Dad sighed heavily. “Your biological mom left us when you were not even a month old. I barely managed, alone, with a baby in my arms. That was when your mom came to help — she was my neighbor. She helped me out of kindness because she was a good person and loved you as if you were her own,” he said.
“That doesn’t change the fact that I lived my whole life in a lie,” I said.
“You’re right, but can you not be so harsh with us?” Dad asked.
“I need time to process this,” I said.
Then the door to the room slowly opened and Mom stepped in. “May I?” she asked.
“I’m not sure I want to see you,” I said. As soon as I said it, I felt myself losing breath, and my heart felt like it was bursting out of my chest.
The monitors started beeping loudly. A doctor and nurse ran into the room. My vision darkened, my ears rang, and I couldn’t understand what was happening.
The last thing I remembered was hearing him say, “We need to find a donor, immediately.” After that, there was darkness, and I thought that would be the end for me.
But then I opened my eyes, and the white light blinded me again, the white light of the hospital room.
I blinked and turned my head. There sat my dad, crying. I didn’t understand what had happened, but the first thing that came out of me was, “Where’s mom?”
I saw him holding back tears. “She sacrificed herself so that you could live,” he said.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Right now, your mother’s heart is beating inside you,” he said.
“What? No, that’s not possible,” I said.
“You know your mom. When she decides on something, she does it, and nothing can stand in her way,” he said. “This is for you,” he added and handed me a folded piece of paper that said, “To my daughter.”
I unfolded it and began to read, tears blurring my vision.
I know it was wrong to lie to you, and I even wanted to tell you the truth during our trip, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I couldn’t have biological children, so when I met you and your dad, it felt like a blessing.
Not for a single day in my life did I think that you were not my real daughter, because that is not true.
You have always been, and will always be, my daughter. And I will always be your mom. Remember that I love you every time you feel your heartbeat.
Tears streamed down my face. I could not believe she had done that for me. That she had given up her life so I could live mine.
“I didn’t even get to say goodbye to her. I didn’t even tell her that I love her,” I said to him.
“She knew. Of course, she knew that you loved her. Besides, before you lost consciousness, you said you loved both of us,” he replied.
“I was scared I would die,” I said.
“But you’re alive, and you must cherish every day of your life,” he said and hugged me.
I hugged him back. “I will never forget who I owe my life to.”
Maybe Mom had not given birth to me, but she still gave me life. And I would live it, treasuring every second, so she could be proud of me.
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