Chapter 5 · I Signed The Form, Now Watch Them Burn

Chapter 5

I stared at the screen, my heart pounding against my ribs.

This plan was insane. But I was out of options.

I picked up my phone and dialed.

The line connected. "Hello, you've reached the Regional Anatomical Gift Registry."

"I need information about donating a minor's body," I said.

"Are you the child's legal guardian?" the voice asked.

"I'm her mother," I replied.

"Understood. And is the child willing to make this gift?"

"She's five. She doesn't understand any of this. I would sign on her behalf."

There was a pause on the line. "Ma'am, for an anatomical gift involving a minor, we require signatures from both parents. Both must agree."

My heart dropped. Both parents. Michael would never sign.

"What if the father doesn't agree?" My voice was barely steady.

"In that case, the matter would go before a judge. Typically, if one parent objects, the donation cannot move forward."

The words landed on me like stones, crushing the last bit of hope I had.

I hung up and slumped into the chair, my mind numb.

That door was closed too. What now?

Just then, my phone rang. It was an unknown number.

I answered, and a deep male voice spoke.

"Ms. Quinn, hello. My name is Mr. Lee. I'm an organ donation coordinator with the City General Hospital.

"Mr. Young from Reed Group contacted us about coordinating an urgent bone marrow transplant.

"He indicated you are the donor child's guardian and need to sign a surgical consent form. Are you available to come in now?"

I froze. A surgical consent form? Michael and his people wanted me to sign this?

"Where are you right now?" I asked.

"We're on the tenth floor of the inpatient department at City General Hospital, in the organ donation office. Just come straight up when you get here."

I hung up, my thoughts racing. Why would Michael Reed ask me to sign anything?

Back in my previous life, they forged my signature and never even bothered to let me know.

Why reach out now?

Unless something went wrong on their end, and they were forced to follow the rules.

I took a deep breath, changed my clothes, and walked out the door.

The taxi ride to the hospital took twenty minutes. My mind churned the entire way.

Images from my previous life flashed through my head, one after another.

Anna was on the table, crying out for me. The long needle was driving into her spine. Lily wore a quick, secret smile.

Michael's cold voice asked, "Is the bone marrow still usable?"

My daughter. My Anna. Lost to their cold hearts.

No. This time would be different.

*****

The taxi pulled up in front of the hospital. I got out and looked up at the towering white building.

The sunlight struck the glass walls, sending a harsh glare across my eyes.

I headed to the organ donation office on the tenth floor of the inpatient wing.

I opened the door and stepped inside. Three people were waiting for me.

One was a doctor in a white coat, probably the coordinator I'd spoken to on the phone.

Another was Charles, lounging on the couch with his legs crossed, a cigarette dangling from his fingers.

The third was Lily.

She wore a soft white dress, her hair loose around her shoulders. Her eyes were red, her whole appearance fragile and pitiful. The moment she saw me, she rose to her feet, her voice trembling.

"Grace, you came. I'm so sorry. I know you must despise me, but Ethan is fading so fast. Please, I am begging you, help him."

I stared at her, watching that performance she put on right in front of me.

If I hadn't caught that smirk on her lips myself, even I might've been fooled by her act.

"Cut the act," I said coldly.

Lily paused, her face going rigid for a split second.

Charles stood, crushed out his cigarette, and offered a polished smile. "Ms. Quinn, now that you're here, let's get down to business. Dr. Lee, the consent form, please."

Bob Lee handed me a document.

I took it and scanned the page. [Informed Consent for Living Organ Donation.]

Donor: Anna Reed.

Organ to be donated: Bone marrow.

Guardian signature: ____________

I stared at the empty spot for my signature, and suddenly, an idea popped into my head.

What if I simply wouldn't sign?

Chapter 5

I stared at the screen, my heart pounding against my ribs.

This plan was insane. But I was out of options.

I picked up my phone and dialed.

The line connected. "Hello, you've reached the Regional Anatomical Gift Registry."

"I need information about donating a minor's body," I said.

"Are you the child's legal guardian?" the voice asked.

"I'm her mother," I replied.

"Understood. And is the child willing to make this gift?"

"She's five. She doesn't understand any of this. I would sign on her behalf."

There was a pause on the line. "Ma'am, for an anatomical gift involving a minor, we require signatures from both parents. Both must agree."

My heart dropped. Both parents. Michael would never sign.

"What if the father doesn't agree?" My voice was barely steady.

"In that case, the matter would go before a judge. Typically, if one parent objects, the donation cannot move forward."

The words landed on me like stones, crushing the last bit of hope I had.

I hung up and slumped into the chair, my mind numb.

That door was closed too. What now?

Just then, my phone rang. It was an unknown number.

I answered, and a deep male voice spoke.

"Ms. Quinn, hello. My name is Mr. Lee. I'm an organ donation coordinator with the City General Hospital.

"Mr. Young from Reed Group contacted us about coordinating an urgent bone marrow transplant.

"He indicated you are the donor child's guardian and need to sign a surgical consent form. Are you available to come in now?"

I froze. A surgical consent form? Michael and his people wanted me to sign this?

"Where are you right now?" I asked.

"We're on the tenth floor of the inpatient department at City General Hospital, in the organ donation office. Just come straight up when you get here."

I hung up, my thoughts racing. Why would Michael Reed ask me to sign anything?

Back in my previous life, they forged my signature and never even bothered to let me know.

Why reach out now?

Unless something went wrong on their end, and they were forced to follow the rules.

I took a deep breath, changed my clothes, and walked out the door.

The taxi ride to the hospital took twenty minutes. My mind churned the entire way.

Images from my previous life flashed through my head, one after another.

Anna was on the table, crying out for me. The long needle was driving into her spine. Lily wore a quick, secret smile.

Michael's cold voice asked, "Is the bone marrow still usable?"

My daughter. My Anna. Lost to their cold hearts.

No. This time would be different.

*****

The taxi pulled up in front of the hospital. I got out and looked up at the towering white building.

The sunlight struck the glass walls, sending a harsh glare across my eyes.

I headed to the organ donation office on the tenth floor of the inpatient wing.

I opened the door and stepped inside. Three people were waiting for me.

One was a doctor in a white coat, probably the coordinator I'd spoken to on the phone.

Another was Charles, lounging on the couch with his legs crossed, a cigarette dangling from his fingers.

The third was Lily.

She wore a soft white dress, her hair loose around her shoulders. Her eyes were red, her whole appearance fragile and pitiful. The moment she saw me, she rose to her feet, her voice trembling.

"Grace, you came. I'm so sorry. I know you must despise me, but Ethan is fading so fast. Please, I am begging you, help him."

I stared at her, watching that performance she put on right in front of me.

If I hadn't caught that smirk on her lips myself, even I might've been fooled by her act.

"Cut the act," I said coldly.

Lily paused, her face going rigid for a split second.

Charles stood, crushed out his cigarette, and offered a polished smile. "Ms. Quinn, now that you're here, let's get down to business. Dr. Lee, the consent form, please."

Bob Lee handed me a document.

I took it and scanned the page. [Informed Consent for Living Organ Donation.]

Donor: Anna Reed.

Organ to be donated: Bone marrow.

Guardian signature: ____________

I stared at the empty spot for my signature, and suddenly, an idea popped into my head.

What if I simply wouldn't sign?