I've Been There Before

“What … do you mean?” Payne was surprised. Grace turned around. He quickly grabbed her arm tightly and said, “Did you really find a donor?”

He stared at Grace nervously. Grace lowered her eyes when noticed Payne’s nervousness, anxiety, and hope.

The hope of survival.

She smiled and answered, “Yes, I did. You won’t die.”

Pulling his hand away, she seemed to have made up her mind.

When she walked to the door….

She smiled at him. He would never forget that smile.

“Payne, stay strong and enjoy your life.”

Then, the door was closed.

Payne didn’t even have time to say “thank you”.

The next moment, he called Mrs. James excitedly, “Mom, I’m saved! I won’t die!”

He was overjoyed.

Mrs. James couldn’t believe it. She kept asking, “Really? Who is so kind?

I must show my thanks to the donor.

I’ll call your ruthless sister. She actually refused to save you!

Even a stranger was willing to do it.

She should be guilty!”

Payne blushed. He said with embarrassment, “Mom, don’t do that. Grace found the donor for me.”

Mrs. James was surprised at first. Then she said, “Whatever. She is not the doctor. She found a donor for you just because she doesn’t want to donate her own bone marrow.

Do you think she did this for you?

She did this for herself.”

Payne’s face turned even redder. “Mom, I’m tired. I must hang up now.”

Not long after, his attending doctor came and told him that he could have a bone marrow transplant.

Payne hesitated for a moment, but he didn’t ask who the donor was.

The doctor only said, “You’re lucky. From today onwards, I’ll prescribe antibiotics for you as preoperative preparation. You have to take this. After your body indexes return to normal, I’ll arrange an operation for you.”

The doctor added, “I need to talk to your family. The result would come out one month after the operation.”

…

James, are you sure you want to

medically speaking, can still live.” The nurse in charge explained to

kidney usually have poorer health and can’t lift heavy things. They

know those symptoms

human body can regenerate bone marrow. The bone

injected with growth factor for four to five days in a row. We will collect

your condition is

and the collection of hematopoietic stem cells is not entirely safe. There is still a small risk.

your condition is indeed

you sure you’re

I’ll take responsibility for any consequences.” She picked up the pen and signed her name on

surname James?”

grandfather’s surname is James. I have

The nurse was puzzled….

…

home, she saw a man at

and leave, but she resisted the urge to leave and walked to him. “I know you

She said slowly.

with his dark eyes. “OK,”

you

“You broke your words first. You agreed

Why was he here?

he bothered

He didn’t deny that.

still dark,

“Where did you go?”

was an ordinary

hands into her pockets and said calmly, “I didn’t

“Oh … I see.”

was implication in his words. But she

shook her head and told herself not to be worried. He must be busy with work at that time. He couldn’t know where she had been and

you not going to invite

she did not take

“You promised to leave me alone for some time. Is

looked at her.

into the elevator, staring at

just want you to be there for me for the rest of your life,” he said sadly in a low

and

closed. She took out her keys and opened the door. Walking into the dark room, she felt like she fell

marrow donation. Even the risk

bone marrow was her

entirely

hadn’t dared to take the

on the right

didn’t let her late grandfather down. She didn’t care if his love was

home, she had already made the decision to find a bone marrow donor for her brother. If she hadn’t, his

up her mind when she

would take charge