The Night I Was Left Behind

Synopsis

My adoptive mother, Helen Carter, probably never imagined that the daughter she'd loved for 17 years wasn't hers by blood. When she received the paternity test results, she hugged her real daughter, Rachel Carter, and broke down in tears. "My sweet girl, you've suffered so much all these years." Rachel wanted me thrown out of the house, but Helen refused. Rachel sobbed that I had stolen her identity for 17 years and that not only did I owe her, but the Carter family owed her too. Then Helen pulled me into her arms and cried for a long time. "Emily, go stay at the apartment for a few days. When Rachel calms down, I'll come get you." It took me a long moment in her arms to really wake up to the truth. Just a little while ago, she was holding my hand, crying just as hard, before firmly telling the doctor to take my kidney and give it to Rachel. She cried and said, "This is what you owe Rachel. Think of it as paying her back, okay?" Rachel and I had been in the same car accident. The truck had slammed into the passenger side, flipping the car. We were both rushed to the hospital. At one in the morning, there was only one doctor on duty who could operate. There were two options. First was me, with severe injuries and only a 30% chance of survival. Second was Rachel, whose injuries were mild and who had a 99% chance of making it. Naturally, the doctor chose me, since Rachel didn't need emergency surgery at all. But Rachel grabbed my adoptive parents and snarled, "You have to save me first. I'm your real daughter." And just like that, my adoptive parents gave her the chance instead of me.