Chapter 3 - THE LIE GETS BIGGER
What began with one drink became breakfast.
Breakfast became messages.
Messages became secrets.
Daniel told himself he wasn’t cheating.
Not really.
He and Vanessa hadn’t slept together.
Yet.
He just liked talking to her.
He liked that she asked about places he wanted to travel instead of how much fluid he had consumed.
He liked that she didn’t know which medication made him throw up.
Most of all, he liked who he became when she looked at him.
Healthy.
Funny.
Wanted.
Claire, meanwhile, was signing papers that erased half her future.
“You understand the early withdrawal penalty?” the financial adviser asked.
“Yes.”
“And you’re liquidating the entire retirement account?”
“Yes.”
“Mrs. Mercer, I have to ask. Are you sure?”
Claire looked at Daniel’s latest test results inside her purse.
“No.”
The adviser frowned.
Claire gave him a tired smile.
“But do it anyway.”
Two days later, the transplant coordinator called.
The donor kidney was confirmed.
Daniel cried.
He fell into Claire’s arms.
“We got it.”
“We got it,” she whispered.
He pulled back.
“How did insurance approve everything?”
Claire hesitated.
“They worked it out.”
Daniel laughed through his tears.
“For once, somebody up there likes me.”
Claire kissed his forehead.
“Looks that way.”
That evening, Daniel texted Vanessa.
I GOT THE KIDNEY.
Her answer came immediately.
I knew you would.
Then another.
When you wake up, I want to be the first person you see.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Claire entered the room carrying medication.
“Who are you texting?”
His hand jerked.
“Mike.”
“Mike who?”
“From work.”
Claire narrowed her eyes.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
She handed him the pills.
“Take these.”
He swallowed them.
She kissed him.
He tasted guilt for maybe three seconds.
Then his phone buzzed again.
The night before surgery, Claire sat beside his hospital bed until almost 2 a.m.
Daniel couldn’t sleep.
“What if I don’t wake up?”
“You will.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
He smiled weakly.
“You’ve always been a terrible liar.”
She squeezed his hand.
“If something happens—”
“Stop.”
“Claire.”
“Nothing is happening.”
“Listen to me.”
She looked at him.
“If I don’t make it, sell your mom’s house.”
Claire almost laughed at the cruelty of the irony.
“Why?”
“Travel. Go somewhere. Start over.”
Her throat tightened.
“You worry about waking up.”
Daniel studied her face.
“You’ve given up so much.”
Claire looked away.
He had no idea.
“I love you,” he said.
And despite everything, she believed him.
At 6:42 the next morning, they rolled Daniel toward surgery.
Claire walked beside the bed.
At the double doors, the nurse stopped her.
“This is as far as you can go.”
Claire leaned down.
Daniel kissed her.
“I’ll see you when I wake up.”
“You better.”
The doors opened.
Daniel disappeared.
Claire stood there alone.
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
“Hello?”
A man’s voice answered.
“Mrs. Mercer? This is Benjamin Clark from First Federal Lending.”
“Yes?”
“I’m calling about the personal loan you requested.”
Claire pressed a hand over her mouth.
“What about it?”
“You’ve been approved.”
She closed her eyes.
Another $42,000 in debt.
“For the full amount?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
She ended the call.
Across the waiting room, Dr. Harris was watching her.
May you like
He had heard enough.
And for the first time, he realized exactly how much Claire was paying to keep Daniel alive.
