certain was that I needed to save my sister, but in that moment, it felt like everything was slipping through my fingers.