Chapter 5
An unfamiliar female voice came through the phone. “Hello, is this Quinn Browning? This is Dr. Cole, Hannah’s attending doctor. Hannah’s condition is critical. If we can’t find a matching bone marrow donor soon, I’m afraid-”
“Look,” I cut her off, “I’ve made my position clear. I won’t donate. Stop callin
me.”
“Wait!” the doctor, Keira Cole, said urgently. “I’m not here to pressure you. Actually, we’ve found a perfect match in the bone marrow registry. But the procedures will take some time…
“So I wanted to ask if you could donate a small amount of hematopoietic stem cells first, just to help Hannah through this critical period?”
I froze in shock. This wasn’t in the script from my previous life. But then suspicion crept in. “If you’ve already found a match, why are you still asking me donate?”
Keira explained, “Before the actual transplant, there are many procedures and paperwork to complete. It usually takes about a month. But with Hannah’s condition so critical right now… I’m afraid she can’t wait that long.
“You just have to donate a small amount of hematopoietic stem cells. The risks to you would be minimal…”
I hesitated. Perhaps I could give it a try.
However, something was not right. That was exactly what the doctor had said in my previous life.
Sorry, I can’t take that risk,” I said calmly. “I hope Hannah can hold on until a matching donor is found.”
“You-“Keira’s voice rose in anger. “Quinn, do you realize what you’re doing? You’re just going to stand by and watch someone die?”
“No, Dr. Cole. I’m simply protecting my own life. Hannah has her fate, and I have mine. Neither should be sacrificed.”
After hanging up, I stared blankly out the window.
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For some reason, memories from my previous life flooded back–the agonizing decision before the donation, the terror during surgery, the excruciating pain afterward and, above all, that crushing despair when I was finally pushed down the stairs.
A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. When I opened it, there stood my mother, her eyes red and puffy from crying.
“Mom!” 1 exclaimed in surprise. “What brings you here?”
Without another word, my mother rushed in and pulled me into a tight hug.
She asked, “Quinn, what on earth is going on? The school is threatening to expel you, and the internet is flooded with hate posts about you. How could you have gotten yourself into such big trouble?”
My nose stung as tears threatened to fall. In my previous life, right before I died, the person I’d wanted to see most was my mother. But she was out of town then, and by the time she rushed back, it was already too late.
“Mom, I didn’t do anything wrong,” I choked out. “They’re forcing me into bone marrow donation, but I don’t want to take this risk. How is that m
fault?”
My mother stamped her foot in frustration. “But she’s your best friend since childhood! You two grew up together, and now she’s fighting for her life. Can’t you just-”
“Mom!” I cut her off sharply. “Are you my mom or Hannah’s? Why are you taking her side instead of mine?”
My mother froze, caught off guard. “Quinn, I-”
“Mom, what would you do if I died?” I stared straight into her eyes. “Is saving someone else’s daughter really worth risking your own?”
My mother’s face turned red. “Quinn, what are you talking about? What’s with all this talk about death-”
“Mom, do you even realize that bone marrow donation comes with real risks? What if something happened to me? What would then?”
you
do
My mother fell silent, her eyes clouded with turmoil.
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Chapter 5
I held her hand tightly and pleaded, “Mom, you’re all I have left. If even you won’t stand by
side, what should I do?”
My mother’s tears streamed down as she pulled me into a tight hug. “Silly girl, I’ll always stand by side! But… Hannah, that
child… She’s in such a pitiful state too.”
“Mom, everyone has their own fate,” I said softly. “I can’t risk my own life just to save hers.”
My mother finally nodded. “All right, I’ll stand with you. But what about the university?”
I forced a wry smile. “It’s fine. At worst, I’ll get expelled. It’s still better than losing my life.”
Just then, my phone buzzed again. An unknown number flashed on the screen.
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“Hello, is this Quinn Browning?” an unfamiliar male voice inquired. “I’m a reporter with The University Daily. We understand you declined to donate bone marrow for your best friend’s treatment, and we’d like to hear your perspective on this matter.”
I let out a cold laugh. “You want me to clear my own name? Save your breath.”
My mother quickly stopped me from hanging up. “Wait, Quinn! Maybe this is your chance. Let people hear your side of the story.”
After
After a moment’s hesitation, I finally agreed to the interview.
The interview was scheduled for the following afternoon at an off–campus café.
I arrived early and chose a window seat. Within ten minutes, a bespectacled young man hurried over. “Hello, you must be Quinn? I’m Jacob Spears from The University Daily.”
I nodded and said, “Hello.”
“First of all, thank you for agreeing to this interview,” Jacob said with a professional smile. “This case has sparked quite a controversy recently, and we’d like to hear your perspective.”
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I stared straight into his eyes. “Before we start, I need to make sure of one thing. Will you report my views truthfully, without taking my words out of context or twisting what I say?”
Jacob paused briefly before replying, “Of course. As a professional media outlet, we’ll report objectively and fairly.”
“All right, let’s begin.” I took a deep breath and began laying out my thoughts–my friendship with Hannah, the real risks of bone marrow donation, the emotional manipulation not just from the university but from society at large, and the reason I rejected the
donation.
“So, you believe all lives hold equal value, and no one should be forced to sacrifice themselves to save another?” Jacob summarized.
“Yes,” I said firmly. “Every life is a one–time deal, and each is precious. While I sympathize with Hannah’s situation, I have to put my own life first.”
Jacob looked thoughtful for a moment, then asked, “Do you know how Hannah is doing lately?”
I shook my head. “I’ve been ostracized. They don’t tell me anything.”
“The hospital has announced they’ve found a suitable bone marrow donor,” Jacob said. “The paperwork is being processed.”
I froze, a swirl of emotions rising within me. I felt relieved for Hannah’s sake and affirmed for standing my ground.
“That’s wonderful.” I smiled. “It just proves I was right all along. There were other ways, and I never needed to put myself at risk.”
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