Lahat ng Kabanata ng TERMS OF THE HEART : Kabanata 101 - Kabanata 110

Three years had passed since Eleanor and Nathaniel's wedding.For three years, Damien's heart had behaved.There were still appointments. Medication. Restrictions he pretended not to hate. I learned to notice the days when he was more tired than usual and the mornings when he moved a little slower getting out of bed.But there had been no real scares.We had started believing that maybe the worst was behind us.That afternoon, the entire family was gathered at the coastal house to celebrate little Grace's university acceptance.Little Grace wasn't little anymore.Marcus and Amara's daughter was heading toward college, and she'd spent most of the afternoon complaining that everyone kept calling her little while simultaneously enjoying the attention.The house was full.Music played from the terrace. Someone had started a debate over which university football team was actually worth supporting. The younger cousins had taken over one end of the garden, while the older generation had sett

The cardiologist sat across from us with Damien's latest scans spread across the desk.She didn't rush.Neither did we."The damage from the original cardiac event has progressed," she said. "The surrounding tissue isn't responding well enough to medication or additional stents anymore."Damien studied the images.I couldn't bring myself to look."At this point," she continued, "a transplant is his best option for long-term survival."There it was.The sentence we'd been waiting for and dreading at the same time.Damien leaned back in his chair."How long do we have to find a donor?"The doctor folded her hands."I want to be honest with you. There isn't a reliable answer.""Give me the range.""Depending on blood type, tissue compatibility, organ availability, and your region, the wait can be anywhere from several months to two years."Two years.The number sounded enormous.It also suddenly felt frighteningly small."I'll list you as a priority candidate," she continued. "But the wa

The physician came back almost forty minutes later.By then, my legs had gone stiff from standing.Grace sat beside me, her hands clasped so tightly her knuckles had turned pale. Marcus kept looking toward the closed doors of Damien's room, as if watching them could make the doctors come out sooner.The physician stopped in front of us."We've stabilised him."My knees nearly gave way.I caught the back of a chair.The relief lasted only a moment."But I need to be direct with you. That episode tells us his heart has less reserve than we thought."I swallowed."How much less?"He looked at me."Enough that I don't believe he can safely wait much longer for a donor."Grace spoke before I could."What does that mean, practically?"Her voice was steady.Her hands weren't."It means every additional day carries a higher risk of another episode. And the next one could be fatal."Nobody answered.The physician continued."I've contacted the regional transplant network directly. I've explain

I found Damien in the ICU.For a moment, I barely recognised him.There were more tubes than I could count, wires running from his chest to the monitors beside the bed, and a ventilator helping him breathe while his body adjusted to the heart that now belonged to him.The machines filled the room with small, steady sounds.Beep.Hiss.Beep.I moved closer."I'm here."I slipped my fingers around his hand, careful not to disturb the IV lines."I'm right here, Damien."His eyes stayed closed.He was still sedated, but I needed to say it anyway."You're not facing this alone."The nurses allowed only brief visits.So we took turns.Grace came in.Then Marcus.Eleanor.David.Priya.Nobody stayed long enough to be comfortable.Nobody wanted to leave.The first twenty-four hours passed without another major crisis.That became its own kind of victory.Damien's vital signs stayed stable.His new heart appeared to be adjusting well.Every update from the medical team gave us another reason t

Damien's recovery took almost a year.There were good weeks and frustrating ones. Days when he felt strong enough to forget he'd received a new heart, followed by mornings when climbing the stairs left him gripping the railing until his breathing settled.Eventually, his cardiologist gave us the news we'd been waiting for.The transplanted heart was functioning well.His body had accepted it.Damien was stable.I don't think either of us celebrated the way we once would have.We'd learned how quickly good news could change.One evening, almost a year after the surgery, we sat together on the terrace.It was the same terrace where we'd spent so many nights talking about family, business, and problems that had once seemed enormous.The air was warm. Insects hummed somewhere beyond the property, and the faint smell of damp earth drifted in from the garden.Damien leaned back in his chair, one hand resting over his chest."I don't think I understood mortality before this."I turned toward