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425words
Muscles straining, I anchored the gurney. Every second delayed Harrison’s daughter’s transplant. Noah’s injury could wait.
Harrison checked his watch, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. He smoothed it instantly, stepping close to pat my shoulder.
"Mr. Miller, any issues can wait. Your son needs that surgery now. You wouldn’t want to miss his critical window, would you?"
His tone started friendly but ended in a threat.
I wasn’t buying it.
I shoved his hand away. "Get away from him. I’m transferring him to another hospital."
Harrison tried to advance. I pushed the gurney back defensively.
"You—especially you—back hell off!"
I pointed at them both, eyes blazing. I wanted to tear them apart right there, right now!
Harrison pushed his glasses up his nose. Amanda instantly understood.
She yelled towards the nurses' station. "My husband’s lost it from the stress! Someone restrain him!"
She wiped fake tears. "My son needs surgery! He’ll die waiting like this!"
Nurses responded. "On it!"
"Good Samaritan" patients stepped forward.
"I’ll help!"
"Count me in!"
They closed in. I shoved the gurney backwards, retreating fast.
My back hit the wall. Trapped.
The crowd pressed forward. I shielded the gurney with my body.
"Lay one hand on me, and I’ll sue every one of you for unlawful restraint. I’ll make sure you end up in jail!"
The threat worked. People hesitated.
Amanda shoved through the crowd, storming up to me.
She slapped me hard across the face.
Crack!
"Ethan Miller, are you blind?!" she shrieked. "Look at him! He’s fading right here!"
"You’re killing him by stalling!"
Harrison smoothly interposed himself, playing peacemaker.
"Amanda! That’s uncalled for! Mr. Miller’s just worried."
He turned his concerned gaze back to me. "Mr. Miller, look at Noah’s pallor. Please, let us operate!"
What a smooth performance—these two were perfect together
Ignoring my stinging cheek, I clung to the rails.
"Harrison, didn’t you have another surgery scheduled? Why prioritize my son?"
"This surgery is a lie! You just want to steal his kidney!"
Amanda clawed at her hair, exasperated. "Stop this insanity! Fine! I’ll spend more time with Noah after this, okay?"
I laughed bitterly.
Was she truly this naive? Or deliberately ignoring the consequence of losing a kidney?
Deliberate. Definitely deliberate.
I turned away. "You are not taking my son’s kidney!"
Furious, Amanda stormed to the nurses' station, snatched Noah’s medical report, and flung it at me.
"Read it yourself! He has three kidneys! One is damaged! Donating the extra one saves a life! What’s the problem?!"
