Henry sat in the hospital waiting room, holding his head in his hands. The place had started to feel like a second home since his wife Claire had become so sick. Both her kidneys had now stopped working. Doctors said she had only weeks left to live.
Claire needed a new kidney, and she was running out of time.
Family and friends had all been tested, but no one was a match. Henry thought he was going to lose her.
As a last resort, Henry decided to post his wife’s story on social media in the hope that a donor would come forward. Days passed, but nothing happened.
Then, just as he was losing hope, a stranger got in touch who offered to donate one of his kidneys. His name was Victor, and his kidney was a perfect match.
For the first time in months, Henry felt hopeful. Delighted, he ran into Claire’s room and told her she would live.
The operation was planned. Henry bought flowers. He even smiled again. But on the morning of the surgery, the doctor walked into the room, his face pale.
“Victor has changed his mind,” he said.
Henry stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“He won’t do it. He says it’s too dangerous for him.”
Henry’s world broke. He was furious. Claire lay in the next room, fighting for her life, while the one man who could save her turned away.
That night, Henry drove to Victor’s house. He sat in the car, watching the lights inside. Through the window, Victor ate dinner with his wife and little daughter. They laughed together.
Watching the joyful family scene made Henry even angrier. Claire should be here too, he thought. We should be eating dinner, not waiting for death.
He knocked on the door.
Victor opened it, surprised. “Henry? What are you doing here?”
“You promised,” Henry whispered. “She’s dying.”
Victor shook his head. “I can’t. I have a family. I can’t risk my life.”
Henry’s eyes went to the heavy candlestick on the table inside. His hand moved toward it.
“Please,” he said, his voice shaking.
Victor didn’t answer. He only pulled the door closer to shut it.
Henry lost control. His hand grabbed the candlestick. He swung. Once. Twice. Victor fell to the ground with a thud. Blood spread on the carpet.
Henry froze, breathing hard. His ears rang. Then he heard small footsteps.
Victor’s daughter stood in the hallway, holding a toy bear, staring at him.
“Daddy?” she whispered.
Henry’s stomach twisted. But it was too late to stop now. He stepped past the girl and dragged Victor’s body toward the car.
The next morning, Henry sat by Claire’s bed, his clothes clean, his face calm. The doctors entered with serious but hopeful expressions.
“We’ve had some luck,” one said. “A kidney has just become available. We can do the transplant today.”
Henry kissed Claire’s hand, his eyes wet with false relief.
“That’s wonderful,” he said softly.
Claire smiled weakly. “See? I told you not to give up.”
Henry forced a smile. He could not tell her the truth. She would never know the price he had paid.
But as the nurses prepared Claire for surgery, Henry’s heart pounded with a new fear: not of losing her, but of living with what he had done.
📒 Key vocabulary
- kidneys – organs in the body that clean the blood and make urine
- donor – a person who gives something, especially an organ, blood, or money
- donate – give something to another person
- surgery – a medical treatment where doctors cut into the body to repair or remove something
- pale – white, without colour
- candlestick – a holder for a candle
- thud – a heavy, dull sound made when something falls or hits
- dragged – pulled with effort
- transplant – a medical operation where an organ is taken from one person and put into another
- pound – hit something again and again, or beat strongly (like a fast heartbeat)
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