4

Julia

"How was your day, son?" I ask when we're alone in his room. Because yes, as I pass through that door, I leave all my baggage outside. All the anger, frustrations, stress, and exhaustion from work stay far away from us. As always, I devote myself entirely to him.

Seeing his childish smile brightens me up a little. Mel was right. He seems much better, despite his condition.

"It was fun."

"Fun?"

"Uncle Paco kept me company, and we played with toy cars for hours."

"That's awesome!"

"And Aunt Mel secretly brought me some cheese muffins, hidden from the doctors."

"Your favorites, I imagine?" I remark. "Well, you were quite spoiled today, Mr. Ricci, and a little mischievous too."

I need to remember to have a word with those two. How could they be so careless and let him burn so much energy throughout the entire day?

"Now you need to sleep a bit, son." I kiss his cheeks.

"No, Mommy." Alex protests in frustration. "I want to stay with you now. I miss you so much."

"I know, sweetheart. How about Mommy tells you a really fun story? You get some sleep, and when you wake up, I promise I'll stay a few extra hours with you. How does that sound?"

"You promise?"

"Pinky swear!" I cross my fingers and kiss them.

"Okay."

I help him get comfortable in bed and sit in a chair to start telling him the story.

"I want the story of The Girl with the Red Hood."

"Oh wow, that's not exactly a bedtime story, Alex!" I grumble. "How about something more…"

I stop speaking when the machines suddenly make a strange sound. Alex's eyes roll back, and his body goes limp.

"Alex?!" I call out. "Help!!!" I scream in desperation. "ALEX?! ALEX?!"

"Get her out of here!" a doctor orders as an entire team rushes into the room, and I’m immediately pulled out. Desperate, I lean against the transparent glass and start crying as I watch the doctors fight relentlessly to bring him back to me.

Please don't go!

Please don't leave me alone!

Please don't go!

I silently beg, tears streaming down my face. And when everything calms down again, I finally breathe.

"Miss Ricci, may we talk for a moment?" the cardiologist asks as he exits the room, forcing me to tear my eyes away from my son, who remains motionless on the bed. But he's breathing, and I know that as long as he's doing that, I will survive. Unable to speak a word, I nod, and as he begins walking toward his office, I follow closely behind. The man sighs tiredly after sitting in his chair, and the pity in his eyes shatters me even further.

Is this the end?

Am I going to lose him for good?

Dear God, I couldn't bear it!

"I'm sorry to say this... Alex doesn't have much time left now, Júlia," he informs me with a serious, professional tone. My breath is immediately cut off. I simply can't breathe, and to avoid collapsing, I grip the arm of the chair tightly. "You need to get the money for this surgery as soon as possible, or he won't make it through the week."

Tears silently fall again, and I simply can't hold them back. In truth, I don't even want to.

"Alex needs to begin the procedures for this surgery right away. We already have a donor. We just need to start the tests and paperwork."

... I’ll give you fifty thousand. In cash, a check, however you want. But in exchange, I want you to spend one night with me.

Mr. Bennett's proposal echoes in my mind, and I nod in agreement to the doctor.

"Start the procedures, Dr. Aristides," I firmly request, and Aristides looks at me in surprise.

"What? Did you manage to get a loan from the bank?"

"I promise I'll bring the money in two days."

He smiles at my reassurance.

"Great! I'll speak with the cardiac surgery team, and we'll start all the necessary procedures to prepare him for a transplant right away."

"Alright!"

"He'll stay in the ICU tonight. So how about you go home and get some rest? Alex won't be able to have visitors while he's there."

"Of course," I whisper, too drained to argue.

"I'll see you in two days, Ricci." I nod again.

"Thank you, Doctor!"

I leave the hospital minutes later, practically floating. My head is spinning as I think about what I need to do to save my son's life.

This is for you, my son.

I'd do anything just to keep you alive, I silently tell myself. Even something I never imagined I'd do in my entire life.