Semua Bab I Gave Up My Liver Transplant, The Whole Family Went Crazy: Bab 1 - Bab 10

The room fell silent. Henry studied me, looking for some sign that it was a trick.When I showed no reaction, he asked, "Are you serious?"I nodded. "I am."My mother, Evelyn Hale, pushed open the door. She had probably been eavesdropping for a while. Her eyes were red, but relief had softened her expression."Livia, I knew you were a good girl."She reached out to hug me. I flinched away, and she drew back awkwardly.My father, Richard Hale, stepped in to spare her embarrassment. "Now that you've decided, you can't change your mind. The doctors say Camilla can't wait. You should sign the consent form today."They had prepared for this long before I agreed.They placed a form for voluntary withdrawal from the liver transplant list in front of me. The word voluntary almost made me laugh.For months, they had taken turns wearing me down. Mom said Camilla was still young and that I should stop being selfish and put my older sister first.Dad said tearing the family apart over a transplant

Mom had hidden my work phone. I still had the one I'd used since childhood.It held every happy memory I had, right up to the day my sister returned from studying abroad.We took a family photo that day. Camilla stood awkwardly in the corner, still a stranger to all of us.Henry and I stood between our parents.He hugged me tightly. "Livia, you're the baby of the family. Camilla and I will always love you."He used to say my name every day. Somewhere along the way, Livia had become Camilla.As I left my room, I ran into Camilla flanked by our parents.She smiled at me. "Livia, if you're uncomfortable in the shared room, I won't trade rooms with you after all."Dad soothed her. "I explained that you need quiet before your surgery. Your sister agreed."Camilla smiled sweetly at me. "Thank you, Livia. I'll settle into this room, then."Her falseness made me sick. Without looking back, I followed the nurse to the shared room.At nine that night, Camilla posted an Instagram Story.I opened

The morning of Camilla's surgery dawned bright and clear.My family had gathered outside her room before dawn.Mom massaged her aching shoulders while Dad questioned the surgeon about the risks.Henry placed the charm in her palm and reassured her. "Don't be afraid. We'll all be waiting right outside the operating room."I stood outside her room, separated from them by a pane of glass.I watched them for a long time.Camilla's fist closed around my guardian angel charm.My swollen knuckle began throbbing again.No one noticed that I had changed into a hospital gown too.Before dawn, the pain in my liver had become unbearable, and the hospital had sent me for tests.After reviewing the results, Dr. Reed said I needed to be transferred to the ICU and that a family member had to sign a critical care authorization form.The hospital couldn't reach anyone in my family.So I had to find them myself.I made it only a few steps before the pain folded me in half outside Camilla's door.I clutch

During the month Camilla spent in the hospital, no one made a serious effort to find me.Dad asked his secretary to look into my whereabouts.All the secretary learned was that I had left my old hospital room.Dad concluded that I had transferred to another hospital without telling my family. "She's hiding from us because we didn't give her what she wanted," he said.Dad stared down at Camilla's chart, his expression dark."She thinks this will make us feel guilty, so we'll do whatever she wants from now on."Mom's unease deepened."Livia was in critical condition when she left. How could she arrange a transfer on her own?"Shouldn't we send more people to look for her?"Dad said nothing.Henry took out his phone and stared at our message thread.Our last exchange had been years ago.Camilla gently took Mom's hand and asked through her tears, "Mom, does Livia still blame me?"She was so happy before I came home, but now..."I know she resents how much changed after I came back, but I n

Mom remembered my first operation, when I was four.The doctors said I was in critical condition. She stayed by my side for an entire month and refused to leave the hospital.On the day of the operation, she knelt in the hospital hallway and prayed.Dad had cleared his entire work schedule.Afraid I wouldn't adjust to school, he waited outside my classroom every day.Once, I accidentally knocked my pencil case onto the floor.Dad came inside to pick it up.He held a hand over my head so I wouldn't hit it on the corner of the desk.Henry had been my personal bodyguard.Whenever someone bullied me, he charged in and fought them.Before long, no one in my class dared pick on me.They had once been terrified of losing me.When had that fear disappeared?Mom sobbed so hard she could barely breathe. "We loved her so much. How did this happen?"No one answered.Maybe the answer was exactly what they had said.They had grown used to seeing me survive every surgery.The first time I needed resu