No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

"Come on, don't," Susie said as she pushed my head back onto Ernest's shoulder, "Licia, just lean on my brother like that. I love seeing you two all lovey-dovey."

This little rascal...

"Bro, Licia," Susie's eyes, clear as day, fixed on us, "I was planning to wait a bit longer before saying this, but since it came up today, I might as well spill the beans now."

"Don't jump to conclusions or blurt out anything silly," I had a premonition about what she was about to say.

Ernest, however, said, "Let her speak."

Susie grinned at him, "That's my bro, always gets me."

Then she turned to me, "Licia, hear me out, okay?"Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

She giggled, then cleared her throat as a sort of prelude, tightly holding both mine and Ernest's hands, "Here goes."

Ernest and I were silent, but our breathing clearly tensed up.

"Bro, Licia, I've been thinking about becoming an organ donor," she said out of the blue, catching Ernest and me off guard and frankly, scaring us a bit.

"What are you talking about?" Ernest's voice was heavy.

"I mean, I want to sign up for organ donation, in case my surgery fails, or if anything happens to me down the line," Susie enunciated each word with serious intent.

My breath hitched, "Why would you think of something like that?"

"Because I'm about to receive someone else's heart through surgery. If one day I don't make it, my heart might not be useful, but my liver, kidneys, and corneas still could be. I want to give them away so I can bring hope to others," Susie, with her innocent face and pure eyes, looked like a child making a solemn vow.

Her words, however, struck a chord deep within me, sending a rush of adrenaline from my feet to the top of my head.

Ernest didn't speak; I couldn't tell how he felt. I turned to look at him.

And he, staring at Susie, had his eyes wavering with emotion.

He, too, was deeply moved by the resolve of the little girl he had raised.

"Bro, why aren't you saying anything?" Susie, aware that Ernest was the one calling the shots, looked at him anxiously. "Bro, whether you agree or not, I've made up my mind. I'm of age now; I have the right to decide for myself," Susie laid it all out.

At that moment, I was at a loss for words, only able to look towards Ernest.

After a long silence, he finally spoke to Susie, "You've decided?"

"Yeah, I've been thinking about this for a long time," Susie affirmed.

"Why didn't you bring it up earlier?" Ernest pressed.

Susie glanced at me, then said softly, "Wasn't it because I was afraid you'd disagree?"

"Bro, if something happens to me in

the future, and end up in a

vegetative state or something, please don't hold out for a miracle keeping me lying there like a living dead. Just do as I ask, donate what can be donated, and then take my ashes back to our little yard. Bury me under the peach tree by the gate."

Her words gripped my heart tightly; my throat felt choked.

Yet Susie was smiling brilliantly, her eyes

"Thecting a rainbow of lighte

I'll turn into the most

beautiful blossom each year."

"Bro, please, just promise me," Susie pleaded after laying her heart bare, then turned to me, "Licia, please persuade him."

How could I persuade him? The ease with which this little rascal spoke weighed heavily on Ernest, too cruel for him to bear.

How could he ever bring himself to part with his dearest sister piece by piece?

"Okay!" Just when I thought Ernest would never agree, he actually did.

"I promise," Ernest's voice was choked with emotion.