(August 2, 1999, in Los Angeles)
Even though it was almost midnight, I wasn’t sleepy, so I started walking around in my living room, from the piano, to the couches, to the tables, to the foosball table, to the aquarium, then back around again in full circles.
I didn’t know why I’d decided to get a massive aquarium with tropical fish that I couldn’t even keep alive. I stared in the tank and watched the fish swim side to side without having a care in the world. They had food, they had a place to swim, and they had other fish to accompany them. All they had to do was live. I’d never thought I would be jealous of my fish.
My living room was always glowing even when all the lights were closed because my aquarium was like one big, blue glow stick, making the rest of my furniture blue as well.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed, making the entire counter subtly vibrate with Billy Joel as my ringtone. “Hey, Liam,” I said after I picked up.
“Guess what?”
“What?” I asked. I still didn’t get why people asked, “Guess what?” It was so useless. The subject of what I was guessing at could be anything, literally.
“I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?”
“Ugh, go—”
“No, wait. Let me just tell you everything.” He began anyway. “Okay, so what if I told you I found you a donor?”
“Wait, what are you saying?”
“I found you a donor!”
“You actually found me a donor?”
“Yep! Perfect match!”
“Are you kidding me?”
“You’re getting a kidney, Demi!” he yelled through the phone.
“I’m actually getting a kidney?” I realized I was screaming.
“You’re getting a kidney!”
“Wow, I’m getting a kidney!” I yelled ecstatically. “Wait, then what’s the bad news?”
“So, yeah, about that kidney. There’s a slight problem. You see, I asked my friend if he could donate his kidney and obviously he said no, but he did tell me about a guy that he knows in Europe who is willing to donate his. Something about ‘doing good to the world.’”
“So, what, I have to go to Europe?”
“Yeah. I proposed that we fly him here with all expenses paid, but he said he doesn’t want to come to America. He doesn’t feel comfortable traveling,” he said.
“What? Why?”
“No idea. All I know is that he’s never been out of Europe before and he’s uncomfortable with flying.”
“Well, fine. This guy is giving me his kidney so the least I can do is fly over there instead of rushing him over here,” I pointed out.
“Perfect. I’ll order the plane tickets ASAP.”
“Wait, hold on.”
“Yeah?”
“Where exactly in Europe?”
“Austria.”
****
After Liam and I arrived at Vienna, we went straight to the hotel where we would be meeting with the guy who was giving me his kidney.
I didn’t know how it was possible, but Vienna looked even more enchanting than before. I’d been avoiding this place since forever. The city was magnificent, but it also hurt because it was missing the only person that I needed and wanted to see.
A few months ago, this German singer had wanted me to write for him and proposed that I come with him for his tour. I did. I went to every city he performed in. Every city except Vienna.
From the airport to the hotel, I noticed the same street that I had passed when I was on my way to Marcel’s place the last time I was here in Vienna.
We kept on driving, past a turn that would have led us to the Staatsoper Opera House.
When we arrived, Liam and I went our separate ways to our hotel rooms before meeting at the hotel coffee shop.
After I settled all of my belongings, I went down the hotel elevator and saw Liam already in the coffee shop, texting on his phone.
Apparently my donor’s name was Patric and he worked at an art museum. He was thirty-one, married. That was all the information about him besides his blood type and health insurance and other medical stuff.
His face on the picture looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place where I’d seen him before.
“You ready?” Liam asked me as we continued to wait by the couches at the hotel’s coffee shop.
“I think I’m still stunned that somebody is willing to give me their kidney,” I said.
“Just relax. The guy’s my friend’s friend, so he’s not going to end up being a murderer. We’re just going to talk, get to know each other, and if everything’s good, we’ll be able to sign the contract for the whole procedure,” he said.
“Here he comes.” I noticed the man in the picture walk through the door. He was looking around, trying to see if he recognized any faces. I don’t know which picture Liam sent him, but I didn’t think it was a good one or else he wouldn’t have stood by the door like an idiot for ten minutes.
“Patric?” I called out.
He looked at me and smiled. “Hi. Are you guys Demi and Liam?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” he said and sat down. “I’m sorry, but my English may not be that good.” He paused between every few words.
“We just want to say thank you so much for considering to donate your kidney to her. Like, wow, thank you,” Liam said.
“It’s okay. So, tell me about yourselves,” Patric said.
“I’m Demi’s manager. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and I’m single because I’m pretty much married to my job,” Liam joked.
“Well, I live in Los Angeles, but I’m actually from a sucky town and thank goodness I ended up in the city. I’m a professional songwriter and I, well, I have kidney failure, but you already know that,” I said. “What about you?”
“I work at the art museum and it’s the best job that I could possibly ask for. I have two wonderful kids and I’m expecting a third one, which, to be honest, I don’t think I’m ready for another screaming child,” he joked.
“You got past the first two, I’m sure you’ll get past another one,” I said.
“I don’t know about that. The first two already drive me crazy, but they’re my kids and they’re wonderful, so what can I do, huh?”
Liam chuckled. “Now I feel bad for my mother. She had four kids.”
“Wait, you have siblings?” I asked Liam, surprised. I’d always thought he was an only child. I’d been to his place a couple of times and the only family pictures he had were of his parents and a few cousins.
“Of course, just don’t ask to see them. I can’t stand them and two of them are twins. Can you imagine how annoying it is to watch two li’l brats whining at the same time?"
Patric chuckled. “That’s just like me with my brother. I can’t stand him. What about you? Any annoying siblings?”
“Nope, fortunately I grew up as an only child,” I responded.
“You’re lucky, but doesn’t it also get lonely?” Patric asked.
“Well, yeah, sometimes, but I got my friends,” I said. “Just wondering, but why do you want to donate your kidney to me? For free?”
Patric chuckled. “My brother had organ failure and a total stranger donated his kidney to him. It was a miracle. A complete stranger had the goodness in his heart to help out my brother, so now I’m doing the same for you,” he said.
“Can we meet your brother sometime?” Liam asked.
“I could ask him, but I doubt that he would show up. My brother’s a—what do you call them?—a hooligan.” Patric laughed.
“Why me, though? There are a bunch of other people who probably need it more than I do,” I said.
“Well, I guess life just dealt you a good card,” he said.
I laughed. “That reminds me of somebody who used to say something like that.”
“Well, small world,” he said.