'Cindy's seriously ill. I'm afraid what she went through as a child is happening again. I've talked to a couple of doctors and both of them agree that she needs a kidney transplant. The problem is that the waiting list for organ donation is usually long. It could take months to get a donor.'
'Cindy is not alone. She has a family,' said her mother. 'One of us will be that donor.'
'You know it's not so easy. You must be compatible,' Sharon reminded them. 'Don't worry. You know you can count on me. I'll find the way,' she promised. She said good night and left. It was almost midnight.
Mr and Mrs Taylor couldn't wait a day to do whatever was necessary to save their daughter. They even asked their relatives and close friends for help. Sharon played her part really well putting the potential donors in contact with Dr Webster, who was supposed to be the specialist in charge. Sometimes she felt ashamed when she saw such generous people taking risks to help Cindy and undergoing exams whose results would be thrown away. Sharon had never expected it to go so far, but she had to remember what she was saving. She couldn't afford any regrets.
After two long anxious weeks, Sharon phoned to give the Taylors bad news again. 'I'm so sorry, Gwen. Twelve people have been tested so far and nobody has proved to be compatible. Though...'
'Though... what!?' shouted Gwen in despair.
'... though we still have a chance,' replied Sharon. 'I've been thinking about Edward.'
'What!? After all the terrible things we've done to him...'
'At last you admit it,' Sharon interrupted. 'You admit you were terrible.'
'You know we had a reason...'
'Don't start again... Your reasons... Your daughter needs your help, not your reasons!!' Sharon exclaimed.
'Well, under the circumstances, I doubt he'll want to risk his health to help us,' Gwen continued.
'Can't you forget about 'us' for once!? This is about Cindy!' Sharon shouted.
'Well, I wouldn't waste my time asking this... poor boy,' Gwen concluded.
'In fact, I've already talked to this poor boy, as you call him, and he's accepted to be the donor. But don't worry, sis. It's not for money. Even poor people can feel real love for others.'
Even if she had wanted to, Gwen had no words to reply to that. 'What's next?' she just asked.
'Edward has an appointment with Dr Webster at eight tomorrow morning. Maybe... you could go and apologise... or say thank you at least. It's up to you. Take it or leave it. It's your last chance.' She hung up.
The next day when I arrived at the hospital, I saw Cindy's parents sitting next to Sharon in the waiting-room. I didn't know what to expect and I certainly didn't expect Mr Taylor to hug me and say, 'Thank you, my son. I thank you so much...'
I said nothing. I looked at Cindy's mother. I think she wanted to do the same, but she couldn't even get up from her seat. I saw her eyes filled with tears and it was enough for me. I understood it was too difficult for her.
'Please, don't tell Cindy if I turn out to be the donor,' I begged them. ' I'm doing this for her. When this is all over, I promise I'll get out of her life. You won't see me again.'
'Cindy is not alone. She has a family,' said her mother. 'One of us will be that donor.'
'You know it's not so easy. You must be compatible,' Sharon reminded them. 'Don't worry. You know you can count on me. I'll find the way,' she promised. She said good night and left. It was almost midnight.
Mr and Mrs Taylor couldn't wait a day to do whatever was necessary to save their daughter. They even asked their relatives and close friends for help. Sharon played her part really well putting the potential donors in contact with Dr Webster, who was supposed to be the specialist in charge. Sometimes she felt ashamed when she saw such generous people taking risks to help Cindy and undergoing exams whose results would be thrown away. Sharon had never expected it to go so far, but she had to remember what she was saving. She couldn't afford any regrets.
After two long anxious weeks, Sharon phoned to give the Taylors bad news again. 'I'm so sorry, Gwen. Twelve people have been tested so far and nobody has proved to be compatible. Though...'
'Though... what!?' shouted Gwen in despair.
'... though we still have a chance,' replied Sharon. 'I've been thinking about Edward.'
'What!? After all the terrible things we've done to him...'
'At last you admit it,' Sharon interrupted. 'You admit you were terrible.'
'You know we had a reason...'
'Don't start again... Your reasons... Your daughter needs your help, not your reasons!!' Sharon exclaimed.
'Well, under the circumstances, I doubt he'll want to risk his health to help us,' Gwen continued.
'Can't you forget about 'us' for once!? This is about Cindy!' Sharon shouted.
'Well, I wouldn't waste my time asking this... poor boy,' Gwen concluded.
'In fact, I've already talked to this poor boy, as you call him, and he's accepted to be the donor. But don't worry, sis. It's not for money. Even poor people can feel real love for others.'
Even if she had wanted to, Gwen had no words to reply to that. 'What's next?' she just asked.
'Edward has an appointment with Dr Webster at eight tomorrow morning. Maybe... you could go and apologise... or say thank you at least. It's up to you. Take it or leave it. It's your last chance.' She hung up.
The next day when I arrived at the hospital, I saw Cindy's parents sitting next to Sharon in the waiting-room. I didn't know what to expect and I certainly didn't expect Mr Taylor to hug me and say, 'Thank you, my son. I thank you so much...'
I said nothing. I looked at Cindy's mother. I think she wanted to do the same, but she couldn't even get up from her seat. I saw her eyes filled with tears and it was enough for me. I understood it was too difficult for her.
'Please, don't tell Cindy if I turn out to be the donor,' I begged them. ' I'm doing this for her. When this is all over, I promise I'll get out of her life. You won't see me again.'
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