Chapter 7

Days passed in a haze of waiting. Spring arrived quietly. Outside the hospital window, bare branches sprouted tender green buds. The sunlight grew warmer. My health fluctuated. Some days I could sit up and read; others, I lacked the strength to speak. Gavin read me the news daily, told me funny stories from his company, or reminisced with me about the orphanage. He said when I got better, he'd take me south, to see the ocean. He said winters were mild there, with flowers that never stopped blooming. I smiled and nodded, knowing deep down it might only be a beautiful dream. One afternoon, drowsy, Gavin burst into the room, waving a file, his voice trembling. "Delia! Found it! We found a kidney!" My eyes flew open, disbelief warring with hope. "Really?" "Really!" He thrust the file towards me, tears glistening in his eyes. "A donor who passed unexpectedly. All the markers match perfectly! The doctor says surgery can be scheduled for Monday!" Seeing the words "Match Confirmed" on