Donor Against My Will: I Died After Saving My Sister

Lindsey had been home for a fortnight now. At first, our parents would still speak of me, but those mentions grew thinner and rarer until they ceased altogether. It was as if they'd collectively decided to forget I ever existed.

Early one morning, they took Lindsey to the hospital for a follow-up.

Once Lindsey's attending physician cleared her results, the three of them turned to leave when they spotted a group of nurses crowded around a video playing on a smartphone.

"How can this woman be so heartless? She actually sued her own daughter in court."

"And she's a lawyer too! With all her education, she still plays favorites. She practically drove her own daughter to her death."

Mom stopped in her tracks. The voice coming from the video was unmistakably hers.

In the video, she was passionately listing my "crimes" and even showing the courtroom clips, using the law to prove that I was legally bound to surrender my platelets.

I had remained silent throughout the trial. In the end, I asked only one question.

"Mom, would you still stand by your decision if donating platelets puts my life at risk?"

Compared to Mom's heightened emotions, my calmness was almost chilling.

Her retort rose like a tide, quickly drowning out my voice.

"How did I ever give birth to such a cold-hearted wretch? At such a critical time, you still lie through your teeth? Are you trying to send me to my grave?"

Ultimately, I didn't argue further. I knew she wouldn't believe me. She was desperate to save Lindsey.

That plea had been my last grasp of hope. Just as I felt myself breaking down, I bit down hard on my thumb. Only then did I manage to compose myself.

"Fine, I'll donate my platelets."

I knew refusal was pointless. Mom would win with her silver tongue, even if it meant discarding dignity for Lindsey's sake. If she was willing to sacrifice everything, then perhaps I should surrender my own life too.

Mom suddenly snapped at the nurses. "What nonsense are you all spouting? What's this talk about driving her own daughter to death?"

She then lunged forward, snatching the phone away. On the screen, her face was twisted into a mask of vitriol, her eyes burning with a look of pure unadulterated hatred directed at me.

The nurse was startled by her. But after glancing at Mom and then back at the phone, she chuckled coldly.

"So you’re the lawyer mom who sued her eldest daughter for her younger one. You’re so biased—your daughter was so unlucky to have you as her mother!"

Mom's face contorted as she flung the phone away as if it were diseased.

"Did I say anything wrong? She wouldn't even donate platelets to her own sister! Where does she get the nerve to keep living? When Lindsey is suffering, shouldn't Aurora make the sacrifice as the elder sister?"

Letting out an icy laugh, she raked a cold gaze over everyone present.

"Did that wretched little brat pay you to stir trouble?" she asked with a scoff. "Well, tell her not to think for a second that her 'generosity' with those platelets changes anything. If she doesn't apologize to Lindsey, I'd rather she die out there."

"Stop it!" The nurse's near-hysterical scream froze Mom where she stood.

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until Mom's eyes began to rim with red. "What's wrong with you people? Did I say anything wrong? It's her fault—selfishly surviving while refusing to help her sister!"

"Stop! As you wish, your eldest daughter is already dead."

Mom was stunned for a moment. Then disdain flickered across her face. "What are you talking about? Did she ask you to—"

The nurse's fists clenched, her gaze sharp as flint. "We're not heartless enough to joke about life! Your eldest daughter bled to death in the hospital! Are you happy now?"

The smirk froze on Mom's face.

Dad, who had just caught up, stood rooted to the spot behind Mom. Then, his fingers went slack, and the phone slipped from his hand and shattered into pieces.