Silence enveloped us, thick and suffocating. Neither of us spoke, and the stillness only magnified the weight of our emotions.
After what felt like an eternity, I broke the quiet. “I understand now.”
As a child, I had always given up what I loved to my sister.
When I met Hector, I learned to bend to his emotional needs, always putting him first.
Now, I’ve given myself to the fake Edna.
There’s no room for me in this world. Let me be the exchange. With me gone, there will be no regrets, no disappointments.
On the way to the hospital, my mind was eerily calm.
“This procedure is extremely rare. Are you sure you want to go through with it?” The doctor’s voice carried a note of disbelief as he studied me.
He hesitated before continuing, his tone softening with concern. “Maybe you should go home and think about it. Talk it over with your family…”
“Just book the appointment,” I interrupted, my voice firm. “The sooner, the better.”
He opened his mouth as if to protest again.
“Doctor,” I said quietly, “I have no family.”
That silenced him. He stared at me for a long moment before lowering his head to sign the consent form.
I hadn’t lied. I truly had no family.