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I stop and watch my wife kiss our son while a nurse holds him. My baby cries, wanting to be in his mother's warm arms, but Lauren is too weak to have him in her arms. I take a deep breath, hoping that the air inside me will keep holding up my heart. Not for my wife, but for my son.
"Dr. Malone," the nurse says in greeting as he presents my son to me.
I softly smile and give them a sign to bring my son to the nursery. Lauren avoids my eyes as the nurses leave us. The guilt in her eyes is still so apparent that it rubs off on me, too. I already know the truth, but I still can't find the heart to touch my son.
“He’s yours,” Lauren tells me.
“I know.” Thanks to science.
“Alex.”
“A second chance? We’ve agreed to that,” I cut my wife off. “He needs you. We’ll be together again.”
Lauren holds on to her chest and shows a sad smile. She doesn't believe me and thinks I'm doing it only because of her heart. Partly, Lauren's right. I can't tell her the truth that I still hate her for what she did to me. But we have to face things together, such as her failing heart and my fear of letting my son grow up without a mother.
"I don't think I can...."
“I’m doing everything I can,” I bite my lips to hide my frustration of telling her a lie. “We will have that second chance.”
Lauren finds the courage to look at me and smile. I force myself to reply with a sincere one, but even her pitiful face can’t erase the memory of what she did to me. Of what I have to do for her.
I have been a doctor since the moment she met me. My priority has always been saving people's lives, especially children's lives. Lauren admired it, and I thought she loved me for that. Maybe she did, but it wasn't enough. She grew tired of waiting to be the first on my list and had an affair a few months into our marriage.
The guilt of infidelity took a toll on her heart and worsened her chronic heart condition. When she found out about her pregnancy, I tried talking to her. Childbirth could kill her, I reminded her every time. I hated what she did to me, but I can't let her die. For her sake and the child's. Lauren insisted that the child was mine and wanted to give birth to him – hoping he could mend what she broke.
Despite all the technologies and the preparations to lessen the risk to her heart, giving birth made everything worse. Now, she needs a heart. My son needs a mother. And I – I am willing to do everything to give my son what he needs.
“This is punishment,” Lauren said with a forced chuckle. “I broke a perfect man and a perfect life for having a weak heart.”
Yes. Her heart is weak. I want to tell her that. How can she fall for another man for which she claims was temporary? But I can't blame her. She may have loved me for who I am, but she had needs. Every woman wants to be special, and I failed to make her feel that way.
So, yeah. This second chance is not only for her but for me. I need to heal and forgive her. But I still need to find her another heart. The question is when.
Lauren is at the bottom of the list. I have used all my influence to get her higher on the priority list, but she's still too far away from the top. No one wants to give up their loved one's heart. Even those people whose daughter has been sleeping for six years. I even bought a significant amount of shares in this hospital. I'm hoping that Lauren will get the heart once the daughter dies.
“Everything will be fine,” I tell Lauren. “I will find a heart,” I say, in hopes that the new heart will be strong enough to love only me.
I want to comfort Lauren, but I still can’t fight my coldness towards her. I pretend to receive a call from my fellow doctor and excuse myself from the room. A new heart to love only me? Will I ever love Lauren again after she has a new heart? Will it erase the pain she caused my heart and my ego?
A second chance, I remind myself. We both need it, and hopefully, we will win through it.
#
"No! If my daughter dies, her heart goes with her!"
Mr. Ricci slightly pulls his wife away from me. Mrs. Ricci stops struggling and cries on her husband’s chest. I look away from them to avoid increasing the guilt I feel. I’m asking them to kill their daughter. No. I’m buying their daughter’s heart.
The attending physician informed me that Haven Ricci, the girl who has been comatose for almost six years, was about to lose her battle. The Riccis have spent their fortune on everything that can bring her back. The young lady has fought hard, but her vital signs have deteriorated over the past weeks.
The team that looks after their daughter had told the Ricci couple that they have to get ready for the worst. I came to ask if they could donate their daughter's heart.
Lauren can be the priority if she receives the heart as a personal donation from a match. Haven Ricci is Lauren's match, and I'm willing to give everything to get my wife and me a second chance – for my son's sake.
“I am not selling my daughter’s heart!” Mrs. Ricci yells at me.
But Mr. Ricci is tempted by my offer. His corporate share has lessened this past year. He is about to lose his seat as a director. I offered him a proxy right over my share and a return of a few of his stocks. Haven Ricci. Her heart should be worth it. It’s too damn expensive.
My best friend and fellow pediatrician, Damon Cowell, asked me if it's all worth it. I don't know. But I have always been a person who refused to give up what is mine. My love for Lauren may not be as strong as it was before, but I'm not going to give her up. I grew up in a good home filled with love and almost believed that the world was perfect. Lauren may have put a crack in it, but I will not let her do the same to my child. My son will grow up just like me – full of love.
So, there’s no question if it’s all worth it. I will have Haven Ricci’s heart.
"Please. I promise you, I will take care of Haven's heart," I tell Mrs. Ricci. "I will give my wife a beautiful life. One you might have wished for your Haven. I will fill your daughter's heart with nothing but happiness."
Mrs. Ricci stops crying and turns to me. Her husband kept her in the dark about my offer. I have to appeal to her heart as a woman. I'm not sure about what I told her, but if Lauren doesn't make the mistake of cheating on me again, I will fill their daughter's heart with nothing but happiness. I only hope her heart is not a cheating one.
“Your wife is a lucky woman,” Mrs. Ricci says between sobs. She looks at her husband and says, “Just her heart. Nothing else.”
After saying the words, Mrs. Ricci walks into her daughter’s room. Mr. Ricci takes a deep breath and walks closer to me. He looks at me and says, “About your offer, I want it done before the operation.”
"Of course," I don't know if I should be disappointed in him. But for six years, he put aside his vicious businessman mentality for his daughter. Now, it's time for him to make a comeback.
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