“I don’t deserve you,” he whispered.
At the time, I thought that was love talking.
Now I realize… it was the truth.
The morning of the surgery was cold and bright.
We were placed in pre-op together. Two beds beside each other, separated by a thin curtain.
Machines beeped softly around us.
Daniel kept staring at me like he couldn’t believe I was really doing it.
“You’re sure about this?” he asked again.
“Yes,” I said.
He squeezed my hand.
“I swear,” he whispered, voice shaking, “I’ll spend the rest of my life making this up to you.”
Those words stayed in my head for months.
Back then, they felt romantic.
Now they just feel… ironic.
Recovery was brutal.
I woke up feeling like a truck had run over my entire body. Every movement hurt. Every breath felt heavy.
Daniel, meanwhile, had a brand new kidney and a second chance at life.
