Donor Against My Will: I Died After Saving My Sister

I had died. Yet, trapped by my obsession, my soul remained tethered to my mother, Maxine Avery—unable to leave even for an instant.In the hospital, my parents stood vigil at my younger sister Lindsey Finch's bedside.Mom, usually a pillar of composure and iron resolve, was trembling on the verge of tears. The formidable woman who had once faced me in court with ruthless precision now wore an expression so fragile it was almost unrecognizable. When Lindsey's eyes fluttered open, relief washed over them. The crushing weight on their hearts seemed to lift at once. Mom clasped Lindsey's hand, tears welling in her eyes. "Sweetheart, you're finally awake. Are you hurting anywhere? I’ll go get the doctor right now."Lindsey shook her head, her gaze searching the room. "Where's Aurora? Why isn't she here? Does she still blame me for using her platelets?"At the mention of my name, Mom's face hardened. Disgust clouded her eyes. "What right does she have to blame you? She's selfish and

Lindsey had been home for a fortnight now. At first, our parents would still speak of me, but those mentions grew thinner and rarer until they ceased altogether. It was as if they'd collectively decided to forget I ever existed. Early one morning, they took Lindsey to the hospital for a follow-up.Once Lindsey's attending physician cleared her results, the three of them turned to leave when they spotted a group of nurses crowded around a video playing on a smartphone. "How can this woman be so heartless? She actually sued her own daughter in court.""And she's a lawyer too! With all her education, she still plays favorites. She practically drove her own daughter to her death."Mom stopped in her tracks. The voice coming from the video was unmistakably hers. In the video, she was passionately listing my "crimes" and even showing the courtroom clips, using the law to prove that I was legally bound to surrender my platelets. I had remained silent throughout the trial. In the e

Hearing this, I couldn't help but find it ridiculous. So, in Lindsey's eyes, I was actually that impressive?From the moment she was born, our parents' attention had always been on her. Never once had they stopped to look at me.When Lindsey cried as a child, Mom would hit me, claiming my noise had frightened her.Similarly, when Lindsey failed an exam, Mom would slap me—even if I had scored perfectly. She said my success was nothing but arrogance, that I should have helped Lindsey instead of humiliating her. Even when I fell ill and brought my diagnosis to Mom, she kicked me in the stomach. Her glare burned into me as she spat, "Lindsey is already sick, and now you're making up lies just to steal the spotlight? Aurora, have you no conscience at all?"Every shred of hope I held for this family slowly withered away in their distrust and indifference. It wasn't the lack of love that destroyed me—it was the injustice. If Mom and Dad had been equally cold to both of us, perhaps I w

Determined to see Lindsey imprisoned, the victim's family rejected all offers of compensation and pressed the case to trial.Mom, however, stood firmly on the opposite side—pleading for Lindsey's acquittal.Watching the scene unfold, I couldn't help but feel the bitter irony. Twice now, Mom had stood before the court for Lindsey—once to save her at my expense, and now to save her from prison.The jurors regarded them both with open disdain.Mom tugged nervously at her clothes, as if trying to shield herself from their contempt. But the gesture was hollow. Just as she steadied herself and began her defense, a juror let out a cold, mocking laugh."Why keep raising such a monster? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Isn't she the same lawyer from that video?"A woman like her doesn't deserve to be a mother. If I were the eldest daughter who died, I'd wish nothing but death upon that second daughter."Mom's carefully prepared speech faltered. Her voice caught, her body swayed,