The Man Who Gave His Kidney Away

The ache in my chest ebbed like the tide. I lifted my head, staring at Nina.

"I can go… but Nina, if I die out there, you'll be the one who drove me to this."

My voice was quiet, yet it hit Nina like a slap. She froze, stunned, her words catching in her throat. After a long pause, she finally forced out a few ragged, broken sentences.

"You… what are you pretending for? It's just a kidney donation! My family took you in for three years! Didn't you hear? The commander's sending someone tomorrow. Go pick up more pastries! If you can't even handle something this small, I've wasted my care on you."

She opened her mouth to argue further, but I couldn't take it. I turned, my body burning, and headed downstairs.

Before we were married, whenever I got sick, Nina had cared for me without rest, day and night. One night, I'd muttered in my sleep that I wanted a cup of spiked hot cocoa. She'd walked six miles to the all-night convenience store to get it.

Back then, our apartment had been just a cramped studio, but that cup of spiked hot cocoa had tasted sweeter than anything I'd ever known.

Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the silence from behind.

"Caleb!"

Before I could turn, a few coins clattered heavily against my back.

Theo's laugh rang shrill and cruel, brimming with unrestrained pride.

"Caleb, broke again? Planning to mooch off the shop owner now?"

Every word dripped with mockery. I stared at the coins on the floor, straightened my back, and stepped over them. Without a glance, I walked down the stairs and headed straight for the clinic.

My hands trembled as I applied the medicine to my wound. Sweat soaked my body through.

The doctor frowned as he read my chart.

"Mr. Barnes, your infection is severe. Combined with inadequate post-op care and nutrition… the swelling around your kidney has spread significantly. You'll need to be extremely careful going forward, or it could affect your long-term health."

I nodded calmly, unsurprised.

After leaving the clinic, I didn't just sit around. I went straight to the nearest post office. On the letter, I documented Nina's personal misconduct over the years—the lies, the cover-ups—everything. Watching it get sent to the tax authorities, I finally felt some relief.

Then my eyes landed on a newspaper.

The photo on the front showed Kathryn in full military uniform, radiating authority without a word.

[Youngest Female Commander Kathryn Jennings Visits Reed City]

[Commander Kathryn Jennings Tours National Cancer Institute, Reviews Latest Research]

My breath caught. A flicker of hope surged in my chest.

By late morning, I returned home to grab my ID.

The moment I stepped through the door, Nina launched into an interrogation.

"Theo's been waiting for you all morning. Where are the buns?"

Theo slumped on the sofa, his face pale and pitiful. I ignored her scolding entirely, brushing past her into the master bedroom to get my documents.

Nina's impatience flared; she grabbed me, nearly knocking me over.

"Are you deaf? I'm talking to you."

I lifted my head, calm, meeting her gaze.

"Nina… I almost passed out on the street corner. The cab driver wouldn't take me. You wanna know why?"