Fragile (29 page)

As long as she lived, she’d remember his words verbatim.  She would recall his touch, his kiss, the sincerity flowing from his eyes, from his heart.  She’d never forget the moment they’d just shared.

Miracle wanted to believe him—desperately—but only time would tell.  Maybe he would be there when she woke up. Maybe he wouldn’t. 

At least she’d gotten to give him the letter.  She’d wanted to do that before going under the knife.  Although the doctors were very optimistic about the surgery, there were still risks.  Big risks.  But she was ready to go.  She believed in God, believed in Jesus.  And she’d had some wonderful years with her mother and sister. 

And Hardy. 

She’d known a love few people ever got to know.  And she could die happy because of him, because of what he’d given her.  It was enough.  More than enough.

She must’ve dozed off from the sedative they’d squirted into her IV, because those were the last thoughts Miracle had until they came to wheel her away.

********

 The nurse rolled Miracle into the Holding Room, into one of six curtained bays.  Only one other curtain was drawn.  Miracle wondered if behind it lay the person donating a kidney to her.  She would never know.  The person had asked to remain anonymous, for legal purposes.  Miracle wasn’t about to argue with someone who was basically saving her life.

Another nurse came from behind the curtain and rushed to collaborate with the nurse who’d brought Miracle.  Then, syringes and tubes trailing from their hands, they descended upon her. 

They put oxygen on her and had her open her mouth as wide as she could.  They confirmed her name and her allergies and what procedure she was having.  They hooked up more tubing and squirted more medications.  They inspected her belly and made notes in her chart. 

When they were finished, they left, the second nurse telling her it wouldn’t be long.  Then she pulled the curtain and left her alone.  Miracle didn’t know how much time had elapsed when she heard his voice, but whoever he was, his words started a flurry of activity.  Then someone drew back her curtain and unlocked her bed.

“It’s almost time, but I’m going to wheel you down here for a few minutes before we take you into the surgical suite, okay sweetie?”

Miracle just nodded.  She had no idea what normal protocol was.  If they’d left her sitting in the hall for two hours, she probably wouldn’t have questioned them.  She just wished they’d let Hardy stay longer.

The nurse pushed Miracle’s stretcher down to the end of the room and pulled her alongside the very last stall, the only other one with a closed curtain.  Miracle was a little uncomfortable, not wanting to go against the wishes of her donor. 

“Um, excuse me, but I don’t think I’m supposed to see the person in there,” Miracle whispered to the nurse as she pointed to the next stall.

The nurse simply smiled and stepped on the lock at the foot of Miracle’s bed.  When she walked off, never addressing Miracle’s concern, Miracle looked hesitantly at the concealed bay beside her.  She was debating what to do about it when she heard the hooks slide along their track.  The curtain was opening.

Miracle watched, wide-eyed and terrified, as her donor was revealed to her.

And then she became confused.

Hardy lay in the bed across from her, smiling devilishly, his brown hair covered with a blue surgical hat and his slate blue eyes twinkling in delight.

“What are you doing in here?”

Miracle thought it was a joke at first.

“I’m going with you,” he declared.  “Well, sorta.”

“What do you mean?  I don’t understand.”

“I’m gonna be a part of you whether you like it or not.”

Miracle’s fuzzy brain struggled to comprehend what he was getting at.  “Where is the person who is donating the kidney?  I don’t understand.”

“Miracle,” Hardy began tolerantly.  “You’re going to be getting my kidney.  I’m the donor.”

“But…how?”

“I’m a perfect match.  How cool is that?”  When Miracle continued to stare blankly at him, Hardy continued.  “I bet you didn’t think I was literally perfect for you, did you?”

“Do you mean you’re actually a match for my kidney?  Seriously?”

“Yep, that’s what I mean.  We’re destined to be together.  There’s just no denying it.”

Hardy knew the instant Miracle truly understood what was going on. She began to cry.

“No, Hardy,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head.  “No, no, no, no.”

Hardy reached out and grabbed Miracle’s hand.  “Miracle stop!  I want to do it.  I told you I would do anything for you.  And I meant it.”

“No!  No, no, no!  Hardy, I can’t let you do this for me.  You’re ruining your life, your future.  You’ll never be able to play football again, not even if you get into college.  Never, Hardy.  Did you know that?”

Hardy nodded.  “I don’t care.”

Miracle tried a different tack.  “What if something happens to your one remaining kidney?  What if…what if…”  Her mind spun to try and find something to make him change his mind.  “You can’t take that risk. You can’t live like that.  I won’t let you.”

Miracle felt panic rise in her throat, making breathing difficult. She gasped for air.  Hardy sat up in his bed, threw his feet over the side, and stood, dragging tubes and all with him until he could reach Miracle.

“Miracle,” he said sharply, shaking her lightly.  He said her name twice more before she calmed enough to listen to him.  When she did, he bent and looked her dead in the eye.  “Listen to me.  I can live without a kidney.  I can live without football.  I can live without a lot of things.  There is only one thing in this world I can’t live without.  And I’m giving her my kidney so she can live, so we can be together.”

Miracle searched Hardy’s eyes. 

And she knew. 

It hit her like a ton of bricks.

Hardy would never leave her.  No.  Never.  He would never decide one day that he’d had enough.  He would never see her as a burden, as a sick girlfriend.  No, he would only see her as Miracle, the girl he was in love with—deeply, truly in love with.  He loved her perfectly, just as she loved him. 

Sitting up, Miracle wound her arms around Hardy’s neck and burst into tears again.  He held her, stroking her back until she quieted.  When Miracle opened her eyes, the two nurses were watching them from the nurse’s station, both of them wiping their eyes.

EPILOGUE

A soft clicking sound woke Miracle.  She was lying on her stomach with one leg bent, the sun streaming through the window to warm her.  She blinked several times to wake her sleepy eyes.

The clicking continued until she raised her head.  It startled her when she felt a hand at the bend of her knee.  But only for a second.  Almost instantly, she recognized the touch.  Smiling, she stretched like a cat and rolled onto her back.

“Good morning,” Hardy mumbled, pressing his lips to her neck.

“Good morning,” Miracle said, turning her head so he could have better access. When she trailed her fingers along his bare back and further down, she realized he wasn’t just shirtless, he was pants-less as well. Her body came instantly to life.

“Mmm,” he mumbled.  “Keep going.”

Raising her leg, Miracle wound it around his hip, opening herself up to him.  He took full advantage, slipping smoothly into her.  She gasped, never tiring of the feel of the man she loved buried deep inside her.

“I thought you had class this morning,” she said breathlessly, struggling to hang on to her train of thought as Hardy nibbled the lobe of her ear and moved slowly within her.

“I skipped it.  I’m ready for finals,” he said, cupping the back of her knee and hiking her leg up higher.  An intense surge of pleasure rolled through both of them.

“Graduation is just around the corner. Is that a good idea?” she asked, barely able to speak.

“Shut up and kiss me.”

He didn’t have to ask twice.  Miracle threaded her fingers into his hair and pulled his lips down to hers.  She plundered his mouth with her tongue as he plundered her body with his own.

They both lost track of thought and time until Miracle cried out in release and Hardy collapsed on top of her.  Afterward, he lay atop her, lazily trailing his fingers up and down her sides.  When their breathing calmed, he rolled off Miracle and pulled her over onto his chest.  It was her favorite place to sprawl.

Absently, she traced the scar on his abdomen with her finger, never able to forget the sacrifice he made for her, no matter how many years ago it had been.  It was a constant reminder of his love for her, of how he was a part of her life, part of her body.  Literally. 

Hardy picked up her hand and kissed each finger individually, paying particular attention to the diamond on her ring finger.  “What can I help you do today?”

Miracle smiled into his chest.  As if he hadn’t already done enough.  He’d saved her life.  What more could she ever need?

“Nothing.”

“That’s not true.  Tell me what you need.”  Hardy knew she’d been crazy, what with college graduation and their wedding looming on the horizon.  He also knew that sometimes it was something little like doing the laundry or feeding the dog that helped her keep her sanity.  So he did whatever he could. 

“Give me your kidney,” Miracle said in her best bank-robber voice, poking her finger into his side like a gun.  “Oh, wait…”

She smiled up at Hardy.  He smiled back.  “I’d do it again, ya know.”

She pressed her lips to the tiny dip in his chin.  “Yeah, I know.”

      
   
THE END

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For the first chapter of Madly

A FINAL WORD

A few times in life, I’ve found myself in a position of such love and gratitude that saying THANK YOU seems trite, like it’s just not enough.  That is the position that I find myself in now when it comes to you, my readers.  You are the sole reason that my dream of being a writer has come true.  I knew that it would be gratifying and wonderful to finally have a job that I loved so much, but I had no idea that it would be outweighed and outshined by the unimaginable pleasure that I get from hearing that you love my work, that it’s touched you in some way or that your life seems a little bit better for having read it.  So it is from the depths of my soul, from the very bottom of my heart that I say I simply cannot THANK YOU enough.  I’ve added this note to all my stories with the link to a blog post that I really hope you’ll take a minute to read.  It is a true and sincere expression of my humble appreciation.  I love each and every one of you and you’ll never know what your many encouraging posts, comments and e-mails have meant to me.