LOGINLina’s POVClara was getting stronger.Every day the doctors seemed a little more confident when they spoke about her recovery. Her body had accepted the transplant, and the improvement was visible now. She could sit up longer, speak without losing breath, even smile in a way that didn’t look forced.Everyone around her called it a miracle.But every time someone used that word, something heavy settled deeper in my chest.Because miracles always came with a cost.Mine just wasn’t visible to anyone else.Daniel insisted that I rest after the bone marrow donation, but resting didn’t bring the kind of relief he thought it would. Sitting still only gave my thoughts more space to move, and they always returned to the same place.To the hospital room.To the doctor’s voice.We had to remove your uterus.The sentence echoed in my mind more often than I wanted to admit.I had tried not to think about the future too much. But sometimes it forced its way in anyway.There would be no more pregna
Lina’s POVTwo days after leaving the clinic, I returned to the hospital.This time under my real name.The strange thing was how normal everything looked. Nurses walking through the halls, doctors moving between rooms, patients waiting for appointments. No one knew what had happened two days earlier. No one knew what I had done.And that was exactly how it needed to stay.Daniel insisted on coming with me.“You shouldn’t be going through this alone,” he said as we walked toward Doctor Menon’s office.I didn’t argue. I didn’t have the energy.He kept glancing at me like he was afraid I might collapse.“You’re sure you’re strong enough for this?” he asked.“I’m fine.”“You just lost the pregnancy, Lina.”The words felt sharp even though he meant them gently.“I know.”“We can delay this if you need time.”“No,” I said quickly.Clara didn’t have time.Doctor Menon opened the door before Daniel could say anything else.“Come in.”Her eyes moved between us briefly before settling on me.“
Lina’s POVThe first thing I noticed was the weight in my body.Not pain exactly. Just heaviness. Like every part of me had been drained of strength.My eyes opened slowly.White lights above me. Machines beside the bed. A faint beeping sound somewhere close.For a moment I couldn’t remember where I was.Then everything started coming back.The clinic.The forms.The name I had written down that wasn’t mine.Anna Cole.The procedure.My hand moved immediately to my stomach.Flat.Too flat.My chest tightened.A nurse noticed I was awake and quickly came over.“You’re awake,” she said gently.My voice felt dry. “What… happened?”“You had some complications during the procedure,” she said.The words hit me harder than expected.“Complications?”She checked the monitor beside my bed before answering.“There was significant bleeding. The doctors had to move quickly to stabilize you.”My throat tightened.“And the baby?”The nurse hesitated.Just for a second.Then she looked at me careful
Lina’s POVI did not tell anyone.Not Daniel.Not Maya.Not even Clara.Some decisions cannot survive other people’s voices.If I told Daniel, he would stop me.If I told Maya, she would ask questions.If I told Clara, she would refuse the transplant.So the only way this could happen was if no one knew until it was already done.I sat in the car outside the hospital parking lot for almost ten minutes before starting the engine. My phone rested on the passenger seat beside me.Three missed calls from Daniel.I ignored them.He had been calling more since the doctor warned about the pregnancy complications. He was worried. Protective. Constantly asking if I was resting, if the baby was moving, if I needed anything.Every time he spoke about the baby, something inside me twisted.Because he believed that child was safe.And I was about to destroy that belief.I picked up my phone and dialed the number Doctor Menon had written down for me earlier.A different clinic.A different doctor.
The hospital room was quiet when we arrived.Daniel carried the small bag while I handled the admission desk. The nurse took my ID, confirmed my name, and printed a bracelet. She fastened it around my wrist and pointed us toward the maternity monitoring unit.“You’ll stay here overnight,” she said. “We want continuous monitoring because of the pregnancy.”I nodded.Daniel stayed close as we followed her down the hallway.Inside the room, another nurse helped me onto the bed and lifted my shirt slightly so she could attach two round monitors to my stomach.One tracked the baby’s heartbeat.The other tracked contractions.A steady rhythm filled the room almost immediately.The baby’s heartbeat.Fast. Strong.The nurse smiled slightly when she heard it. “That’s what we like to hear.”Daniel stood near the foot of the bed watching the screen like it was the most important thing in the world.“Everything okay?” he asked.“So far, yes,” the nurse replied.She adjusted the belt around my sto
The house was quiet the morning after.Daniel had already left for the hospital before I came downstairs. He sent a short message.We need to finalize the schedule today.That was it.No long speech or paragraph.I ate half a slice of toast and couldn’t finish it. The baby shifted once, slow and it felt heavy. Thirty-one weeks felt different. Every movement was stronger now. More real.By ten, I was at the hospital.Dr. Menon didn’t waste time.“We’ve reviewed everything again,” she said. “You’re still the strongest match.”“I know.”“We’ll need additional fetal monitoring before and after the procedure.”“That’s fine.”“There’s risk of preterm contractions.”“I understand.”“There’s risk related to anesthesia.”“I’ve read it.”She looked at me carefully. “You’re certain.”“Yes.”“Your husband agreed?”“He doesn’t like it. But yes.”She nodded. “We’re scheduling the marrow harvest for Friday morning.”“That soon?”“Yes. The sooner the better.”“Okay.”“You’ll be admitted the night bef







