A week and a few days had passed since Idris's unexpected and strangely timely call. During that time, Jade's life continued its tiring and constant course, marked by long work shifts and sleepless nights. Her body ached, and the routine repeated itself like a broken record: waking up early, rushing to the restaurant, arriving exhausted, and still having to take care of her mother.
One of those days, Lisa became very ill. Her heart seemed to give out for a few seconds, and Jade desperately rushed her to the emergency room. She would have to be kept under observation for a few days, receiving new medications and adjusting old doses. Jade watched everything closely, as if she could understand what was happening just by reading the monitors.
She knew she would miss days of work because of the hospital visits and that her boss wouldn't have enough empathy to understand. Empathy is a rare thing. But would Idris have it? Thinking about him still caused an uncomfortable knot in her chest. Since the call, his proposal hadn't left her head. It was like a low melody playing in the background, reminding her that perhaps this was the only solution. Empathy or not, pride or not, perhaps she had to accept it. Her mother's health couldn't wait.
"Daughter... I don't speak for my situation, but you'll be better paid for your effort and you'll be able to rest more... think of yourself too, my angel" Lisa said in a weak but sweet voice, muffled by the sounds of the machines.
"Everything I do, I do for you, Mom... I don't mind working without breaks" Jade murmured, trying to sound firm, even when her whole body seemed to disagree with her.
She sighed, lowering her gaze. "But... I agree that this job Idris offered me can help you a lot."
"Help us" Lisa corrected with a tired smile.
Jade returned the somewhat trembling smile. But when she saw the doctor enter through the door, her expression changed as if she had put on a mask.
There was Dr. Collins, the same one who had treated them in the emergency room. He was a tall, dark-haired man with broad shoulders and a serene expression. His black hair was beginning to turn gray at the sides, and his presence commanded respect, but in a human and welcoming way.
"Hello, Dr. Collins. Please... tell me what my mother really has" Jade asked, squeezing Lisa's hand tightly, as if she could protect her from the news that was coming.
Collins cleared his throat, adjusted his clipboard, and approached the bed.
"Lisa... the tests showed that your heart is quite dilated, what we call dilated cardiomyopathy." He paused briefly, glancing at Jade briefly before continuing. "This means that the heart muscle has lost some of its contractile strength."
Jade held her breath, and Lisa looked away, her pale face betraying the fear she was trying to hide.
"The good news..." the doctor continued calmly "is that we discovered it early. There's still time to control its progression with medication and monitoring. But I need to be honest..." He took a step forward, resting his hand on the bed railing. "this is a progressive disease."
Lisa opened her mouth, but her voice faltered.
"Dr. Collins, how...?"
"Lisa..." he began gently. "At some point, the medications cease to be sufficient. And your heart... it simply can no longer pump blood effectively." His hand touched her shoulder carefully. "When it gets to that point, and it's difficult to predict when, a heart transplant will be the only real alternative."
The word 'transplant' seemed to fill the air, as if echoing inside Jade's head. She felt the ground disappear beneath her feet.
"Transplant?!" she repeated, her voice choked with emotion. She ran her hands over her face and hair in a desperate gesture. This couldn't be happening. "Is this serious? I mean... are you sure, Doctor?" "I do. And that's why it's so important that we start treatment as soon as possible" Collins explained, maintaining a sensitive tone. "Follow up will be crucial. And you need to be prepared for the future."
"My God... what am I going to do now?" Jade murmured, her voice muffled by her hands.
Lisa, even though frightened, tried to be her usual fortress. She touched her daughter's shoulder, squeezing lightly.
"My love, calm down... we always manage, don't we? We always do" she said, smiling, even with tears in her eyes.
Jade lifted her head, tears streaming silently down her face, marking her skin. Collins sighed and adjusted his lab coat.
"I know it's a lot of information at once. But the next step is to refer your mother to the transplant department. They will assess whether she can be placed on the waiting list for a compatible heart."
"That takes a long time, doesn't it?" Lisa asked almost in a whisper. Her hand trembled in Jade's hand.
"Yes" the doctor admitted. "But the sooner we start, the better. Until then, the medication will keep the heart functioning as much as possible."
Dr. Collins bid farewell with a light touch on the patient's shoulder. His gaze conveyed a genuine compassion, rarely seen. As soon as he left the room, Jade turned to her mother and held her hands tightly.
"Mom... don't worry, okay?" she said firmly, wiping away her tears. "I'll figure something out. I promise."
Lisa tried to smile, but exhaustion won.
"Darling... calm down, please..."
"No, Mom. You heard what he said." Jade's eyes sparkled between fear and determination. "We have to start these tests soon so you can get on the transplant list. We'll do everything right. I won't let anything happen to you."
Lisa nodded, too weak to argue.
"I trust you, my love... but let me breathe a little, okay?"
Jade took a deep breath, holding back tears.
"Okay, Mom... Rest." He leaned down and hugged her, leaving a lingering kiss on Lisa's forehead.
After serving her a glass of water, he left the room.
The hospital corridor was cold, lit by white lamps. Jade leaned against the wall, holding her cell phone with trembling hands.
Her chest burned, the air felt too heavy, and tears came again without permission.
She murmured between sobs:
"I won't be able to... I won't be able to..."
But deep down, she knew she had no choice but to try. She wanted it all to be just a nightmare, and for the sound of the alarm at 5:15 to wake her up to an ordinary day.
Without thinking much, she unlocked her phone and opened the call history. His name was still there.
Her heart raced. She hesitated for a second before pressing the "call" button. After three rings, he answered.
"Hi, Jade! How are you?" Her voice sounded a little shaky, but it carried a certain urgency.
"I accept your job offer" she said directly, coldly, and bluntly.
There was silence on the other end. Then he spoke in a lower tone:
"You... are you crying? What happened?"
His question disarmed her. But Jade didn't want to talk about her life, not with someone who had abandoned her for a decade.
"Idris, I accept. Just tell me when I start" she replied firmly. "I need to organize things to travel to Chicago with my mother and find a place to stay until I settle in."
"Let me handle that part" he said immediately. "Even if it's temporary, I want you to have somewhere to stay. That way you only have to worry about the essentials."
"No need, Idris. I can handle that."
"Jade, please." His tone became more serious, almost authoritative. "I know you won't tell me what's going on, but let me help. Your mother will need to rest after the trip, and staying in a hotel would be terrible. Listen to me this time."
Jade sighed in defeat. She hated needing his help. She hated being herself at that moment.
"Okay, Idris. You're right." Her voice was lower. "My mother and I thank you... for this."
"Thank you for letting me help you," he said with noticeable relief. "And don't worry about the time. Let me know when you're ready to come, okay?"
"Right... I have to hang up now."
"Okay. Take care, Jade. You two." His voice softened. "Give my regards to your mother."
She tried to reply, but the words wouldn't come. She just nodded softly and hung up. For a few seconds she stood there, staring at her reflection in the screen of her dead phone. Her heart, which had insisted on protecting itself, now beat erratically, rapidly, restlessly. She was still trying to process everything: her mother's diagnosis, the sudden decision, and the inevitable reunion with Idris.
She returned to the room and Lisa was asleep, her face serene but betraying exhaustion. Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, the corner of her mouth turned down. She seemed defeated, and that hurt Jade more than any of the doctor's words. She approached the bed and sat beside it, lightly running her knuckles across her mother's cheek.
Her skin was warm and damp, marked by the recent trail of tears. Jade whispered in an almost inaudible tone:
"I will take care of you forever, Mom. If I have to give you my own heart... I will."
And in that instant, she made a silent vow. A vow that, even without witnesses, the entire universe seemed to hear.